HOSPITALS in mid Cheshire have been rated as 'good' by the national regulator.

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) inspected Leighton Hospital, in Crewe, the Victoria Infirmary Northwich and Elmhurst Intermediate Care Centre in Winsford twice in October and has now published its report.

A team of 38 inspectors spoke to patients, visitors,carers, staff and the public and sought views of other NHS organisations and partners like clinical commissioning groups, NHS England, Health Education England, the General Medical Council, the Nursing and Midwifery Council, the Royal Colleges and the local Healthwatch team.

It rated Mid Cheshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust as 'good' overall and 'good' in terms of services at the centres being safe, effective, caring and well led.

It was rated as 'requires improvement' in the area of services being responsive.

Tracy Bullock, chief executive of Mid Cheshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, said: “While the report contains a great number of positives, we know that there is still room for improvement. "Our own internal review processes had previously highlighted the areas which were rated as 'requires Improvement' in the report and work had already commenced, and will continue, to address these issues.

“The inspection by the CQC has been an extremely thorough review of everything that we do here at MCHFT and to have been rated as 'good' is not only great news for us, but also for all of our current and future patients and their families. "They can now be assured that their services and treatments are delivered in environments that are clean and fit for purpose by staff who are highly skilled, caring and committed.”

For more information visit mcht.nhs.uk/CQC