Member of Parliament for Central Suffolk and North Ipswich, Dr Dan Poulter, has highlighted the excellent progress made by the Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust in their recent CQC inspection.

During an adjournment debate in the House of Commons, Dr Poulter commended the leadership and hard work of the Trust which has recently seen them lifted to “requires improvement”.  Although acknowledging there is still much to be done, Dr Poulter specifically praised the Board for their leadership and ongoing commitment to delivering improvements in frontline patient care.  Dr Poulter called on the Government to continue to provide the necessary support to the Trust, particularly around capital funding,  so that the Trust can remain on this path to further improvement.

Under new leadership, the Board and staff have worked hard to deliver significant change and in its most recent inspection, the CQC recognised the improvements during an unannounced comprehensive inspection of two core services: child and adolescent mental health wards and community-based mental health wards. 

On individual services, 60% of those inspected are now rated ‘good’, and the Trust no longer has a legal warning notice relating to concerns about the quality and safety of its patient care.  Dr Poulter also sought further reassurances from the Minster that there would be no threat of the Trust being broken up, so that it can get on and focus on continuing to deliver the improvements.

This news has provided a welcome boost to all those staff responsible for delivering the biggest improvements to mental health provision for some time. 

As a practising NHS mental health doctor, Dr Poulter has long campaigned for more money to deliver better mental health care for patients in Suffolk.

Dr Dan Poulter said, ‘I am delighted with the progress made by the Trust and the feedback from service users is very encouraging indeed. It is heartening to learn that patients now feel safe in the hands of the Trust, and they have also expressed satisfaction with the care and kindness they have received, they feel they are listened to and treated with respect.  Whilst there is still some way to go, I am now confident that under the current leadership, the Trust will continue to improve and to deliver the high quality services that people here in Suffolk can expect and deserve.’