We carried out this assessment because the service had not been inspected since 2017. At that time, the outpatient department was inspected and rated in conjunction with diagnostic imaging. This was a full comprehensive inspection as the outpatient service had not been rated for this trust or as a standalone service.
The main outpatient department held clinics across 5 areas for 36 different specialisms. Outpatient clinics were also held by specialist teams in their own areas, for example, in dermatology, rheumatology, ophthalmology, and oncology.
There was a separate outpatient department for children and young people. The children and young person's outpatient department did not form part of this assessment.
A team of 1 CQC inspector, a CQC regulatory coordinator and 2 specialist advisors visited the service on 18 and 19 March 2025. We spoke to 63 staff (including doctors, nurses, healthcare assistance, managers, pharmacists, administrative staff, and housekeeping staff), 23 patients, 2 carers and 2 volunteers. We looked at 16 sets of patients notes and attended 2 staff meetings.
We rated safe, effective, and responsive as good and caring, and well-led as outstanding.
Safe has been rated as good. Safety was a priority for everyone, and leaders embedded a culture of openness and collaboration. People were safe and protected and safeguarded. Where people raised concerns about safety, the primary response was to learn and improve. Leaders ensured there were enough skilled staff to delivery safe care that promoted choice and people's wellbeing.
Effective has been rated as good. Staff worked towards giving people and communities the best possible outcomes because by assuring their need were assessed. Their care, support and treatment reflected these needs and any protected equality characteristics. Services work in harmony, with people at the centre of their care. Leaders instilled a culture of improvement, where understanding current outcomes and exploring best practice was part of everyday work.
Caring has been rated outstanding. This was because people were always treated with kindness, empathy and compassion. People understood that they mattered and their experience of how they were treated and supported mattered. Their privacy and dignity was respected. Every effort was made to take their wishes into account and respect their choices, to achieve the best possible outcomes for them.
Responsive has been rated as good. People and communities were at the centre of how care was planned and delivered. The health and care needs of people and communities were understood, and they were involved in planning care that meet those needs. Staff were working towards improving access to care in ways that met people's personal circumstances and protected equality characteristics. There was partnership working to make sure that care and treatment met the diverse needs of communities.
Well-led has been rated outstanding. The service had strong governance structures that were used to improve the performance of the service and ensured the delivery of safe care and treatment. There was an inclusive and positive culture of continuous learning and improvement. This was based on meeting the needs of people who use services and wider communities. Leaders proactively supported staff and collaborated with partners to deliver care that was integrated, person-centred and sustainable, and reduced inequalities.