Published on: 3 February 2023
Leaders at South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust (STSFT) are accelerating improvements already underway after its latest inspection report from the Care Quality Commission (CQC).
In June and August last year, the independent health and social care regulator visited two areas of hospital services in South Tyneside and Sunderland. A team of CQC inspectors visited the Trust’s medical wards, as well as maternity services.
Findings published today rate STSFT overall as ‘requires improvement’ but the Trust remains rated ‘good’ for caring with patients telling inspectors that their care was ‘amazing’ and that ‘staff were excellent’.
Areas identified by the CQC for improvement include:
- how risks are recorded, managed and escalated throughout the organisation
- how the Trust operates more effective governance processes
- how people with mental health needs or a learning disability are cared for.
The CQC also highlighted the very challenging nursing and midwifery staffing position at the Trust which has been felt, in particular, in maternity services and on acute medical wards during the past year. This follows a very difficult time managing the ongoing impact of COVID-19 and unrelenting pressure on NHS services.
Despite the areas outlined for improvement, there was clear recognition from the CQC of how caring staff were, with the Trust rated ‘good’ overall ‘caring’. Patients told inspectors that staff treated them well and with kindness. Feedback from women and families using maternity services was also very positive. Inspectors said they witnessed lots of examples of compassionate care and people being treated with kindness and respect.
The CQC acknowledged that there was effective leadership at the Trust with leaders who were visible and approachable, with the right skills and abilities needed to lead the organisation. They also highlighted the Trust’s commitment to digital innovation and its focus on continually learning and improving services.
In response to the latest CQC report, STSFT recognised the heroic efforts of staff over the past two years and confirmed work already underway to address some of the areas highlighted by the CQC. These include:
- working with NHS England’s national maternity improvement programme following an intense period of staffing challenges and changes in maternity leadership at the Trust
- an independent governance review already commissioned by the Trust to make sure its systems and processes are of the highest possible standards
- development of a new mental health and learning disabilities strategy. This includes the appointment of new specialist staff to help improve and embed a focus on mental health and supporting people with learning disabilities across the Trust.
Since the time of the inspection, the Trust’s nurse staffing position has also significantly improved. Over 200 nurses will join STSFT in the coming months, including over 100 international nurses and the Trust’s first ever international midwives.
The latest CQC ratings for STSFT mean that 70% of all the services provided by the Trust remain rated ‘good’ (60%) or ‘outstanding (10%), with improvements ongoing in all other areas.
In response, Chief Executive Ken Bremner MBE, acknowledged what had been an incredibly testing time for staff and gave his commitment on work already underway to improve.
He said: “There is no doubt that the past two years has been incredibly tough but there can be no excuses. Our vision is for ‘excellence in all that we do’ and this shows we still have work to do. The CQC has shone a very welcome and helpful light on areas where we need to improve and this has come at an apt time as we look forward to the future.
“Despite all the challenges we face, people will always be treated with empathy and the utmost care and kindness here at STSFT. I want to thank our amazing staff for that. Given the pressure they continue to work under, it is testament to them that this care and compassion still shines through every day.”
Allison Thompson, joined STSFT as the new Trust Chair in April 2022. She said: “Being rated ‘requires improvement’ is certainly not in line with our aspirations for STSFT and I know this will feel disappointing for our staff. They have shown great resilience and fortitude over the past two years and continue to show such kindness, care and compassion every day as they manage the most intense and sustained levels of pressure.
“I want to reassure everyone involved with STSFT that we absolutely learn the lessons from this CQC report as we move forward. As a Trust, we place great emphasis on how we continually learn, develop and improve the quality of what we do.
“Whilst the pandemic may have held us back, we’re now more determined than ever to make progress. I am confident that with the support of our fantastic teams, we will deliver on our vision for excellence in all that we do.”
The CQC’s current ratings for the 30 services provided by South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust (STSFT) includes 3 ‘outstanding’; 18 ‘good’; 9 ‘require improvement’.
The overall rating for the Trust is now ‘Requires Improvement’. To read the full inspection report click here.
