18.04.16
Nearly two-thirds of NHS trusts require improvement – CQC
The majority of inspected NHS trusts have received a ‘requires improvement’ rating from the Care Quality Commission (CQC), according to papers put before their latest board meeting.
Figures published ahead of the meeting on 20 April show that the CQC has now inspected 162 NHS trusts, of which 100 (62%) have been rated ‘requires improvement’.
They have now inspected all non-specialist acute trusts. Of the trusts with a published provider rating, 70 out of 103 were rated as ‘requires improvement’, 21 were ‘good’, 10 were ‘inadequate’ and only two were ‘outstanding’.
The CQC’s most recent ‘requires improvement’ notice was given to North Lincolnshire and Goole FT, which it said was failing to maintain improvements after being taken out of special measures in 2014.
Mental health trusts had the greatest proportion requiring improvement. Out of the 37 inspected, 22 were rated as requiring improvement, 14 were good, one was inadequate and none were outstanding.
A recent report warned that NHS mental health services are failing patients.
The remaining inspections noted in the CQC’s data were of eight specialist trusts, three of which required improvement, 12 community health services, four of which required improvement, and two ambulance trusts, one of which required improvement and one of which was inadequate.
The CQC is also due to inspect how all community, mental health and acute trusts in the country are learning from patient deaths after the scandal at Southern Health.
132 NHS acute trusts are also in deficit.