Progress report a year after trusts placed into special measures

Published: 4 August 2014 Page last updated: 3 November 2022
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We have published a joint report with Monitor and NHS Trust Development Authority which gives progress on the 11 trusts put into special measures in July 2013.

Special measures: one year on

The report says that there have been improvements in the majority of the trusts. Factors for the success of special measures include the:

  • strength of leadership.
  • acceptance by trusts of the scale of the challenges they faced.
  • alignment between managers and clinicians.
  • willingness to accept external support.

Professor Sir Mike Richards, CQC’s Chief Inspector of Hospitals, emphasised that the trusts that took ownership and early action saw the most improvements.

The report highlights the work by Monitor and the NHS TDA to support the 11 trusts in special measures. This included establishing partnerships with other trusts performing well in areas where the need for improvement had been identified, as well as appointing an Improvement Director to help ensure the trusts stuck to their action plans.

Two trusts, Basildon and Thurrock University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and George Eliot Hospital NHS Trust have reached a rating of 'good' overall, and have been taken out of special measures.

Buckinghamshire Healthcare NHS Trust, East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust and Northern Lincolnshire and Goole NHS Foundation Trust were rated as 'requires improvement' and have been taken out of special measures but with additional support.

While there has been progress made at United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust, North Cumbria University Hospitals NHS Trust, Sherwood Forest Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Burton Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and Tameside Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Professor Richards has recommended they remain in special measures for a further six months.

Despite improvements in maternity, Medway has failed to make significant overall progress and will remain in special measures after being given an overall rating of 'inadequate'. We will work with Monitor to consider what further urgent action should be taken to ensure the quality of care improves as quickly as possible.

Professor Sir Mike Richards said: “The evidence in the report shows that the special measures process has brought improvements in the quality of care in most cases, which would have been unlikely without the regime.

“Although there have been improvements, it is important to emphasise that further improvements need to be made, especially in relation to safety and responsiveness.

“Our new inspection model has helped us get under the skin of hospitals. The special measures process is doing what it set out to do, and I am confident that it will lead to further improvements.”

The evidence in the report shows that the special measures process has brought improvements in the quality of care in most cases...

Professor Sir Mike Richards, Chief Inspector of Hospitals