The introduction of “local hospital leadership teams” has led to better patient care and five-star reviews of Newham University Hospital (NUH).

Newham Recorder: Ward manager Mark OHalloran with senior nurse Dionne Daniel at Newham University Hospital.Ward manager Mark OHalloran with senior nurse Dionne Daniel at Newham University Hospital. (Image: Mark O'Halloran)

Barts Health Trust, which runs the hospital, announced the marked improvements recorded in an independent online patient survey following a “challenging” year.

Some 89pc of patients (1058 of 1192) have given the hospital a four or five star rating on the independently-run website iWantGreatCare since March.

It marks a massive turn of fortunes for the once-failing service provider after its parent organisation Barts Health NHS Trust was judged “inadequate” by Care Quality Commission (CQC) inspectors in May 2015.

Hospital bosses immediately implemented the new leadership teams to “turn care around”.

A spokeswoman said 11 per cent more staff believe that Barts Health provides “high quality care” compared to 2015, while increased staff morale also reduced staff leavers and shortages.

Mark O’Halloron, ward manager of a surgery day case ward and orthopaedic surgery ward, said there had been a “culture change” amongst senior management following the damning report.

He said: “I can see it and I can see if from my staff.

“We can change things for ourselves.”

One example he cited was the implementation of new processes driven by clinical staff.

Mark added: “In our wards we were having problems with changeovers from one nurse to the next nurse.

“Within two or three days they had come up with a marvellous new solution.”

The nurses now operate a ABC-style (Airway, Breathing and Circulation) approach in passing on key information from the most critical downwards for a more “systematic approach”.

Porter-turned-ward manager Mark O’Halloran, who has worked at the hospital for 12 years, said the 2012 merger of Barts and The London NHS trust with Newham and Whipps Cross had caused problems but things were now improved.

“I would be happy for one of my loved ones to come to Newham myself,” he said.

“Senior management are more engaged with the staff on the hospital floor.

“They are not sitting in their offices, they are on the wards.”

The feel-good factor at the hospital has in turn led to staff holding events and turning to social media using #NewhamPride to share their positive stories.

Claire Davis, Change Manager at Barts Health NHS Trust, credits the local autonomy as having “given a voice to hospital workers as well as to patients” making it easier to suggest and make improvements.

She added: “Success breeds success so it’s now time to show that we’re providing better and safer care at Newham Hospital. This has been a real team effort so our events are a way to bring colleagues together to shout about all we are proud of achieving for our patients this year.”

Visit iwantgreatcare.org for more.