CQC upgrades Spire Gatwick Park Hospital rating to 'Good'

17 January 2022

Spire Gatwick Park Hospital in Horley has seen its rating improve to ‘Good’, following an inspection by the Care Quality Commission (CQC).

Inspectors carried out an unannounced and comprehensive examination into services offered at the 32-bed hospital in October 2021. In its report published today, the CQC rated it ‘Good’ overall. They also rated it ‘Good’ in each of the individual categories; safe, effective, caring, responsive to people’s needs and well-led, and across all core services; surgery, outpatients diagnostic imaging, services for children and young people and medical care.

Prior to today’s report, the hospital was rated ‘Requires Improvement’. 

In today’s report, inspectors made special mention of the care provided by hospital colleagues. They describing staff as treating patients “with compassion and kindness,” respecting “their privacy and dignity,” and providing emotional support for patients, their families and their carers.

Hospital leaders were seen to be running services well, using reliable information systems and supporting staff in developing their skills. The report highlighted that the hospital was focused on meeting the needs of local people, taking account of patients’ individual needs and providing opportunities for people to give feedback on the service they received.

Waiting times for treatment were cited as another strength in the hospital review. The inspectors praised the way that the hospital had set up an ophthalmology laser treatment service and knee osteoarthritis service to ease pressure on waiting lists. They also commended a new one stop service set up for children and young people with gut-related problems.

Today’s report means that across the country, 93% of Spire Healthcare hospitals and clinics are now rated ‘Good’ or ‘Outstanding,’ or the national equivalent in Scotland and Wales.

Louise Holbert, Hospital Director at Spire Gatwick Park Hospital, said: “The improvement in our hospital’s rating to ‘Good’ is a testament to the hard work, commitment and skill of all of our colleagues. They’ve risen to the challenges posed by the pandemic over the past two years, putting delivering exceptional care to patients and their families at the heart of everything they do.”

“Our sights are now firmly on focusing on how we might secure an ‘Outstanding’ CQC rating, the next time we are inspected.”

Justin Ash, Chief Executive at Spire Healthcare, commented: “This CQC report is a fitting recognition of the dedication shown by my colleagues at Gatwick Park Hospital. From their focus on safety, providing personalised care and offering emotional as well as clinical support, the team puts patients at the heart of everything they do.

“I’m delighted that 93% of our hospitals are now rated ‘Good’ or ‘Outstanding.’ The report moves us one step closer towards our aim of securing a ‘Good’ or ‘Outstanding’ rating for all of our Spire hospitals.”

Spire Gatwick Park Hospital is a well-established provider of private hospital treatments to patients in Surrey and Sussex.

The hospital has three operating theatres, including laminar flow theatres for orthopaedic surgery, 32 private rooms, each with en-suite facilities, TV and WiFi, 15 daycare cubicles, and an on-site pharmacy. In recent months, the hospital has invested £1.6m in refurbishments and upgrades to parts of the hospital. This has included upgrades to patient bedrooms and en-suite shower rooms, to ensure patients feel as comfortable as possible during their stay at the hospital. The hospital has also replaced gas-powered boilers with equipment fuelled by electricity from renewable sources, as part of Spire’s commitment to go carbon neutral by 2030.

Spire Gatwick Park refurbishments

Read Spire Gatwick Park Hospital's CQC report