After more than a decade spent in and out of special measures, NHS England have recognised the improvements we’ve made in patient care, our finances, our A&Es and in the way we’re run. They’ve moved us out of what’s known as the Recovery Support Programme under the NHS Oversight Framework. 

This means we’re no longer in ‘special measures’.

The beneficial changes we’ve introduced were recognised by Caroline Clarke, the Regional Director for the NHS in London, when she officially opened our two new theatres at the King George Hospital Elective Surgical Hub. Caroline spoke about how it was “fantastic to see this whole Trust make a really big leap forward. We’ve seen so many improvements and we’re so impressed. We’re really looking forward to what else you can do for the people of north east London.”

Reacting to our move out of special measures, Matthew Trainer, our Chief Executive, said:

I’m so proud of all our teams who have helped make this happen. It’s satisfying to have achieved this after ten years in and out of special measures. We need to build on our momentum and make sure we continue to improve.

It demonstrates the confidence our national colleagues have in us that we no longer require the highest level of support and means we’re better placed to bid for extra funding, such as the £35m we need to expand our A&E at Queen’s Hospital. 

While such recognition is really appreciated, we know we have more to do to make sure our hospital deliver care we are proud of, and that our patients are happy with.

Our ambition is to move down into the next category of the NHS Oversight Framework, which would mean oversight at a north east London level rather than at a national one. To do this, we need to manage services within budget; control staffing levels so they don’t exceed our funded establishment; and increase our planned care activity by a further 10%. 

We must also continue to work with our Place-based partners (working collaboratively in Barking and Dagenham, Havering and Redbridge with the councils and local community and voluntary organisations) and as part of an Acute Provider Collaborative with Barts Health and Homerton Healthcare to improve care for patients across north east London.