Outpatient oncology chemotherapy services at Stepping Hill Hospital have received the top rating for patient care following an independent inspection.

The hospital’s Laurel Suite received the Quality Mark from The Christie, which is an international leader in cancer care.

In the first inspection since the COVID-19 lockdown, The Christie inspection team observed and reviewed services, including asking patients and staff their opinions both as a questionnaire and face-to-face. 

Standards under review included clinical safety, good communication with patients, friendliness and openness of staff, high standards of documentation, and overall quality of care. All were found to be of high quality with the inspection team highlighting that ‘patient feedback was truly outstanding, as was the staff survey feedback’.

The hospital’s Laurel Suite team provides chemotherapy and supportive drug treatments for cancer patients, and sees around 6,500 appointments a year.

This is the second time the services have been recognised for their excellent care in recent months, with the team also receiving the Patient’s Choice award at Stockport NHS Foundation Trust’s own Making A Difference Every day awards in October. This award was from the nomination of a grateful patient who said they had received amazing care from the team over a three year period.

Nic Firth, Chief Nurse for Stockport NHS Foundation Trust said “Patients with cancer and their family receive the most outstanding, compassionate care from all the staff at our Laurel Suite, and its great to see this acknowledged by their receiving The Christie Quality Mark. They can be rightly proud of this achievement.”