The service has achieved this accreditation after demonstrating it meets national best-practice standards in areas such as patient experience, clinical care, and workforce. This follows the unit's success last year when its Immunology service first received national accreditation through the Quality in Primary Immunodeficiency Services (QPIDS) programme.
The IQAS assessment specifically praised the team's clinical leadership and teamwork, noting a strong focus on patient engagement which assessors stated had enabled "meaningful change". A culture of transparency and support around incident reporting was also highlighted.
All actions identified during the assessment process were successfully resolved. Improvements were noted in management processes, patient involvement, staff training, waiting time monitoring, and learning from incidents.
“"Achieving and maintaining accreditation involves a lot of hard work throughout the year. It is an ongoing process and means continually providing evidence to show that we are maintaining the required standards. This includes carrying out audits and surveys, and demonstrating that we have a culture where people can speak openly. Ultimately, it is about showing that our service continues to provide patients with the high standards of care they should expect."
The accreditation is awarded for one year, with successful annual reviews potentially renewing it for up to four years before a full reaccreditation assessment in the fifth year. The IQAS assessment team congratulated the staff, describing the outcome as reflecting the "excellent clinical leadership and tremendous teamwork" demonstrated by the service.
“"I would like to say how proud we all are of this achievement, which ensures our patients receive the best possible care. We have a fantastic, caring team, and I feel lucky to work with such dedicated people."
Dr Khan added that gaining additional IQAS accreditation provides patients with further confidence in the service and supports the team's pursuit of specialist treatment options.
