THE trust which oversees the care of hospital patients across Tynedale has become only the fourth in the country to be rated ‘outstanding’.

Following a series of inspections and visits which began in November, Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust was given the highest judgement possible by the Care Quality Commission.

The trust’s three main general hospitals in Hexham, North Tyneside and Wansbeck, as well as the Northumbria Specialist Emergency Care Hospital in Cramlington which opened in June 2015, were all rated as outstanding individually.

When visiting maternity services, including the midwife-led unit at Hexham, inspectors observed staff being “supportive and respectful”, offering women emotional support and making sure they were fully involved in their care. The CQC’s maternity experience survey for 2015 also placed Northumbria Healthcare in the top 10 hospital trusts in England.

In total, the CQC rated 20 core services at Northumbria Healthcare as outstanding – more than any other organisation previously examined by the Chief Inspector of Hospitals, Sir Mike Richards.

The trust was also praised for its “inspirational leadership” and “strong clinical engagement.”

Chief executive David Evans said: “We are immensely proud to receive such positive recognition from the CQC after such a landmark year for Northumbria.

“On behalf of the trust board I would like to thank each and every member of staff for the commitment they show, every single day, to provide high quality patient care.”