Outstanding: CQC recognises leadership excellence at Royal Surrey NHS Foundation Trust | News

Royal Surrey NHS Foundation Trust has been awarded an  Outstanding  rating by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) in its latest report, published today, Friday 13 June.

This recognition follows an extensive nine-day inspection last year, which focused on the quality of leadership across the trust.

The CQC’s well-led inspection evaluates the strength of leadership within NHS trusts, which under its streamlined reporting system is now the only rating the CQC gives to NHS trusts as a whole - meaning that Royal Surrey has achieved the best rating possible.

Achieving an  Outstanding  designation is a significant accomplishment, reflecting the exceptional leadership culture that spans the entire organisation.

Speaking about this remarkable achievement, Group Chief Executive of Royal Surrey and Ashford and St Peter’s Hospitals NHS Foundation Trusts, Louise Stead, said:

“Royal Surrey County Hospital received an Outstanding rating last February, but Royal Surrey as a trust extends well beyond one hospital - it encompasses our community hospitals at Milford, Haslemere, and Cranleigh, and other community and satellite services. To now receive an Outstanding rating for the whole trust is absolutely brilliant.

“This is a proud moment of recognition for the entire Royal Surrey family and for leaders at every level - from those guiding wards, administrative teams, and services, to those providing strategic direction at Board level. It’s a celebration of leadership across the organisation.”

The CQC undertook a thorough inspection from 11-20 June 2024. They assessed all elements of ‘well-led’ against eight quality statements and the CQC reported finding no areas of concern, providing positive feedback about the “inclusive and positive culture of continuous learning and improvement where innovations were encouraged”.

Leaders were praised for “integrity and honesty” and the culture was described as “belonging to a family”.

The CQC praised the trust’s processes for staff to raise concerns and noted that staff felt supported to speak up without fear of detriment. It also reported good levels of community engagement, saying that members of the local population had direct influence on how the Trust was run. There was also praise for levels of equality within the workforce and for the trust’s commitment to achieving goals around sustainability.

Joss Bigmore, the trust’s Chair, said: “It’s gratifying to see the hard work of leaders of all levels across the trust recognised by the CQC, along with the acknowledgement that this has a direct relation to the delivery of excellent care and making Royal Surrey a good place to work.

“I am honoured to work among these dedicated colleagues and proud of our collective achievement.”

Royal Surrey NHS Foundation Trust sees around 336,000 outpatients a year, with 90,000 patients admitted for treatment. Around 81,900 patients attend the Emergency Department, and approximately 3,000 babies are delivered every year