- NHS hospital
Royal Derby Hospital
Assessment report published 12 May 2026
Contents
Ratings - Outpatients
Our view of the service
We inspected outpatient services at Royal Derby Hospital between 11 and 13 November 2025 as it had not been assessed since 2015. The previous inspection was completed using our old methodology when outpatients and diagnostic imaging were inspected as one combined service. In 2015 outpatients and diagnostic imaging was rated as good. We now inspect these services separately.
During this inspection we inspected outpatient clinics within the hospital and the Kings Treatment Centre which is based on site at Royal Derby Hospital. A wide variety of clinics including gynaecology, breast clinic, ear nose and throat (ENT), medicine, ophthalmology orthopedics, surgery, hand clinic and spinal clinic were visited. During this inspection we looked at all quality statements across the Safe, Effective, Caring, Responsive and Well Led key questions and the rating remains good.
The service demonstrated a strong learning culture where people felt able to raise concerns, and staff routinely reported incidents which were investigated thoroughly. People were protected from harm through effective risk management.
Facilities and equipment were clean, safe, and well maintained. Staff received appropriate training and regular appraisals.
People were actively involved in assessing their needs. Staff reviewed assessments holistically, considering communication needs, personal circumstances, and health conditions. Care was aligned with current evidence and good practice, and people were given clear information to support healthy living and to help them make informed decisions about their treatment.
Care was delivered with compassion and kindness. Staff treated people with dignity and respect and supported one another in a way that promoted a positive working environment. There was a strong culture of kindness among colleagues and a clear commitment to protecting staff health and wellbeing.
People's experience of this service
Patient feedback was predominantly positive. Patients told us that their GPs had referred them to the outpatient service at Royal Derby Hospital. Patients told us outpatient appointments were arranged quickly, without long waits for an initial appointment. They told us that staff offered flexibility when arranging appointments.
Patients described being satisfied with the care and treatment they received. Those who had been seeing the same clinician over a long period told us that they had built good relationships with the team and felt comfortable. Relatives and carers were able to attend consultations when needed, and patients told us that chaperones and interpreters were arranged as required.
Patients said they felt able to ask staff questions about their care and that staff explained information in a way they could understand. They told us staff discussed treatment options with them and staff offered choices, where appropriate.
Some patients reported delays when clinics were running late. Most felt they were kept informed about these delays; however, on the day of our inspection patients attending the ophthalmology outpatient department said they did not feel well informed about waiting times.
Patients told us that outpatient areas were clean, comfortable and that staff were kind and helpful. All patients we spoke to were complimentary about the care they received. One patient described how, due to the length of time that they may be waiting for treatment, their consultant had provided information about support groups to help them access additional support.
We reviewed NHS Friends and Family Test feedback collected between May and October 2025 this indicated that patients attending adult clinics were generally satisfied with their care.