FOUR years after being ordered to improve its services the the Dorset branch of the NHS which looks after people with mental health issues and community health services has been given the highest possible rating by the government's inspection programme.

The Care Quality Commission has praised staff in Dorset Healthcare University NHS Foundation Trust for their work, rating it as Outstanding.

A team of CQC inspectors visited the trust in April 2019 to check the quality of four mental health core services and two community services.

They looked at acute wards for adults of working age and psychiatric intensive care units, long stay rehabilitation mental health wards for working age adults, wards for older people with mental health problems, mental health crisis services and health-based places of safety, community urgent care services and community health services for adults.

Last month the CQC returned to look at management and leadership and concluded the trust was well-lead, leading to its Outstanding overall rating for the quality of its services. The trust is also rated Outstanding for being caring and well-led and Good for being safe, effective and responsive.

DHUFT provides health and social care to 700,000 people across the county of Dorset. More than half its services are provided in the community, people’s homes, clinics and schools.

Deputy Chief Inspector of Hospitals, Dr Paul Lelliott, praised the trust.

“In June 2015, when we first inspected using our new approach, we rated the trust as Requires Improvement," he said. "Since then, the trust has worked steadily to improve the quality of its services. Their determination to develop a culture of continuous improvement has significantly improved the care they provide for their patients. This is reflected in the overall rating having moved to Outstanding."

He said staff spoke positively about the patient journey and "striving for continual improvement" with all staff working effectively as a team, in a coordinated way and in partnership with patients to ensure safe, high quality. care

“I am delighted at this achievement which is a credit to all of the trust’s staff," he added. "Their hard work is making a real difference to the lives of people using the services.”