Community podiatry services run by Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust have successfully retained their 'gold standard' rating for putting patients first for the 30th consecutive year.
The team, which provides services in both community settings and hospitals for patients with foot and lower limb conditions, retained the prestigious Customer Service Excellence (CSE) standard following a comprehensive two-day assessment by Government inspectors.
The national accreditation recognises organisations that place customers at the heart of everything they do. Currently, only 254 public sector organisations across the UK hold the standard.
Sheffield Teaching Hospitals' podiatry service is one of only a small number of NHS services nationwide to achieve the quality mark, which is assessed against five criteria designed to demonstrate exceptional standards of care and customer service.
'Wonderful recognition' of care
The assessment included interviews with patients and staff, visits to podiatry services across the Trust, and a detailed written submission demonstrating how the team meets 57 separate measures of customer service excellence.
Inspectors highlighted several areas of outstanding practice, including the quality of the physical environment, engagement with the wider community, excellent verbal and written communication, keeping patients informed, and the timeliness of care provided.
Saul Hill, Professional Head of Podiatry at Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, said: "Patients are at the heart of everything we do, so this is wonderful recognition of our commitment to maintaining the highest standards of care. The team has consistently demonstrated excellence across all five Customer Service Excellence criteria, from delivering personalised support to innovating in response to patient feedback.
"Our service plays a vital role in diagnosing, managing and treating foot and lower limb conditions that can affect people's physical health and quality of life. To have retained this national quality mark for three decades is a remarkable achievement and reflects the dedication, professionalism and compassion shown by every member of the podiatry service, past and present."
