- NHS hospital
Derriford Hospital
Assessment report published 14 August 2025
Ratings - Surgery
Our view of the service
Surgery services are provided by University Hospitals Plymouth (UHP) NHS Trust. We conducted an on-site assessment visit to Derriford Hospital and surgery services from 15 to 16 April 2025. We carried out this assessment in line with our routine assessment priorities and the service’s previous rating of requires improvement. Following this assessment, we rated surgery services as good.
We assessed 32 quality statement for the 5 key questions: safe, effective, caring, responsive and well-led. During our assessment we spoke with patients. We observed staff delivering care and looked at patient records. We reviewed trust policies and performance information from, and about, the trust. We also spoke with all grades of medical and nursing staff, and the leadership team.
Improvements had been made since the last assessment. However, the service remained in breach of 1 regulation and we found 1 new breach of regulation.
We have asked the provider for an action plan in response to the concerns found during this assessment.
People's experience of this service
Most people we spoke with were positive about staff treating them with kindness and providing effective care and treatment. Many highlighted “how comfortable” staff made them feel.
Most people said they had been involved in making decisions, had all the information they needed and were able to ask questions. However, a small number of other people said doctors did not always explain things well and there was some miscommunication.
People said they did not feel anxious about raising concerns and staff responded to those who had raised concerns. Most reported staff came quickly to call bells and checked on them regularly.
People had mixed experiences about food availability, one person said there was not enough, and another said they were pleasantly surprised by the choice.