A NHS trust has been told to improve following an inspection.

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) visited Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust between November and December.

A team of inspectors reported back on the trust’s urgent and emergency care, surgery, medicines and maternity services.

The trust runs Darent Valley Hospital and services from Gravesend Community Hospital, Queen Mary's, Sidcup, Erith and District, and Elm Court, Dartford. It looks after 350,000 people.

At the previous inspection at the end of 2013 the trust was also rated as requiring improvement.

However, four of the five categories were rated as good, while this time round, only one achieved the same rating.

The trust was rated good for being caring, and requiring improvement for being safe, effective, responsive and well-led.

Chief inspector of hospitals Professor Ted Baker, said: “We found that at this inspection of Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust governance needed improving and the board was not always consistently provided with assurance about the quality of care. However, the executive team demonstrated a good insight into the organisation and a drive to take the trust forward.

“Inspectors observed many areas where good and outstanding practice was being carried out. Staff cared for patients with compassion and treated them with dignity and respect.

“In medicine and urgent and emergency care, there were not enough systems, processes or staff with safeguarding knowledge in place to protect adults and children from the risks of abuse, especially at weekends. Sensitive information collected around safeguarding was not held securely or kept confidential.

"Despite this there was a system in place to monitor and safeguard vulnerable patients with mental health problems who frequently attended the emergency department.

“We have been in regular contact with the trust and their leadership who have provided assurances that a plan is in place to bring about improvements in the areas identified in our report. Our inspectors will return at a later date to check on what progress has been made.”

Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust spokesman, Glyn Oakley, said: “The Trust is committed to improving services to the population we serve, and welcomes the feedback from the CQC.

“The report also highlighted a number of areas where improvements need to be made.

“The Trust has taken immediate action to address these wherever possible and has produced a comprehensive action plan to prioritise and ensure that we comply fully with all of the requirements in the report.”