A troubled hospital trust has seen its rating upgraded after a string of new inspections by healthcare regulators.

Barts Health NHS Trust, which runs Whipps Cross Hospital in Leytonstone, is improving, according to findings published today (Friday, November 10) by the Care Quality Commission (CQC).

The CQC places the trust into special measures two years ago after deeming it “inadequate”, but now has upgraded its overall rating to “requires improvement”.

The rating change follows a series of recent hospital inspections which has seen three hospitals improve their overall rating, and another hospital rated as “good”.

Prof Ted Baker, the Chief Inspector of Hospitals, said: “It is apparent that the Trust is on a journey of improvement and significant progress has been made.

“There is still much to do but the trust is improving and this reflects the hard work by the leadership and the staff addressing the problems we have found.”

The CQC upgraded its rating of Whipps Cross from “inadequate” to “requires improvement” in September following an inspection in May.

The report deemed outpatient services and end of life care had both improved at the hospital, but surgery at the hospital is still “inadequate”.

Alwen Williams, Chief Executive at Barts Health NHS Trust, said: “It is extremely heartening to hear that we are doing the right things, and to have the tremendous efforts and achievements of our talented staff recognised by the care regulator in this way.

“We still have a lot to do, to ensure governance is managed consistently, and service improvements are achieved across all sites.

“But there is now no doubt that we are getting better, and capable of making further progress on behalf of our patients.”