What makes Newcastle Hospitals 'Outstanding'?

Why have Newcastle hospitals been rated ‘Outstanding’ by the Care Quality Commission (CQC)?

Here at the GNCH we don’t only treat patients from the North of England, but from the rest of the UK, Europe and even worldwide!

Our Bone Marrow Transplant Unit was mentioned on multiple occasions in the CQC’s report for ‘Outstanding’ practice. Our BMT unit is one of two units in the UK.

CQC Inspectors said:

“The children’s bone marrow transplant unit worked closely with adult services based at the Freeman and other specialists in the UK and Europe. The unit provided care and treatment to children and young people with complex and unique conditions and the clinical team utilised video conferencing facilities to consult with colleagues from all over the world to determine the best course of action for every child and young person. Parents we spoke with felt well informed about their child’s condition and treatment. They knew all of the details and could explain what was happening and when. One parent told us they had received lots of information prior to her child’s admission for a bone marrow transplant. This included a video explaining what to expect and received an invitation from staff to visit the ward in advance.”

“Staff also ensured families were active participants in their child’s care and treatment. For example, consultants from the children’s bone marrow transplant unit involved families during meetings with international colleagues to ensure parents were fully conversant in discussions that often related to new and innovative techniques. In some cases, staff also showed parents how to administer medication.”

“Parents told us staff understood the impact the condition and treatment had on their children and provided emotional support. Upon discharge, children and families were encouraged to maintain contact with the relevant specialist service if they need further support or advice. One patient contacted the children’s bone marrow transplant unit 20 years after their transplant to seek advice after contracting chicken pox.”

“The liaison team supporting bone marrow transplant patients arranged ‘halfway house’ accommodation for families from outside of the region and co-ordinated arrangements for international patients.”

“The liaison team from the bone marrow transplant unit had developed an open access pathway so post-transplant patients could access urgent care quickly and safely. Children and young people presented their unique passport upon arrival in A&E, which included all information pertaining to their condition and any ongoing treatment. The team had worked with other trusts across the country, to ensure a smooth transition. Representatives from the team had presented the pathway to colleagues from across the world at the most recent European Bone Marrow Transplant conference in Istanbul. Feedback from families about the passport was very positive.”