Updated
14 October 2025
Date of assessment: 5 to 6 June 2025. Nightingale Hospital Exeter provides a range of NHS hospital services. This assessment looked at outpatients, surgery for orthopaedics and ophthalmology and diagnostic imaging as these services had not previously been inspected. The location was rated good overall.
In our assessment of all 3 services, we found the service had a good safety culture. The environment was safe, clean and fit for purpose. The service monitored all people’s care and treatment to continuously improve it and delivered effective evidence-based care and treatment. Staff communicated with patients with genuine kindness and compassion and protected patients’ dignity. The service worked to ensure that everyone could access the care, support and treatment they needed when they needed it. The service was well-led and worked hard to share knowledge both locally and nationally.
However, for diagnostic imaging we found not all staff had received an appraisal, and some staff were not up to date with essential immediate resuscitation training. Senior staff were also unaware of some medicines management procedures which were not in line with best practice.
At this assessment we identified breaches of regulations for diagnostic imaging in relation to Regulation 12, Safe Care and Treatment and have asked the trust to provide an action plan.
Updated
16 April 2025
The service had a good safety culture. The environment was safe, clean and fit for purpose. The service monitored all people’s care and treatment to continuously improve it and delivered effective evidence-based care and treatment. Staff communicated with patients with genuine kindness and compassion and protected patients’ dignity. The service worked to ensure that everyone could access the care, support and treatment they needed when they needed it. The service was well-led and worked hard to share knowledge both locally and nationally.
However, not all staff had received an appraisal, and some staff were not up to date with essential immediate resuscitation training. Senior staff were also unaware of some medicines management procedures which were not in line with best practice.
Updated
16 April 2025
Date of Assessment: 5 and 6 June 2025
We conducted an on-site, comprehensive assessment visit of the Nightingale Hospital Exeter Outpatients department, which is part of Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust. We assessed quality statements from the safe, effective, responsive, caring and well-led key questions. We rated the service as good overall, with some categories in effective, responsive and well-led scored as outstanding. This was the first inspection of the service.
The service provides a range of outpatient services which includes, rheumatology, sarcoma, lung cancer, ophthalmology, cardiology, respiratory and sleep clinics.
The service had a good safety culture. Staff had completed relevant mandatory and competency-based training. The environment was safe, clean and fit for purpose. The service monitored all people's care and treatment to continuously improve it and delivered effective evidence-based care and treatment. Staff communicated with patients with kindness and compassion and protected patients' dignity. The service worked to ensure everyone could access the care, support and treatment they needed when they needed it. The service was well-led and worked hard to share their knowledge both locally and nationally.
Updated
16 April 2025
Date of assessment: 5 and 6 June 2025.
We conducted an on-site, comprehensive assessment visit of surgery for orthopaedics and ophthalmology at the Nightingale Hospital Exeter. This is part of Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust. We assessed quality statements from the safe, effective, responsive, caring and well-led key questions. This is the first inspection since they registered with the Care Quality Commission in 2020. We rated this service as good overall.
The service fostered a good safety culture. The environment for patients and staff was clean and safe. The service continuously monitored and improved care using evidence-based practices. Staff treated patients with kindness, compassion, and respect. Care was accessible and responsive to individual needs. Leadership was effective and actively shared knowledge and innovations locally and nationally.
The Nightingale Hospital Exeter offers a range of orthopaedic, ophthalmology, diagnostic and rheumatology services to local people, helping to further reduce waiting times.