Endoscopy Units at South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust are celebrating after their inspection by the Royal College of Physicians has led to them hailed as being exemplar in their field.
The inspectors said: “The service operates to an exceptional standard and easily some of the highest standards we have seen in the UK.”
The results are also the best ever seen by the Trust following an inspection.
The Joint Advisory Group (JAG) on GI Endoscopy visited the units at South Tyneside District Hospital and Sunderland Royal Hospital. Between them, they carry out more than 10,000 procedures each year.
It is the first JAG assessment as ‘one Trust two sites’ following on from the merger of South Tyneside NHS Foundation Trust and City Hospitals Sunderland NHS Foundation Trust in 2019.
It is an independent check and looks at the standards set down by the NHS, as well as the British Society of Gastroenterology. In addition to looking at how good care is and how it runs, the visit also involved talking to staff and patients, looked at waiting times, performance, how highly trained the team is and the equipment and technology used.
Among areas of praise for the department was that it is led “exceptionally well by a dynamic clinical and management team”.
The inspectors added: “The whole team demonstrated pride and passion in their work and all team members interviewed cared about providing the highest standards of patient care.”
The report goes on to note how the policies and processes as patients are at the top level possible, while a safety culture is embedded in team huddles, the World Health Organisation checks they carry out and nursing staff are empowered.
It said it offers high-quality training and trainees had said it had been their best experience to date and all those in the units understand the JAG standards and safe processes, with a commendation for its approach.
It added: “Rarely do we see such a well-led and organised team like this. It’s a service leadership and teamwork model for others to learn from.
“We congratulate the team on providing such patient-centred and safe care.”
Zoe Clapham is Clinical and Operational Lead for the department.
She said: “This has been our first joint visit and we are overjoyed to be told we are exemplar in many areas.
“As a whole, we have really high standards when it comes to our work and that’s really shone through.
“We were very emotional when we read the report, it has been a lot of hard work, and this shows everything we do is valued and recognised.”
Diane Fernandez is the Deputy Unit Manager at South Tyneside District Hospital.
She added: “The team are very happy and that came across to them – we really do put the patients at the centre of all the care we offer.
“They remarked on how well gelled the team is and how we work together, and I think that’s part of why we’re a good service.”
Ken Bremner MBE is the Trust’s Chief Executive and he said: “In all my years of working in the NHS, I have never seen such a positive report from an external regulatory body.
“I am immensely proud to have received this official confirmation of the department’s excellence, and I have no doubt they will continue to keep up this very high standard for current and future patients.”
“Can I take this opportunity to offer my congratulations to every single member of the team for such a fantastic outcome.”
Sunderland’s unit was revamped six years ago, while South Tyneside’s underwent a refit in 2021.
Information about the procedures they carry out can be found through the Trust’s Endoscopy Services page: https://www.stsft.nhs.uk/services/endoscopy-services
