ONE of the leading private hospital providers in East Lancashire has been given a clean bill of health.

Inspectors from the Care Quality Commissions (CQC) have rated the BMI Beardwood Hospital, off Preston New Road in Blackburn, as ‘good’ after an unannounced visit last October.

Core surgical, outpatients and diagnostics services were assessed by the CQC visitors at the centre, which also undertakes East Lancashire NHS contracts alongside private work.

Announcing the decision Ellen Armistead, deputy chief inspector of hospitals, said: “Staff at the hospital provided care that was compassionate and caring. We observed staff treating patients with respect and dignity at all times.”

There was evidence of a “strong reporting culture” at Beardwood, according to the CQC team, though any incidents which did occur were of low or no harm.

And if any incidents did happen then they were said to be fully investigated and action plans devised to prevent any reoccurences.

Mrs Armistead also noted that the hospital had received a 98 per cent score, from patients, in the NHS ‘friends and family’ questionnaire, when it came to recommending their services to others.

CQC officials did determine that there were some areas where improvements could be made, including a concern over surgical site infection rates being higher than other independent hospitals.

Questions were also raised as to why such infections were not recorded as clinical incidents.

Mrs Armistead added: “The hospital was responsive to the needs of the local population and services were planned with patient needs in mind.

“Patients had flexibility about when they could attend for appointments and treatment.”

The BMI hospital, when last inspected in 2013, had also passed all requirements with flying colours.