The Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital.

Inspectors say Norwich’s main hospital is now meeting essential care and safety standards, but have warned its ongoing improvements need to continue.

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The Care Quality Commission’s (CQC) latest inspection of the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital, which took place on January 18, highlighted many improvements which have taken place since the previous report was published last November.

These included better use of a ‘This is Me’ book for people to help staff understand the needs of patients with memory problems, encouraging people to bring in their own nightwear, ensuring call bells are within reach of patients and using notice boards in a discreet way to ensure patients’ dietary needs are supported.

It is the N&N’s fourth inspection in less than a year, and it was rated on its performance for respecting and involving people who use services, care and welfare of patients, meeting nutritional needs, and records.

The CQC has in the past raised concerns about nutrition and the way patients records are kept, but found that the hospital is now meeting these standards - with the stipulation that improvements must “continue to be monitored”.

During the most recent visit, inspectors also focused on the time taken for people arriving by ambulance at A&E to be transferred to staff at the department and asked for explansations over the time delays recorded in the past few weeks.

East of England Ambulance Service crews aim to hand over patients to accident and emergency staff within a maximum of 15 minutes.

But in December last year, new figures showed that the average handover time at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital (N&N) had increased from 12 minutes and 11 seconds in 2009/10 to 18 minutes and five seconds in 2010/11.

The inspection report said: “We were told about how more staff were now on duty at times of day that they had found to be busier than others and how senior staff in the department were closely monitoring and auditing the processes.”

Chief executive Anna Dugdale said: “We are delighted the CQC inspectors found that we meet all the essential standards of quality and safety. We would like to thank our staff who have seized the opportunity presented by the CQC feedback and worked very hard to implement changes which have enabled us to improve the care our patients receive.

“We are indebted to the team of people, including our governors, Age UK, Norfolk LINks, the Norfolk Older People’s Forum, and the Alzheimer’s Society, who have generously given their time to provide independence and a patients’ eye view to our audit process.”