- NHS hospital
Queen Mary's Hospital
Report from 30 January 2025 assessment
Ratings - Surgery
Our view of the service
Date of assessment: 11 February 2025.
We carried out an unannounced comprehensive inspection of surgical services at Queen Mary’s Hospital due to aged ratings and concerns regarding Never Events within the service. We inspected all quality statements across the five key questions: safe, effective, caring, responsive and well-led.
During our inspection we visited the surgical treatment centre. This included 4 theatres, patient assessment rooms, patient waiting and changing areas and the recovery room. We also visited staffing areas within the centre. We spoke with over 18 members of staff including nursing and medical staff, healthcare assistants, housekeeping staff, and managers. We spoke with 8 patients. We rated the service as good overall. There was a good safety culture where incidents were investigated, and learning was embedded to promote good practice. Staff provided safe care and treatment, they followed evidence-based practice and there was effective team work to support positive patient outcomes. Staff were kind, caring and compassionate. The service planned care to meet the needs of people, took account of patients’ individual needs, and made it easy for people to give feedback. The service and staff were well-led by strong leaders who supported staff to develop their skills. Staff were committed to continually learning and improving services.
People's experience of this service
Patients were all positive about the staff treating them with warmth and kindness and providing effective care and treatment. They said they were generally seen quickly after arrival for pre-operative review by anaesthetic staff.
Records showed they were appropriately assessed and monitored throughout their treatment and care at the surgical treatment centre. They felt staff were on hand if they needed them for help or support. People said they did not feel anxious about raising concerns.
Some feedback from patients included they sometimes had to wait longer than expected between arrival and surgery. They appreciated that staff tried to manage the flow of patients by staggering arrival times and most said communication with them was good.