News

High marks for Imperial in annual health check - 15 October 2009

Imperial College Healthcare has been rated as good for the quality of its services and financial management in this year’s annual health check (2008/09).

The health check looks at how Trusts have performed against national targets and standards, and scores them in areas of interest to patients and the public. 

In 2008/09 the Trust fully met all of its existing national targets including the four hour or less A&E waiting times and inpatient waiting times. It scored excellent for its performance against new national targets set in 2008 – including: incidents of C.difficile and MRSA; waiting times for cancer patients; and NHS staff satisfaction.

As part of the health check the Trust declared itself non-compliant in the standard of privacy and confidentiality, having recognised a need to completely eliminate mixed sex accommodation in all its hospitals. The Trust did this with full knowledge that this was the only element of the check that prevented it from achieving an excellent rating in the quality of services category. The Trust is currently carrying out a £10 million programme to achieve the elimination of mixed sex accommodation by April 2010. 

Under patient-focused targets, Imperial College Healthcare scored top marks for dignity and respect and keeping the public healthy. Safety and cleanliness received a score of 13/14. 

The Trust was assessed as having performed well and having met its financial targets for at least two years – scoring ‘good’ under financial management.

Claire Perry, managing director of the Trust, said: “We are pleased that in our second year as a Trust we have proven that we are continuing to provide a good quality of service to our patients and robust financial management.

“We are continuously learning as we grow as a Trust and as the UK’s first academic health science centre. Our goal is to achieve an excellent rating in all areas in future health checks.”

The annual health check is carried out by the Care Quality Commission. The full ratings for trusts across the country are available on their website. 

Notes to editors

  • Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust comprises Charing Cross, Hammersmith, Queen Charlotte’s & Chelsea, St Mary’s and Western Eye hospitals. It is the largest trust in the country, and in partnership with Imperial College London, is one of the UK’s first academic health science centres (AHSCs)
  • Our AHSC was created to take the research discoveries we make and translate them into new and improved treatments and techniques to directly benefit patients throughout the Trust

ENDS 
For more information please contact:
Caroline Weller
Telephone: 020 3312 1331
Email: caroline.weller@imperial.nhs.uk