Spire Clare Park Hospital near Farnham has maintained its ‘Good’ rating after an unannounced inspection by the Care Quality Commission (CQC).

The CQC carried out the inspection of surgical services in September, and rated the hospital ‘Good’ overall for surgical services being safe and well led.

CQC inspectors commented on the cleanliness of the ward areas, and singled out clean and well-maintained furnishings.

In addition to the hospital having enough nursing and support staff with the right qualifications, skills, training and experience to keep patients safe, there was a clear governance framework in place to monitor quality and performance.

Inspectors commented training was comprehensive and met the needs of patients and colleagues, while promoting equality and diversity in daily work.

The inspection praised hospital leaders for their experience, capacity and capability. Colleagues told inspectors Clare Park is a good hospital to work for, and spoke positively about the hospital’s teamwork, describing the culture as a ‘family’.

Inspectors noted leaders encourage colleagues to take on senior roles, with colleagues giving examples of being promoted and having opportunities to apply for senior positions.

During the pandemic, the hospital provided care to almost 2,000 NHS inpatients, who needed treatment for cancer and other critical conditions, and many thousands of NHS outpatients.

It is now helping local NHS trusts in addressing waiting lists in the area.