CHEC has announced that its centre in Stoke has been awarded an “Outstanding” rating by the Care Quality Commission (CQC). A classification of “Outstanding” is the highest rating given out by the CQC, and reflects the exceptional performance of the Stoke hub across five main areas: safety, effectiveness, care, responsiveness, and leadership.

Based in the heart of Stoke, the centre provides accessible eyecare for local people, supporting the ophthalmology services delivered by the NHS. With 7.2 million people across the UK currently on NHS waiting lists awaiting consultant-led elective care, community eyecare providers such as CHEC act as a much-needed reinforcement to ensure that Britain continues to receive high-quality, efficient healthcare.

Jose Bailey, Commercial Director at CHEC, said: “We are delighted to announce this “Outstanding” rating for CHEC Stoke. The recognition is welcomed as a strong testament to the consistent, high-quality, and safe delivery of CHEC’s services as we continue to support our more comprehensive NHS partners in the patient-centred provision of treatment. When NHS waiting lists continue to climb, community-based treatment epitomises the importance of alternative patient choice and ongoing healthcare across the UK.

“Our phenomenal teams strive to achieve Outstanding status across all CHEC treatment centres by continuing to place patients at the heart of our ethos in the delivery of first-class healthcare, earning us this distinguished classification.”

The Stoke centre is one of an ever-growing number of CHEC community healthcare centres across the UK. Last year, CHEC expanded its provisions into the area of endoscopy, and for the coming months, the focus will lie on growing this service while maintaining the quality of safety, effectiveness, care, responsiveness, and leadership.