Over the last two years we have inspected every Trust registered hospital and community base. We have completed annual inspections of the James Cook University Hospital and The Friarage as well as completing themed inspections at the hospitals, which looked at both Accident and Emergency departments as well has the Trust’s termination of pregnancy services. We found that the Trust encouraged us to identify any ways they could improve.

Teams of CQC staff have inspected all the locations and these teams included specialist advisors and experts by experience. Throughout the two years we have held regular meetings with Trust representatives and discussed work the Trust is completing to maintain and improve their service. We have found that over the two years the Trust has remained compliant with all the regulations.

Our central analytic team have constantly reviewed the data the Trust has submitted to the various bodies overseeing their work and used this to assess the performance of the Trust. The central team have also compared this information on performance against other Trusts both in the North East, across the country and against Trusts with similar size populations and services. The last published risk rating for the Trust placed them in band 6, which is the lowest risk rating.

We found that the Trust’s quality assurance system was effective. It covered all aspects of the service and did not lose sight of the needs of the patients using the community services.

The Trust had closed one of the wards at Guisborough hospital. Priory ward was open and was providing services for older people who may need longer term rehabilitative care, palliative care and they also run a stroke unit. On the day of the inspection19 people were receiving care on this ward. The focus of this inspection was on in-patient care, therefore we concentrated on this aspect of the hospital services.

During the visit, we spoke with seven people who were in-patients on Priory Ward and two of their relatives. We asked people on this ward about the choices on offer; whether they felt respected; what the care was like; and what people thought about the staff. People told us that they thought the care they received was very good and that there was plenty of staff, all of whom they felt were good at their jobs. People told us that staff kept them fully informed about their care and any discharge plans. They said, ‘’I have been very well looked after’’, ‘‘They are very good to me in all ways’’, ‘’The staff are very good day and night’’, ‘’I’m delighted; it is like a private hospital’’ and ‘’I’m so much better and it’s all credit to the NHS.’’

People told us that the ward was run well and that staff were committed to making sure everything operated smoothly. People said "All the shifts are equally good and the night staff have been excellent’’, "I am supported, they communicate well and staff are friendly’’ and "I don’t think it could be improved.’’