The South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust has become one of the first acute hospital trusts in England since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic to achieve a rating increase to ‘good’ from the Care Quality Commission (CQC).

The trust, which runs The James Cook University Hospital in Middlesbrough, Northallerton’s Friarage Hospital and community services in Redcar and Cleveland, Middlesbrough and North Yorkshire, has been moved up in the rankings from ‘requires improvement’.

The latest inspection took place between November 2022 and January this year. (2023).

In an endorsement of the trust’s improvement journey since its last full inspection in 2019, inspectors also upgraded its rating for leadership at the organisation to ‘good’.

When the CQC inspects hospital trusts, the care regulator also reviews whether they are safe, caring, effective and responsive to people's needs, and the trust achieved an overall ‘good’ rating in each area.

Read more: How much North East councils spent on Coronation celebrations 'enjoyed by thousands'

In every interaction the inspectors observed during their inspection, the CQC said that staff were kind to each other, and their patients.

Since 2019, the trust has been empowering its clinicians to make decisions about how resources are allocated, and care is delivered across the organisation for patients and families.

Sue Page CBE, chief executive at South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, said: “I  am incredibly proud of all our staff. This achievement is a testament to their dedication and hard work.

Read more: Man arrested on suspicion of drink driving as 'concerned' motorist calls police

Read more: Mountain biker suffers serious back injury after horror crash at cycling event

Read more: 'It takes time': Dads share their experience of adopting their sons in the North East

“It has been a team effort and I am honoured to lead such a fantastic group of teams and individuals. Together, they have all achieved something truly special, and we will continue to build on this progress for our fantastic patients and service users in the years to come.

“We will not be resting on our laurels. There is still lots more work to do, and we are committed to working tirelessly to carry on raising our standards in collaboration with our fantastic partners and communities as we continue to recover together from the huge effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.”

To get more stories direct to your email basket go here.

“Rishi Sunak, MP for Richmond (Yorks), welcomed the news. He said: “This is great for staff at the two hospitals, patients and the hospitals' management.

“Sue Page and her team have made tremendous progress in the difficult circumstances caused by the pandemic, and I want to thank everyone at the Friarage and James Cook University Hospitals for their hard work and dedication.”

Alex Cunningham, Labour MP for Stockton North, said: “The overall rating of South Tees NHS Trust from 'requires improvement' to 'good' is excellent news and a clear testament to the hard work of the staff, management and Trust leadership to make significant improvements.

“Patients and their loved ones deserve to know that their healthcare is of the best quality and that staff and healthcare leaders are well trained, equipped with the right skills, and receptive to the need for change and improvement.

“While there is some room for improvement, the results of this recent unannounced CQC inspection can give patients and users confidence that their care at South Tees Hospitals is of a good quality, safe and well led.”

Labour MP for Middlesbrough, Andy McDonald, said: “This is a massive achievement for all the staff at James Cook University Hospital who have worked tirelessly in the face of the enormous challenges facing our NHS to make these significant improvements since the Hospital Trust’s last full inspection in 2019.

An enormous amount of praise is due to them all, and the Trust’s Chief Executive Sue Page whose leadership continues to play such a big part in James Cook’s progress.”