'Good' news for Derby and Burton hospitals as services rated by CQC
Patients across Derby and Burton are benefitting from high-quality care in outpatient and diagnostic imaging services, following new ratings from the Care Quality Commission (CQC).
Services at Royal Derby Hospital and Queen’s Hospital Burton have been rated ‘Good’ following inspections in November 2025, with the results published by the CQC last week. This means they are delivering care that is considered to be safe, effective, caring, responsive and well run.
The findings offer reassurance to patients and local communities about the standard of care being provided. Inspectors highlighted a compassionate, patient-focused culture across both hospitals, with patients describing care as kind and respectful, and saying they felt well-informed and involved in decisions about their treatment.
The CQC also found a strong focus on safety, with clear systems in place to raise concerns and learn from them - helping services continue to improve the care they provide.
Inspectors noted strong teamwork and good collaboration between services, as well as clean, well‑maintained environments and high standards of hygiene. Patients are also benefitting from ongoing improvements, including more clinics and better use of digital tools to make services easier to access and improve their overall experience.
These results have also helped improve the current overall ratings for both hospitals, with Royal Derby Hospital and Queen’s Hospital Burton now rated ‘Good’, up from ‘Requires Improvement’. While site ratings are updated as further inspections take place and change over time, this marks an encouraging step.
The results build on wider improvements across UHDB, including Critical Care being rated ‘Good’ last year > and continued progress in maternity services - helping to build confidence in the quality and safety of care for local people.
The CQC also identified some areas where further improvements can be made, including reducing variation in waiting times and communication, and ensuring all staff are fully up to date with training. Work is already underway, with clear action plans in place.
Stephen Posey, Chief Executive, said: “This is a really positive set of results for our patients and our local communities. Being rated ‘Good’ is a clear reflection of the safe, compassionate and high-quality care being delivered by our colleagues every day.
“Our teams have made real progress for our patients over the last year - not just in our CQC ratings, but right across the Trust - and that is making a difference to the care people receive.
“That said, we know there is much more to do and we are focused on continuing to improve, especially in ways that strengthen consistency and experience for our patients. Our ambition is simple - to keep building on this progress so that every patient who comes through our doors receives high-quality, safe care.”