The overall quality of care provided at Holy Cross Hospital in Haslemere has been rated ‘outstanding’ by inspectors from the Care Quality Commission (CQC).
The Hospital, which provides long-term support and rehabilitation to people with extremely complex needs underwent a thorough inspection in March. The team of inspectors from England’s independent regulator of health and adult social care asked five questions, which are designed to reveal whether the Hospital’s services are safe, effective, caring, responsive to people’s needs and well led.
Based on a combination of what was found during the inspection and information provided by patients, the public and other organisations, the inspectors rated ‘safe’, ‘effective’ and ‘well led’ as good and ‘responsiveness’ and ‘caring’ as outstanding. This led to the overall rating of ‘outstanding’.
In its published report, the CQC acknowledged a number of areas of outstanding practice such as how ‘patients were truly respected and valued as individuals and that there was an emphasis on providing a care setting that patients could consider their home’. It was noted that ‘staff empowered patients to have a voice and to realise their potential’ and that ‘staff were passionate about their roles and were very dedicated to making sure patients received the best patient centred cared possible’.
The report also described how ‘feedback from patients and those close to them was continually positive and care received exceeded their expectations’. The CQC inspectors ‘received numerous comments from families that overwhelmingly described the caring and compassionate attitude of the staff’.
Christopher Hinton, Chief Executive Officer at Holy Cross Hospital said: “2017 marks Holy Cross Hospital’s centenary and so we are absolutely thrilled with the outcome of the inspection.
“The Hospital was founded by the Sisters of the Congregation of the Daughters of the Cross to serve people who were sick or suffering and their families. Their values have stood the test of time and are as important today as they were in 1917.
“At Holy Cross Hospital, we continuously look for ways to challenge the limits to recovery and so we welcome the feedback from the inspectors on actions we can consider to improve further.
“I am delighted that our staff and volunteers received such glowing recognition and that the inspectors saw examples of how everybody understands the importance of their role and how they contribute towards making sure patients receive the best care possible.”
Holy Cross is at the forefront of providing care for people with long-term neurological conditions including those with a disorder of consciousness. The Hospital has participated in national and international research studies designed to improve understanding of the needs of people with acquired brain injuries and has hosted an international conference for specialists in this field of care.
Specialist therapy staff have also been invited to share their expert knowledge by co-writing guidelines for the Royal College of Physicians.
The opening of the Hospital’s new learning and development centre later this year, will enable the Hospital to continue to share and acquire knowledge and develop best practice for treating patients who have complex and long-term needs.
The Care Quality Commission’s full report can be viewed on Holy Cross Hospital’s website.