Positive progress highlighted in latest CQC report

02 July 2025

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has today published its report following an inspection of services at York Hospital, part of York and Scarborough Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, carried out on 14 and 15 January 2025.

The inspection focused on urgent and emergency care (UEC) and medical care services, assessed against a number of quality statements within the safe, effective, caring, responsive, and well-led domains.

The report reflects the significant progress made, particularly in urgent and emergency care which has improved from ‘inadequate’ to ‘requires improvement overall’. The safe and responsive domains have also moved from ‘inadequate’ to ‘requires improvement’, while well-led has notably improved from ‘inadequate’ to ‘good’. Both the effective and caring domains are now rated ‘good’.

Medical care has been rated as ‘requires improvement overall’, with caring rated ‘good’, demonstrating the ongoing compassion and commitment of our staff.

The overall rating for York Hospital has improved from ‘inadequate’ to ‘requires improvement’.

Simon Morritt, Chief Executive, York and Scarborough Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, said:

“We welcome the CQC’s report and the recognition that improvements have been made in both urgent and emergency care and medical care at York Hospital.

“I want to thank our staff for everything they do and reassure our communities that we remain fully committed to delivering safe, high-quality care, now and into the future.

“These positive changes have been achieved during a time of exceptional pressure on our services, and that is a testament to the dedication and professionalism of our staff. We’re particularly pleased the CQC noted that most patients and their families felt treated with compassion and kindness, a reflection of the values we work hard to uphold every day.

“Where urgent issues were identified, they were acted on immediately, and we’ve continued to make positive progress since the inspection. Patients should feel confident in the care they receive and our commitment to doing better.

“We know there is more to do. Our focus now is on embedding the improvements we’ve made, strengthening leadership at every level, and creating a culture where both patients and colleagues feel safe, supported, and valued.”

Examples of improvements since the inspections took place include:

• The Trust is undertaking a significant digital transformation programme with the introduction of a new electronic patient record (EPR) system, Nervecentre EPR, which will be implemented across the organisation. Nervecentre EPR comprises a suite of integrated applications that will be accessible across clinical settings, supporting improved communication, safer care, and more efficient workflows. Over time, it will replace the current system, enhancing connectivity, enabling better use of data to support clinical decision-making, and ultimately improving patient care and experience. The new system is expected to be fully implemented across the Trust by 2026.
• To strengthen compliance and improve patient outcomes, a new risk assessment screening tool has been introduced, incorporating assessments for falls, skin integrity and mental health. The mental health component went live in April 2024 and is currently embedding into practice within the department. While we have a comprehensive training offer in place to support the care and management of patients detained under the Mental Health Act, we fully recognise that further training is needed. This will better equip staff to clinically manage and respond to mental health needs across our wider patient population, including how mental health risks may present in different settings.
• Staff are aware of their responsibilities under the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) regulations, and regular audits are undertaken to ensure compliance across the organisation.
• We have been working closely with clinical teams to help identify practical, sustainable solutions to support paediatric activity in the emergency department. This includes undertaking a full nursing establishment review, which will inform the wider options appraisal currently underway. In the meantime, we’re making sure that additional clinical staff are available when needed, in line with clinical demand. This is part of our ongoing commitment to ensure safe, high-quality care for children and young people, and to support our teams in delivering it.
• We’re proud to support John’s Campaign, a national initiative that enables carers of vulnerable patients - including those with dementia, learning disabilities, sensory impairments or mental health needs - to continue playing an active role in their care while in hospital. This is part of our commitment to providing compassionate, personalised care that recognises the vital role carers play in supporting vulnerable patients.

The Trust has appointed a team of specialist admiral nurses to support carers of people living with dementia. Admiral nurses provide expert advice, emotional support and practical guidance, helping carers manage the challenges of dementia care.