HEALTH inspectors have concluded services at a North-East private hospital are safe, effective and caring.

The report on the Nuffield Health Tees Hospital in Norton, near Stockton, by the Care Quality Commission is based on an inspection last November.

It is one of the first independent hospitals to be inspected under the CQC’s new approach, which asks whether services are safe, effective, caring, responsive to people’s needs and well led.

CQC found staff were caring and treated patients and their relatives with dignity and respect. Patients who spoke to inspectors were positive about their care and treatment.

Medical and nurse staffing levels were said to be adequate on the ward, theatres, outpatients and diagnostic services, and staffing numbers and skill mix were reviewed regularly so staffing levels can be increased if required.

Inspectors found staff understood their responsibilities to raise concerns and record patient safety incidents and near misses and there was evidence of a culture of learning and a commitment amongst staff to drive service improvement.

Patients had “timely access to assessment, diagnosis and treatment and services ran on time with minimal delays for patients.”

Where complaints were made, they were handled in a timely way, inspectors said.

The hospital had processes in place to ensure all staff received mandatory training and where required additional training sessions were provided.

While CQC found much good practice the inspectors also identified two areas for improvement – staff following infection control procedures and better awareness of mental health issues.

Commenting on the CQC report David Richardson, director of the Nuffield Health Tees Hospital, said: “As one of the first independent hospitals to be inspected under the new CQC guidelines, we are extremely pleased with the findings.”