1. Purpose of the report and policy context

1.1 This report provides information on the most recent CQC inspection of the Royal Sussex County Hospital and on improvement planning in response to the report recommendations.

2. Recommendations

2.1 That Committee notes the contents of this report.

3. Context and background information

3.1 University Hospitals Sussex NHS Foundation Trust (UHSx) manages a number of acute hospitals across Sussex, including the Royal Sussex County Hospital (RSCH) in Brighton. RSCH is the local general hospital for city residents and also a tertiary centre for Sussex and beyond.

3.2 The Care Quality Commission (CQC) is the statutory regulator of NHS services. Its duties include conducting inspections of NHS trusts. The CQC inspected UHSx in August 2023 and published reports on this in February 2024. The full inspection report for the RSCH is included as Appendix 1 to this report.

4. Analysis and consideration of alternative options

4.1 Not relevant to this report for information.

5. Community engagement and consultation

5.1 None for this information report.

6. Conclusion

6.1 Members are asked to note the CQC inspection report and the Trust’s improvement plans.

7. Financial implications

7.1 Not relevant to this report for information.

8. Legal implications

8.1 There are no legal implications to this report.

Name of lawyer consulted: Elizabeth Culbert Date consulted 26/03.24

9. Equalities implications

9.1 None directly for this information report.

10. Sustainability implications

10.1 None directly for this information report.

Supporting Documentation

1. Appendices

1. CQC inspection report on the Royal Sussex County Hospital (February 2024)