THE James Paget University Hospital has today welcomed the results of the Healthcare Commission's (HCC) annual health check which rates the hospital as excellent for quality and finance.

THE James Paget University Hospital has today welcomed the results of the Healthcare Commission's (HCC) annual health check which rates the hospital as excellent for quality and finance.

The annual health check gives a comprehensive assessment of the performance of every NHS Trust in England, looking at both the quality of services and how resources are used.

Secretary of state for health, Alan Johnson and chairman of the Healthcare Commission, Sir Ian Kennedy, have written to the trust stating the organisation had achieved a level of performance that all trusts should aspire to.

Hospital trust chairman John Hemming said: “We are delighted to achieve this excellent rating which demonstrates our continuous improvement in patient care and our use of resources. It recognises the trust as a top performer. It is a proud day for patients, staff and everyone associated with the hospital and demonstrates that investments made are benefitting patients and their care.”

Adrian Pennington, chief executive, said the landmark result for the hospital was a reflection of the enormous effort and commitment from staff.

“I am personally very proud to be leading this successful organisation. Our efforts to listen to the patient's experience and strive to improve the care we provide are showing results,” he said.

Mr Pennington added the hospital would continue to work with the public and patients to get even more feedback to enhance services further.

“Patients can be confident that they have a high performing hospital on their doorstep,” he said.

Commenting on the excellent rating for quality of services, Nick Coveney, director of nursing and patient services said staff realised privacy and dignity were important issues for patients and in five wards bays have been reduced from six to four beds and the hospital has also created a single sex facility.

A new 22 bed ward facility currently being developed will open next year providing state-of-the-art infection prevention facilities.

Mr Coveney said: “The trust has seen dramatic improvements in the management of infections, with the lowest ever position currently recorded for bMRSA and Clostridium Difficile.”

The hospital has become a shinning example to other health sites across the country over the way it dealt the outbreak of killer bug C-diff last year, which was a factor in the death of 18 people.

Every hospital and trust in Britain has a booklet detailing the hospitals experience with the 027 strain of the bug and shows how the JPH dramatically reduced Cdiff cases by deep cleaning wards, reducing hospital bays, installing cleaning gel dispensers, isolating patients and making sure staff changed their uniforms every day.

Julie Cave, director of finance and performance at the trust, said the recent announcement of the £5m of the hospitals training and education centre would only enhance to services it offers.