Special measures status for East Sussex Healthcare Trust accepted

The move follows the publication of the Care Quality Commission’s (CQC) inspection report published on September 22, which rated the trust’s as ‘inadequate’ despite being ‘good’ for caring.

The trust, which runs Conquest Hospital and Easbourne DGH, will receive now receive support under the special measures regime.

Anne Eden, director at the NHS Trust Development Authority, said: “The trust has already begun their quality improvement journey.

“However, they will require significant support from us and engagement from other partners in East Sussex if they are to meet this challenge and reach a position where they are consistently providing high quality services to every patient.

“We have a track record of supporting NHS trusts in the special measures regime to improve the care and treatment they provide to patients and are confident that with the right package of support in place, this can be achieved in East Sussex as well.”

The NHS TDA has already appointed an improvement director, who has started working with senior leaders at the trust to understand their quality improvement plan and identify where the trust will most requires support.

A spokesman for the TDA said: “The NHS TDA will seek to appoint a high performing ‘buddy’ organisation from within the NHS who will be able to advise the trust on what has worked well for them and how best to put improvements in place.

“The NHS TDA will also regularly scrutinise the trust’s progress as they work through their quality improvement plan and put in place improvements for patients.”

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