Hospital trust hails ‘clean bill of health’

A review by the Care Quality Commission found the trust which runs Scunthorpe and Diana Princess of Wales Hospital in Grimsby “had made progress in taking action to improve patient care and treatment” and there were “enough qualified, skilled and experienced staff to meet patients’ needs.” It is now satisfied that they and Goole Hospital comply with national standards.

Concerns over stroke services at Grimsby were flagged up both by the CQC and the Keogh review last year, but the latest report singles out stroke care and A&E as areas where there were “elements of good practice.” The trust’s chief executive Karen Jackson said: “I’m delighted by the CQC’s verdict. Staff have worked exceptionally hard over the past year to make sure everything we do, from the care given to patients to our documentation and training, is done well.”

However Northern Lincolnshire and Goole Hospitals NHS Trust remains in special measures, after being put on a blacklist last year over higher than expected death rates and will need to be reinspected in a national initiative before it is lifted.