Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust Exits Special Measures

The Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust (SaTH) has officially exited special measures after demonstrating substantial and sustained improvement, marking a significant milestone in its recovery. The Trust, which operates the Princess Royal Hospital in Telford and the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital, had been under the Recovery Support Programme, a form of special measures, since November 2018.

Significant Progress Recognized by NHS England

Following a recent assessment, NHS England acknowledged SaTH’s progress in key areas including financial sustainability, operational performance, governance, and clinical services. The review confirmed visible and measurable improvements across a range of indicators, built upon intensive support and oversight provided through the Recovery Support Programme.

Key Achievements Over the Past 18 Months

SaTH has achieved notable improvements in several critical areas:

• National Oversight Framework (NOF) Ranking: Moved up to 96th out of 134 Trusts.
• Elective Recovery: Became the most improved Trust nationally for 18-week Referral-to-Treatment (RTT) performance.
• Cancer Diagnosis: Ranked second nationally for the cancer 28-day Faster Diagnosis Standard, with ongoing improvements in 62-day cancer treatment times.
• Diagnostic Performance: Delivered the strongest diagnostic performance in five years.
• Maternity and Neonatal Care: Made sustained progress and is on track to exit the Maternity Safety Support Programme (MSSP).
• Financial Performance: Delivered a £41 million Cost Improvement Programme (CIP) – its highest ever – and is on track for a 50% deficit reduction compared to 2023/24.
• University Trust Status: Secured University Trust status, recognizing its growing focus on research, education, and clinical training.

Ongoing Improvement Plans

While celebrating this achievement, SaTH leaders emphasize that the improvement journey is ongoing. The Trust is committed to further strengthening clinical services, embedding sustainable operational performance, enhancing patient experience, and delivering the Hospitals Transformation Programme by 2028. This program aims to secure modern, safe, and resilient hospital services for Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin. [SaTH Website]

Leadership Perspective

Jo Williams, Group Chief Executive of SaTH, stated, “This is a significant milestone on our improvement journey, and I am incredibly proud of our staff for their hard work and dedication. They have and continue to put our patients at the heart of our work to transform care and improve health outcomes.” She added, “This is not the end of our improvement journey…we are making tangible progress and we are pleased this has been recognised.”

Impact on the Local Health System

SaTH’s exit from special measures is expected to positively impact the wider health and care system. Improved performance in diagnostics, cancer pathways, and RTT times will help alleviate pressure on neighboring acute providers. The University Trust status will as well enable SaTH to contribute more significantly to clinical research, workforce development, and innovation in the region.

New emergency care facilities have recently opened as part of the ongoing redevelopment project at Royal Shrewsbury Hospital.