This year the Trust will undergo its first Care Quality Commission (CQC) visit under the new system.

Now called CQC Chief Inspector of Hospitals inspections, the visits are on a much bigger scale than previously and could mean we have up to 60 visitors – all with healthcare backgrounds - as guests of CHFT. They aim to have visited and assessed  all acute Trusts by the end of this year.

From our point of view, this is our opportunity to show them exactly how, as individuals and as  teams, CHFT is delivering compassionate care for our patients and their families.

There is no pre-announced date so we have to be ready and we must start that process now to make sure we are as well-prepared as possible.

It is a two-part inspection. Before they come, the inspectors will look at CHFT through our current performances statistics. The visit is the second part and this will involve them talking to colleagues, our patients and their families and our partners.

The key areas they will visit will include A&E, older peoples care, surgery, intensive care, maternity and family planning, services for children and young people, end of life care and outpatients.

They want to know how CHFT delivers, safe care with compassion and kindness,  how we make sure our care is tailored to our patients’ needs and how we work as team with strong leadership with the patient at the core of everything we do. We need to be aware of our ward’s individual performances in areas such as falls, pressure ulcers, infection prevention and to be aware of feedback via the Friends and Family Tests.

So, please take this as an early heads up so that, come the CQC visit, CHFT is in the best possible shape to impress  them! I know we can do it!

Julie Dawes,

Director of Nursing

** Look out for regular updates here in CHFT Weekly, in Trust News every month and on the intranet banner.