The September 2024 inspection, which was made following concerns about quality of care, saw medical care for well-led dropped from outstanding to requires improvement, caring and responsive move from outstanding to good, safe down from good to requires improvement and effective re-rated good.

Paul Simpson, acting chief executive of Surrey and Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust, said the inspection had taken place at a ‘particularly challenging' time, adding ‘substantial changes' had since been made, including significantly strengthening governance processes and launching a new 24/7 Freedom to Speak Up Service.

Simpson said the trust was also improving safety outcomes and enhancing medicines safety policies and procedures, adding: ‘We recognise we have more to do to ensure patients can feel the impact of the positive changes we are making, but our teams are dedicated to patient care and continuous improvement, and this report will help us focus our efforts on making the immediate and long-term improvements that will deliver for our patients.'