A HEALTHCARE service which provides support to hospitals across mid Essex has been given a clean bill of health by a watchdog.

Provide, which offers community health services, inpatient services and end of life care at St Peter’s Hospital in Maldon, Braintree Community Hospital and Halstead Community Hospital, has been rated ‘good’ across the board by the Care Quality Commission.

The CQC found that the services were safe, effective, caring, responsive and well-led in a report published last week.

A letter from chief inspector of hospitals Professor Sir Mike Richards said: “Overall, we found the organisation was performing at a level, which led to the judgement of good, with some elements of outstanding.

“A culture of putting the patient first was evident throughout the organisation.

“Staff were committed to providing and ensuring patients received a good care and treatment.”

His letter added that inspectors found “without exception” patients were treated with kindness, compassion, dignity and respect.

Jane Corser, Executive Clinical and Operations Director at Provide said: "The CQC found that all of Provide’s community health services are safe, effective, caring, responsive and well-led and that staff are dedicated to achieving the best they can for those who use our services.

“This report is a real tribute to all our members of staff who work tirelessly to deliver professional care and treat people with dignity and respect.

“In particular, I want to highlight the achievement of members of staff working in our children’s specialist and public health services whose caring attitude to children, young people, parents and families was rated as ‘outstanding’ by the CQC.”

The CQC inspections took place over several days in December 2016.