- Independent hospital
Spire Harpenden Hospital
Assessment report published 5 November 2026
Contents
Ratings - Medical care (Including older people's care)
Our view of the service
As part of our comprehensive assessment of Spire Harpenden, we inspected the medical services, consisting of chemotherapy and endoscopy, on 2 June 2026.
During the assessment, we spoke with 5 patients, 1 family member and 7 staff, including managers, nurses, healthcare assistants, housekeepers and administrators.
Staff worked collaboratively to deliver coordinated care and support people to manage their health and wellbeing. The service had effective systems to maintain safety, manage risks and promote learning, and leaders used governance processes to monitor quality and drive improvement.
We found examples of good practice, including holistic support for chemotherapy patients and improvements to cancer pathways through clinical nurse specialist involvement. The service also demonstrated a strong focus on learning, innovation and inclusion. Leaders supported staff development and promoted a positive culture focused on delivering high-quality care.
Overall, people received care from skilled and compassionate staff in a service that was well organised, responsive to people's needs and committed to continuous improvement.
People's experience of this service
During our assessment, we spoke with patients and family members who gave positive feedback about the service. They told us staff were kind, compassionate and treated them with dignity and respect. Patients said staff explained their care and treatment clearly, involved them in decisions and provided support when needed.
We observed positive interactions between staff and patients and saw staff respond promptly to people's needs, while adapting care to individual circumstances and preferences.