High marks for Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust in
national health check
The Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust
is extremely pleased to have 
received some top ranking scores in this year’s Annual Health Check
rating
by the Care Quality Commission.
For the third consecutive year the Trust
has earned the highest possible
"Excellent" rating for the way it manages its resources.
The Care Quality Commission recognised the
high quality of services provided by the Trust - rating them as
"Good". The Trust fully met all the core targets set by the
Government and has received high marks across the board.
The Trust has maintained last year’s position in a year when
achieving the top rating of excellent has become more and more
challenging. “Patient expectations of the NHS, quite rightly, are
extremely high and the standards required to achieve an excellent
rating reflect this” explains CEO Professor Ann Sheen. “The gap
between the lowest and the highest performers is closing which is
good news for patients across the country but this year we have
seen some trusts drop from their double ‘excellent’ score
reflecting the highest levels of performance reflected by this
rating.”
She continued: “The Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust is one
of the strongest performers in the region and we are delighted that
we can offer our patients the consistency of high quality care and
the reassurance that we are making the best possible use of tax
payers’ money. However, we continue working to achieve our goal of
a double excellent rating.”
Patients' views
In compiling the 2009 annual ratings the Care Quality Commission
use a range of assessments, including how the Trust compared
against Government targets for the NHS and the views of patients.
The Trust was required to provide detailed information and to make
a self declaration. In addition there were unannounced inspections
by officials from the CQC.
The summary published by the CQC gives marks awarded in key
areas, which reflect the issues most important to patients.
| Trust ratings |
|
| Safety and cleanliness |
14 out of 14 |
| Standard of care |
8 out of 8 |
| Dignity and respect |
9 out of 9 |
| Waiting to be seen |
13 out of 13 |
| Keeping the public healthy |
5 out of 5. |
The only target the Trust did not achieve involved delays in the
transfer of care when patients are ready to leave hospital but
still require further care in the community.
Professor Sheen said: “We will continue to work closely with our
partner agencies to look at improving the system of moving patients
into more suitable places of continuing care."