The Wellington Hospital surgical care rated 'Outstanding' by CQC

The Wellington Hospital, part of HCA Healthcare UK, has been rated ‘Outstanding’ for its surgical services by the national regulators at the Care Quality Commission (CQC), following a recent inspection. 

Antoinette Smith, CQC Deputy Director of CQC Operations in London praised The Wellington, which provides a depth and breadth of care across diagnostic and outpatient care through to complex and specialist care and surgery, as an ‘exemplar of best practice which others can, and should, learn from.’

The CQC noted how patients could begin their care with an appointment at HCA UK’s Diagnostics and Outpatients centres closer to their home, which enabled an ease of access. The Wellington’s outpatient centres at Elstree Waterfront, Golders Green and the LOC at The Platinum Medial Centre are also rated CQC Outstanding.

The CQC praised the Surgical Department’s multidisciplinary approach, with consultants, lead nurses, clinical nurse specialists, and physiotherapists coming together to provide an individual care plan tailored around a patient's individual needs. 

The nursing teams were recognised for their kindness and compassion in the care of patients, organising a wedding for a palliative patient and making patients’ birthdays special with homemade birthday cakes suitable to the patient’s dietary requirements.

The CQC commended how recovery nurses meet patients preoperatively to answer any questions the patient may have and how this nurse then looks after the patient post-surgery ensuring that when patient is awake, they were able to see a familiar face immediately after their procedure.

The hospital was applauded for its commitment to learning, continuous improvement and innovation – particularly as the first independent hospital to operate using the Intraoperative Magnetic Resonance Imaging (iMRI) scanner.

Additional praise received within the CQC report includes:

• Staff treated patients with compassion and kindness, respected their privacy and dignity, took account of their individual needs, and helped them understand their conditions. 
• Services were tailored to meet the needs of individual patients and were delivered in a way to ensure flexibility choice and continuity of care.
• The leadership, governance and culture were used to drive and improve the delivery of high-quality person-centred care.
• There was a strong well-known vision and strategy at the hospital. Staff wellbeing and patient care was at the cornerstone of the hospital's own strategy. Committees and mechanisms were in place to support the strategy and deliver the vision. Strong leadership was found at all levels and staff spoke highly about colleagues and of working at the hospital.
   

Eric Reichle, CEO of The Wellington Hospital, part of HCA Healthcare UK said: 

“We are incredibly proud to be rated ‘Outstanding’ for our surgical care by the CQC. It is a tremendous achievement and great recognition of the phenomenal care provided by our team day in and day out to support our patients and enable outstanding patient care. 

“Alongside the expertise and breadth of care that we offer, that our teams were recognised for their dedication to providing compassionate and individual care is a reflection of our truly high-quality patient centred approach. It is testament to the dedication and teamwork of everyone involved and recognises our hospital mission, that above all else, we are committed to the care and improvement of human life.”

Antoinette Smith, CQC Deputy Director of Operations in London, said:

“I’m delighted to say that The Wellington Hospital has been awarded CQC’s highest rating of outstanding overall after our recent inspection.

“We found a hospital where the care and wellbeing of people receiving treatment was at the core of the hospital's strategy. All of the staff we spoke to were committed to this vision and strategy.

“We also found exceptional care. For example, staff thought about the wellbeing and comfort of people even after they had been discharged.

“The hospital was committed to an inclusive workplace and had partnered with the Talent Beyond Boundaries Charity which supported displaced people to have a chance to rebuild their careers and lives. The charity matched skilled refugees with companies in need of their skills. We were given examples of two staff members at The Wellington Hospital that had been recruited through this charity. Staff working at the hospital had even collected Talent Beyond Boundaries staff from the airport, provided accommodation, pastoral support and welcomed them with a tour around London.

“The overall service and standard of care at The Wellington Hospital should be upheld as an exemplar of best practice which others can, and should, learn from. Well done to everyone involved.”

For more information, please contact the team at The PHA Group: 
hcauk@thephagroup.com / 0207 0251 363 

About HCA Healthcare UK 

• From complex and urgent care to primary care, outpatient and day-case treatment, HCA Healthcare UK provides expert medical care across a system of hospitals, outpatient clinics and NHS partnerships.
• HCA Healthcare UK includes The Harley Street Clinic, London Bridge Hospital, The Princess Grace Hospital, The Portland Hospital, The Lister Hospital, The Wellington Hospital, The Wilmslow Hospital and Roodlane Medical. 
• HCA UK also partner with leading NHS Trusts to provide care at HCA UK at University College Hospital, The Christie Private Care and Private Care at Guy’s. The Harborne Hospital in Birmingham will open in 2024. 
• Find out more here. 

 About The Wellington Hospital

• The Wellington Hospital is the UK’s largest private hospital providing specialist complex care.
• We are a specialist centre treating the full range of specialties including Cardiac, Orthopaedics, Spinal, Digestive Health and Neurosciences including Acute Neurological Rehabilitation. 
• We provide a 24/7 Acute Admissions Service for urgent and unplanned medical admissions for referrers and have an Urgent Care Centre for patients.