Nightingale Hospital Exeter

On this page

• Overview
• Kindness, compassion and dignity
• Treating people as individuals
• Independence, choice and control
• Responding to people’s immediate needs
• Workforce wellbeing and enablement

We looked for evidence that people were always treated with kindness, empathy and compassion. We checked that people’s privacy and dignity was respected, that they understood that they and their experience of how they were treated and supported mattered. We also looked for evidence that every effort was made to take people’s wishes into account and respect their choices, to achieve the best possible outcomes for them.

This is the first inspection for this service and this key question has been rated good. This meant people were supported and treated with dignity and respect; and involved as partners in their care.

This service scored 75 (out of 100) for this area. Find out what we look at when we assess this area and How we calculate these scores.

The service always treated people with kindness, empathy and compassion and respected their privacy and dignity. Staff treated colleagues from other organisations with kindness and respect.

Staff attitudes and behaviours when interacting with patients showed they were discreet, respectful and responsive, providing patients with help, emotional support and advice at the time they needed it.

Staff supported patients to understand and manage their care and treatment.

Patients said staff treated them well and behaved appropriately towards them. All feedback we received from speaking with patients and from reading the surveys on display in all areas was very positive about all aspects of their care and treatment.

Staff understood the individual needs of patients, including their personal, cultural, social and religious needs.

Staff maintained the confidentiality of information about patients.

The service treated people as individuals and made sure people’s care, support and treatment met people’s needs and preferences. Staff took account of people’s strengths, abilities, aspirations, culture and unique backgrounds and protected characteristics.

The service made adjustments for patients for example, by ensuring people’s access to premises and by meeting patients’ specific communication needs. We observed the use of coloured tape on the flooring to easily guide patients to each department. Volunteer staff were also available to guide patients to each department. Staff told us they were in the process of having a bariatric toilet completed.

Staff ensured patients could obtain information on treatments and how to complain. Patients were provided with detailed discharge information which was also provided in writing and pictures. Videos and more written information were also available on their website.

Information provided was in a form accessible to the patient group. Senior staff told us they were working on the website being made more accessible to patients with communication difficulties.

Staff told us they had access to interpreters and/or signers to help them communicate with patients and we saw details on how to access these.

Patients had a choice of food to meet the dietary requirements of religious and ethnic groups and to account for allergies and intolerances.

Staff had completed equality and diversity training to meet the needs of patients.

The service promoted people’s independence, so people knew their rights and had choice and control over their own care, treatment and wellbeing.

Patients told us they were informed all about their operations and any risks involved enabling them to make an informed decision.

Staff encouraged patients who had orthopaedic surgery to become independent after their operation as soon as practicable. This was to enable patients to be discharged safely the same day or the next day to continue their recovery at home in line with best practice.

The service listened to and understood people’s needs, views and wishes. Staff responded to people’s needs in the moment and acted to minimise any discomfort, concern or distress.

Staff were aware of and dealt with any specific risk issues, such as the patients risk of blood clots venous thrombosis (VTE) or pressure ulcers and planned for these accordingly. For patients undergoing joint surgery staff followed a specific pathway with information on how to care for the patients.

Staff identified and responded to changing risks to patients. Staff used nationally recognised tools to monitor patient’s condition and to assist them in identifying any deterioration and responded quickly.

Patients feedback around their care was extremely positive. All praised the staff for looking after them in a “peaceful environment”.

The service cared about and promoted the wellbeing of their staff and supported and enabled staff to always deliver person-centred care.

Staff at Nightingale Hospital Exeter felt respected, supported, and proud to be part of their team. Survey results from March to May 2025 showed 80% would recommend it as a workplace well above the trust average of 65.2% and rated their job satisfaction at 4.6 out of 5.

Staff wellbeing was supported through occupational health services, an employee assistance programme, and mental health champions. The trust promoted engagement with mental health resources and held subsidised wellbeing events funded by its staff lottery. Hydration stations for staff were positioned in each department.

The service’s staff sickness and absence rates were just above the average for the provider.

Staff had access to designated break rooms equipped with kitchen facilities, including fridges for food storage. Additionally, a catering van was stationed at the hospital entrance next to a range of seating options, some of which were sheltered for those preferring to dine outdoors. The hospital had a 3-year strategic plan to enhance on-site staff amenities, including the development of improved catering services, intended to benefit staff, patients and visitors.