Burton Hospitals Trust out of special measures

Burton Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust was placed into special measures in July 2013

A hospital trust where concerns were raised about mortality rates and standards of care is to come out of special measures.

An inspection by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) found Burton Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust had improved since putting in place a new regime in 2013.

The report praised the maternity ward, the trust's "positive culture" and noted formal complaints had halved.

It must still improve some areas, such as training emergency department staff.

The report also recommends the trust review the use of agency staff and the number of bed moves made by patients at night.

Professor Sir Mike Richards, CQC's Chief Inspector of Hospitals, said he was confident the trust had made the appropriate clinical improvements.

The trust, which runs the hospitals in Burton-on-Trent, Lichfield and Tamworth, was placed into special measures in July 2013 after concerns were raised about mortality rates and standards of care.

A further inspection in April 2014 rated the trust as requiring improvement.

Following the inspection in July 2015, the trust was rated as "good" for effective and caring service, and "requires improvement" regarding whether it was safe, responsive and well-led.