Harefield Hospital praised by health and social care regulator

26 July 2012

Harefield Hospital has been praised for achieving key patient outcomes, in a report from the Care Quality Commission (CQC). Inspectors found the hospital is meeting essential quality and safety standards, after an unannounced visit when they spoke to patients, relatives and staff.

The CQC inspection was part of a routine schedule of planned reviews carried out by the health and social care regulator. Inspectors spoke to patients and staff on the surgical and transplant wards, during the visit in June. They looked at areas including the care and welfare of people who use the hospital’s services, nutritional needs, supporting staff, cleanliness and infection control and how the Trust assesses and monitors the quality of service provision.

Patients and relatives praised hospital staff during the visit. The report states that: “The majority of patients and relatives we spent time with said that their experience had been very positive, staff were always polite, treated them with respect and all were satisfied with their overall care. Some comments were, ‘I have been treated with dignity and respect by all staff’ and ‘The medical care and attention given to me has been excellent’.”

The food at Harefield Hospital was also commended by the majority of patients. The report quoted one patient talking about meals who said that it was the, "best food I have had in a hospital and I am putting on weight which is fantastic".

Caroline Shuldham, director of nursing and clinical governance at Royal Brompton & Harefield NHS Foundation Trust, said: "We believe patients deserve the best possible specialist treatment for their heart or lung condition and it is extremely good to know that we met all the checks during this latest visit at Harefield Hospital. We are committed to continuous improvement and will continue to build on this to ensure patients receive care of the highest possible quality.