A PRIVATE hospital is celebrating after getting the highest possible rating by inspectors.

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) found the Montefiore Hospital in Hove to be outstanding following visits earlier this year.

The hospital was given individual outstanding ratings for its effectiveness and responsiveness.

Its safety, care and leadership were all found to be good.

Only about a dozen private hospitals are rated as outstanding in the UK so this result is seen as a significant achievement for the Montefiore.

Managing director David Eglington said: “I don’t think a single member of the team has been able to stop smiling since we heard this fantastic news.

“This an amazing achievement and reflects a huge amount of work by so many.

“This rating is not due to one or two individuals.

“It is a result of high performing, passionate and caring teams throughout our hospital

“I am particularly proud the inspectors highlighted our strong relationship with our patients.

“Welcoming patient feedback and acting upon this to continually improve our services is the Montefiore’s huge strength.”

CQC inspectors highlighted the hospital’s effectiveness when listening to patients and using this communication to make continual improvements to its services.

The report said: “There was long-standing, consistent evidence that staff actively sought out patient and visitor feedback and made substantive improvements to the service as a result.”

This included the implementation of a patient experience committee and forums led by former patients and their relatives.

Changes brought about because of feedback included the introduction of a lead nurse for pre-assessment improved ways of discharging patients.

It also led to a scheme from the hospital’s head chef to introduce an on-demand hot meal-ordering service so patients could order food at short notice.

Inspectors praised the staff teams for being “consistently and demonstrably passionate about and motivated” by the hospital’s vision and strategy for providing quality patient services.

There was “extensive evidence” of different teams working closely and effectively together.

This included a physiotherapy team which proactively sought out opportunities for different types of learning and training.

This led to improved experience and results for patients.

The CQC carried out announced inspections on January 23, 24 and 25.

There was also an unannounced visit on February 4.