- NHS hospital
Darlington Memorial Hospital
Report from 3 June 2024 assessment
Contents
Ratings - Urgent and emergency services
Our view of the service
Date of assessment: 17 Jun to 12 Aug 2024. Darlington memorial Hospital provides a range of NHS hospital services. This assessment looked at urgent and emergency care (UEC) services. We carried out this assessment due to concerns regarding specific patient safety incidents, triage and poor performance indicators, such as waiting times. The rating from UEC has been combined with ratings of the other services from the last inspections. See our previous reports to get a full picture of all other services at Darlington Memorial Hospital. The rating of Darlington Memorial Hospital remains good. In our assessment of UEC services, we found there was a good safety culture where events were investigated, and learning was embedded to promote good practice. Staff provided safe care and treatment, and the environment was safe and well maintained. When the department was busy, leaders adjusted staffing levels to meet the needs of their patients. Staff delivered good care and treatment following evidence-based practice and people had good outcomes. Staff were kind, caring and compassionate. The service was responsive to the needs of the local community and people could access care and treatment when they needed it. The department and staff were well-led by strong leaders who embodied the cultures and values of their workforce. There was improved governance and a proactive approach to risk management.
People's experience of this service
Patients, families and carers we spoke with were all positive about the staff, who treated them with warmth and kindness and provided effective care and treatment. They said they were seen quickly by trained nursing staff when they arrived and were asked appropriate questions to find out more about why they had attended the emergency department (triage). Records we reviewed showed they were given the tests they needed usually promptly, and they felt staff were on hand if they needed them for help or support. People said they did not feel anxious about raising concerns. CQC had been contacted by people with concerns regarding long waiting times some had experienced but had mostly reported good care. Patients said communication with them was good.