Salford Royal made second 'outstanding' trust

The Manchester trust, which was inspected by the regulator in January, is the second in the country to receive the top rating, following Frimley Health Foundation Trust in September.

Salford Royal received “outstanding” ratings for how caring, responsive and well led its services were, and “good” ratings for their safety and effectiveness.

Its accident and emergency, medical care and end of life care services were also rated “outstanding”.

The CQC’s chief inspector of hospitals, Sir Mike Richards, said: “Just about all of the people we met on this inspection spoke positively about ensuring that patients received safe, clean and personal care every time.

“There is a clear focus on quality improvement across all staff groups to reduce patient harm, improve outcomes and patient experience, starting even before admission.”

Salford Royal also provides community as well as acute services. The CQC said both were person centred and there was continuity between the two.

However, two of the trust’s services, surgery and outpatients, were rated “requires improvement”.

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Inspectors said the trust needed to improve safety checks on patients going through operating theatres, and had to ensure that unfinished repair work to the outpatient department was completed.

Salford Royal was praised by the CQC for its approach to dementia care, which includes the use of a blue butterfly symbol to identify patients with cognitive impairment on wards.

The regulator also commended its introduction of “always events” – things patients should always expect from the trust – and an incentive scheme where staff who suggested financial savings ideas received 10 per cent of any savings.

Salford Royal’s chief executive, Sir David Dalton, who this week was also named as HSJ’s top provider chief executive for 2015, said his trust was “absolutely delighted” with the rating.

“We are the second trust in the country to do this – the first trust with integrated acute and community services,” he said.

“This rating is so thoroughly well deserved by the remarkable people who work for Salford Royal across our hospital and community services.”