ACSA reaccreditation for Northern General Hospital for high quality patient care

Northern General Hospital part of Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust has been reaccredited under the prestigious Royal College of Anaesthetists (RCoA) Anaesthesia Clinical Services Accreditation (ACSA) scheme, demonstrating the hospital’s commitment to patient safety and excellence of care.   

ACSA is the RCoA’s peer-reviewed scheme that promotes quality improvement and the highest standards of anaesthetic service. To receive accreditation, departments are expected to demonstrate high standards in areas such as patient experience, patient safety and clinical leadership.  

Dr Ian Shaw ACSA lead reviewer and Consultant Anaesthetist, said: 

“As an early adopter of the ACSA process, we are extremely proud to be awarded ACSA accreditation and join the small group who have achieved this for a third time.

“The ACSA process has enabled us to measure our department, how we value our staff and the quality of care we offer our patients, against the highest National Quality Standards. It is a great source of pride to our staff recognising that we are a strong, well run, vibrant department.  

“We recognise the significant work entailed in maintaining our standards over a protracted period, facing the challenges of the newly developed Standards, however this has given us a renewed impetus to all aspects of quality improvement within the Department. The Standards are challenging, however do offer an opportunity to facilitate business cases to get support to improve our patient’s care.”

Dr Satya Francis, Council Member at the Royal College of Anaesthetists, attended the plaque ceremony and congratulated the team.    

"Achieving accreditation once is a significant accomplishment in its own right,” she said.

“To achieve it for a third time demonstrates an exceptional and sustained commitment to quality improvement, patient safety, and excellence in patient care. This is no small feat, and I would like to congratulate the entire team on this remarkable achievement.

“I was particularly impressed by the emphasis the department places on staff wellbeing."