An NHS Trust has improved its Care Quality Commission (CQC) rating following an inspection.

In 2018 Gravesham and Dartford's NHS Trust was told it "required improvement" after their urgent and emergency care, surgery, medicines and maternity services were reviewed.

More than a year later the trust is now rated as Good overall as well as in its caring responsiveness and being well-led. It was rated as Requires Improvement for being safe.

The CQC inspected urgent and emergency care, medical care and surgery at the Trust between May and June.

They also looked at its use of resources and were rated as Requires Improvement.

Dr Nigel Acheson, CQC’s deputy chief inspector of hospitals for the south, said: “Since we last inspected, staff at Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust have worked to ensure that improvements have been embedded.

"I was concerned to hear that within urgent and emergency care, the leadership team lacked stability and there were concerns highlighted that demonstrated a need to strengthen the governance of the department.

"However, we are assured that these issues are being addressed by the board and that a new leadership team was now in place within the department. We will check what improvements have taken place when we return in due course.

“But, overall, I am pleased that the trust has taken the findings from our previous inspection reports and built on them to provide improved services for their patients. I also want to congratulate them from moving from Requires Improvement to achieving their Good overall rating.

“Our inspectors found a board that understood the challenges to providing high-quality, sustainable services. They were supported by a committed, caring workforce who treated patients with compassion and dignity while providing them with the emotional support they needed.

“We will return at a later date to check on the further progress the trust has made.”

The report found that the Trust's urgent and emergency care had compassionate staff but did not always control the risk of infection or medicines well.

Medicine services was praised for working well with other agencies, while it was reported that staff from the surgery department felt "respected, supported and valued" by managers.

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