Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust requires improvement following CQC inspection outcome

The Care Quality Commission (CQC) has rated leadership at Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust as requires improvement following an inspection in June 2025.

Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust consists of:

• Leeds General Infirmary
• St James’s University Hospital
• Leeds Children’s Hospital
• Chapel Allerton Hospital
• Wharfedale Hospital
• Seacroft Hospital
• Leeds Dental Institute.

This inspection looked at how well-led the trust is and was carried out following concerns identified during a recent inspection of the trust’s maternity and neonatal services when enforcement action was taken, and a warning notice was issued.

CQC now gives NHS trusts a single trust-level rating focusing on leadership and culture that replaces all other ratings at a trust level. This simpler, more focused approach to rating NHS trusts reflects the strong correlation CQC has found between the quality of leadership at an organisation and the quality of care being delivered. CQC continues to inspect and rate individual hospital services and locations to capture how people are directly experiencing care at that level.

Rob Assall, CQC director of operations in the north, said:

During our well-led inspection of Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, we found leaders were aware of the challenges they faced, however some weren’t as clear on how services could be improved which negatively impacted on how services were run.

Leaders didn’t always listen to concerns, and some staff had negative experiences when they voiced issues, which impacted their wellbeing and the quality of people’s care. We received several in-depth accounts from staff of bullying and harassment in the workplace which provided evidence of behaviours which didn’t align with the trust’s values.

However, it was positive that leaders built strong relationships with local and national partnership organisations. There was a strong and longstanding partnership with other trusts in the area which enabled leaders to share information and improve care.

Leaders are aware they need to improve the effectiveness of their board and have taken steps to do this.

We have told leaders the areas where improvements are needed to ensure the trust is led successfully, and we will continue to monitor them, including through future inspections, to ensure the necessary improvements are made.

In response to the Care Quality Commission’s well-led report about Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, Brendan Brown, who joined as interim Chief Executive in mid-September 2025, said:

The CQC has identified that we have work to do to improve in a number of areas, particularly around our leadership processes, and ensuring a better balance between finances and the quality of our services. We must focus on listening to our patients, our communities and our colleagues and be more curious about what we’re told. We also need to improve on how we act on what we hear. These changes need to happen quickly, as it is what the people we care for and work alongside expect and deserve.

Working together with our new Chair Antony Kildare and the wider Board, my priority is to make sure we address these fundamental issues.

The CQC received reports of colleagues being subjected to racist and bullying behaviours, and a number of staff members said their concerns weren’t listened to and that they experienced detriment after raising issues.

I want to sincerely apologise to those colleagues. We are committed to creating an inclusive workplace where colleagues feel safe, respected, and supported, but we clearly have more work to do to ensure racism, discrimination and bullying have no place in our hospitals.

There are a range of positive findings in the report which give us a firm base to build on. The CQC identified that among senior leaders there was a coherent consensus of where the Trust was in terms of its strategic ambition and operational delivery, and how we need to improve to deliver consistent care that is safe and person-centred.

The CQC also noted that patient surveys evidence positive experiences, we take pride in our research, innovation and partnership working, and a clear vision for reducing our impact on the environment.

Inspectors found during their well-led inspection of Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust:

• The board wasn’t working as cohesively as it should to be. Feedback reflected that the openness and culture at board level was mixed.
• Leaders aimed to have a positive, compassionate and listening culture which promoted trust between themselves and staff, however this was inconsistent across services and at board level.
• The trust was working with the local authority and other partners to improve discharge when people needed additional support in their own home or care homes.
  The trust’s board members had diverse skills, experience and lived experience of using services.
• Leaders aspired to become one of the greenest NHS Trusts in the UK. Plans included improving sustainability throughout the organisation.

Anyone who wishes to raise a concern or make a comment about their experience at Leeds Teaching Hospitals can contact the team providing their care, or the Patient Advice and Liaison Service on 0113 206 6261 or email patientexperience.leedsth@nhs.net.