Inspectors from the Care Quality Commission (CQC) have noticed a “cultural shift” at Colchester Hospital, bolstering hopes the trust will be pulled out of special measures.
Around 40 examiners visited the hospital over the course of three days at the end of July, and trust boss Nick Hulme said it was the first time in three or four years that the then-chief executive hadn’t been called in for an urgent meeting because a significant risk to patients had been found.
“I think that’s an absolute credit to the staff,” said Mr Hulme during a meeting of the trust’s board members on Tuesday, August 1.
“I think the expression used was there was as real danger of a positivity outbreak. There was a real cultural shift, were the words used by CQC inspectors.”
David White, chairman of the board, added: “We were very keen for the CQC to come back and see first hand how the staff were making improvements to patient care.”
Colchester Hospital is currently rated inadequate and was placed in special measures in November 2013.
Results from the latest CQC visit are due to be published at the end of September/start of October.
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