ALL Basildon Hospital services are now rated good or better as the trust continues to make "significant improvements."

Bosses have been focusing on the hospital's critical care services since the Care Quality Commission ordered the to make improvements in March 2015.

Inspectors returned three months ago to see for themselves what changes have been introduced.

In a report published yesterday, the health care regulator revealed critical care was now rated as good- joining other hospital services including medicine, A&E, surgery, children’s, outpatients and end-of-life care services.

The maternity and gynaecology unit has an outstanding rating.

The major turnaround comes less than three years after Basildon Hospital was placed in special measures due to concerns about high death rates.

Professor Sir Mike Richards, chief inspector of hospitals at the Care Quality Commission, said: “There were significant improvements made to how safe, effective, responsive and well led the service was since our last inspection.

“Feedback from people using the service including patients and their families was very positive. Patients and their relatives were kept informed of their care and there were very clearly documented notes regarding the weekly meetings and communication that had taken place with them.”

In a bid to improve critical care, Basildon Hospital recruited extra doctors and nurses to the unit, improved training arrangements and developed the leadership team.

The commission found that the number of complaints being made to the hospital about the unit had dramatically dropped in light of the improvements.

Clare Panniker, Basildon Hospital chief executive, said her aim now is to make all care services at the trust outstanding.

She said: “We are delighted that the commission has recognised the continued improvement of Basildon Hospital, reflected in this latest good rating for our critical care department.

“This is further endorsement of the dedication and commitment of our staff who work incredibly hard to ensure that our patients receive the very best care. Our ambition is to improve on the high standards we have set for ourselves and deliver outstanding performance in all areas.”

Basildon Hospital was placed in special measures in June 2013, but within a year it was rated good by the Care Quality Commission.