Our CQC ratings

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) is the independent regulator of health and social care in England. Its purpose is to make sure health and social care services provide people with safe, effective, compassionate, high-quality care and encourage care services to improve.

It monitors, inspects and regulates services to make sure they meet fundamental standards of quality and safety and publish their findings, including performance ratings to help people choose care.

In 2023, the CQC carried out a Well-Led review of the Trust and reviewed one service, End of Life Care. 

We were rated Good for leadership and Requires Improvement for End of Life Care.

As this was a focussed rather than a full inspection the overall rating of Requires Improvement for the Trust remains unchanged and is based on the findings of the CQC’s last comprehensive inspection in 2017. 

What’s happened since our last inspection?

We are continually monitored by the Care Quality Commission who liaise and engage with our CQC team to review our services, and we have made significant and sustained improvement throughout the trust.

A Quality Improvement Committee meets monthly to discuss ongoing areas of focus, the most recent service reports from each division and any issues and escalations. The committee includes senior members of staff representing each area along with the CQC team led by our Deputy Chief Nurse.

Maternity services

Following an inspection in October 2024, the CQC rated the Maternity service at Tunbridge Wells Hospital as ‘good’, finding “significant improvements” had been made since its previous inspection in August 2023. 

The  CQC’s new report  recognised a range of improvements, including strengthened oversight, a positive safety culture, routine monitoring of care and treatment to continuously improve outcomes, a culture of kindness and compassion, and an improved focus on equality, diversity and inclusion.