We work hard to give patients the best care possible. We are always looking for ways to improve.
Safety and quality priorities
Each year, we choose a few key areas to focus on so we can make our care safer and better.
You can read about these in our annual quality accounts.
Service reviews
We regularly review our services to make sure they continue to offer great care.
We check them against the standards set by the Care Quality Commission. These look at whether care is:
- safe
- effective
- caring
- responsive
- well‑led
Checking the quality of clinical care
Every year, different medical teams take part in clinical audits. These audits check how well we follow agreed best‑practice standards.
This includes making sure:
- We follow clinical guidelines
- We meet infection‑control rules
- We use safety checks before operations
- Patients get the right information and advice
After an audit, teams decide what they need to improve. You can read about our latest audits in our annual reports.
Ward and service assessments
We run a programme called 15 Steps. In this programme, staff visit a ward or service without warning to check the quality of care.
They:
- Talk to patients, carers, and staff
- Look at cleanliness
- Watch how staff and patients interact
- Check records
Teams get feedback right away and create an action plan to fix any problems. These visits help us share good ideas and make improvements.
Patient Reported Outcome Measures (PROMs)
We take part in a national programme called Patient Reported Outcome Measures (PROMs). Patients having hip or knee replacements fill out surveys before and after their operation.
These surveys help us understand how well the operation worked from the patient’s point of view.The results help improve care across the NHS.