Northampton General Hospital

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• Overview
• Shared direction and culture
• Capable, compassionate and inclusive leaders
• Freedom to speak up
• Workforce equality, diversity and inclusion
• Governance, management and sustainability
• Partnerships and communities
• Learning, improvement and innovation

This means we looked for evidence that service leadership, management and governance assured high-quality, person-centred care; supported learning and innovation; and promoted an open, fair culture.

At our last assessment we rated this key question requires improvement. At this assessment we did not rate as we only looked at specific aspects in response to the Section 29a Warning Notice (WN). The rating for well led has remained as requires improvement.

We assessed 1 quality statement and found improvements had been made in line with the WN. There was a greater trust wide response to operational pressures within the emergency department. Processes were in place for operation pressures to be escalated to directorate and trust wide leaders. The service implemented an improvement plan which was reported through the trust wide board meeting. A programme of audits had been implemented, and lessons were learned from this.

However, whilst improvements had been made, some staff did not consider the trust wide escalation tool always accurately reflect the pressures within the department.

We have not awarded this service a score for Well-led.

Find out about when we will not publish a key question score and what we look at when we assess Well-led.

We did not look at Shared direction and culture during this assessment. The score for this quality statement is based on the previous rating for Well-led.

We did not look at Capable, compassionate and inclusive leaders during this assessment. The score for this quality statement is based on the previous rating for Well-led.

We did not look at Freedom to speak up during this assessment. The score for this quality statement is based on the previous rating for Well-led.

We did not look at Workforce equality, diversity and inclusion during this assessment. The score for this quality statement is based on the previous rating for Well-led.

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 worked hard to maintain patients’ privacy and dignity. Six out of 7 (88%) patients we spoke to considered their privacy and dignity had been maintained whilst in the department. This was an improvement from our previous assessment. One patient waiting in a rapid flow escalation bed did not feel comfortable due to lack of privacy but told us they were always taken to a private area for assessment and examinations. Staff told us the closure of corridor-based treatment escalation areas, had the biggest impact on improving privacy and dignity.

We did not look at Partnerships and communities during this assessment. The score for this quality statement is based on the previous rating for Well-led.

We did not look at Learning, improvement and innovation during this assessment. The score for this quality statement is based on the previous rating for Well-led.