Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what progress is being made on improving the performance of West Hertfordshire NHS Hospital Trust.

West Hertfordshire NHS Hospital Trust achieved an improved rating following the publication of the Care Quality Commission’s (CQC) recent report in March from “Inadequate” to “Requires Improvement”.

There has been a change in leadership at the Trust since its previous inspection and good progress has been made, particularly with regard to improving safety. NHS Improvement is providing effective support; an Improvement Director is in place; the Trust has a buddying arrangement with Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust and was awarded £1 million funding to improve accident and emergency services ahead of the winter. The West Herts Cardiac Centre opened in April, more than doubling the number of its specialist nurses and increasing the number of consultants at the Trust. As a result, waiting times are decreasing and the service has improved its referral to treatment target.

Further improvements are still needed. However much has changed for the better since the Trust was placed in special measures in September 2015. The CQC is planning a further inspection later this year.