HUDDERSFIELD Royal Infirmary has been rated excellent: again!
The Calderdale and Huddersfield NHS Foundation Trust, which runs HRI and Halifax’s Calderdale Royal Hospital, has received a top performance rating from the Healthcare Commission.
It has been given a double excellent rating from the health watchdog.
It is the second year that the trust has been given the maximum rating and it is the only trust in West Yorkshire to gain the top award.
The commission examines health trusts on two criteria; how they manage resources and the quality of services provided to patients.
Trust chief executive Diane Whittingham said the double accolade reflected the hard work put in by staff to maintain standards.
She added: “This is absolutely fantastic news for all our staff and supporters and is a direct recognition of their hard work.
“It has been a tough year with tough targets to meet, but they have pulled out all the stops.
“I am delighted with the result and I hope local people see it as a measure of how hard we are working to deliver top-quality healthcare on their behalf.
“I would like to thank everyone involved.”
Only seven out of 36 NHS trusts in Yorkshire received a double excellent rating.
The Healthcare Commission said in its report that the Calderdale and Huddersfield trust had “continued to provide an excellent quality of service to patients”.
Trusts can score four grades: excellent, good, fair or weak.
They are rated over a 12-month period through a mix of self and external assessment and submitting evidence to inspectors.
Ms Whittingham added: “It shows we are not complacent. We know we don’t always get it right and there’s room for improvement.
“It is about constantly trying to improve.”
The trust’s target for the next Healthcare Commission rating is to improve patient safety.
Ms Whittingham said: “Our major drive is around patient safety and how we can improve the patient experience.
“Our ambition is for the trust to be one of the safest hospital trusts in the country.
