Five departments at the East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust (ELHT) have been given an award.

The departments were awarded with a Safe Personal and Effective Care Award (SPEC), which recognises the outstanding level of care staff provide.

The SPEC awards are presented to wards and departments that have achieved three consecutive ‘green’ ratings on unannounced nursing inspections.

The inspections were introduced by ELHT in 2015 and include a comprehensive assessment of standards, linked to themes monitored by the Care Quality Commission, the independent regulator of health and social care.

Wards B24, C14A, CMUA and high dependency unit, surgical ambulatory emergency care unit and the discharge lounge were presented with their awards by ELHT chief executive, Martin Hodgson, and chairman, Eileen Fairhurst.

Lancashire Telegraph: East Lancashire Hospital Trust staff with their Safe Personal and Effective Care Awards (SPEC) awardEast Lancashire Hospital Trust staff with their Safe Personal and Effective Care Awards (SPEC) award (Image: East Lancashire Hospital Trust)

A small tea party was hosted to celebrate their achievements.

Heather Coleman, Corporate Head of Nursing, said “Achieving SPEC status is no mean feat and a truly incredible achievement that colleagues should be really proud of.

"Last year we had 13 SPEC wards and today we have 24.

“This is truly amazing for the Trust, which includes Royal Blackburn Teaching Hospital, Burnley General Teaching Hospital, Clitheroe Community Hospital and Pendle Community Hospital, and most of all for our patients and something we should be celebrating!

“A huge thank you to all our colleagues who are so dedicated and work hard to provide safe, personal and effective care."