The improved rating marks a significant step forward for Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, which runs Great Western Hospital in Swindon, after inspectors identified improvements in patient care, leadership and workplace culture.
The CQC carried out inspections over the past two years across the Trust’s Medicine, Surgery and Planned Care, and Family and Specialist Services divisions.
Inspectors spoke with patients and staff before concluding that teams were friendly and approachable, with a positive learning culture across the organisation.
The report also found patients’ personal, communication and healthcare needs were being met, with families involved in decisions about care.
The Trust said the new rating reflects years of work to improve services while continuing to manage increasing patient demand, long waiting lists and wider financial pressures affecting the NHS.
Maternity services, however, remain rated ‘Requires Improvement’. Trust leaders said work is continuing to address the issues raised by inspectors and build on the progress already made.
Cara Charles-Barks, Chief Executive of the BSW Hospitals Group, said:
“We are incredibly proud to be rated ‘Good’ by the CQC following a series of inspections of different services. This recognition reflects the unwavering commitment, professionalism and compassion shown by our staff every single day.
“Over recent years, teams have worked hard to strengthen our services and improve the experience of our patients and colleagues. To see these efforts acknowledged is a fantastic achievement, particularly at a time when the NHS continues to face significant challenges.”
She said the Trust had made “exceptional strides” in improving patient care, including reducing hospital falls and pressure ulcers, expanding outpatient clinics and using digital technology to help reduce waiting lists and ensure patients receive care in the right place first time.
Addressing maternity services, she added:
“While we have already made significant steps to address the areas highlighted by the CQC, we will continue to work to improve in this area.”
She said future work would focus on learning more quickly from family feedback, improving the maternity environment so women can access staff more easily, and continuing to provide strong leadership for maternity teams.
Despite retaining its ‘Requires Improvement’ rating, maternity services have introduced several initiatives over the past year, including achieving the UNICEF UK Baby Friendly Gold Award, opening a new Transitional Care Unit for babies born between 35 and 36 weeks, and launching a neonatal oral antibiotics at home programme to allow some families to leave hospital sooner.
Inspectors also recognised strong teamwork across the Trust’s perinatal services, praising the supportive working culture, leadership and staff training.
The Trust said teams responded quickly where inspectors identified areas requiring improvement, demonstrating a strong commitment to continuous learning across the organisation.
The upgraded CQC rating is expected to provide reassurance to patients across Swindon and Wiltshire while work continues to improve maternity services.
