The Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust (NSFT), once the poorest performing mental health provider in the UK, has officially exited the “special measures” status it has held for more than seven years. The decision comes after a period of sustained improvements, according to NHS England.
NSFT, based in Hellesdon, Norwich, was placed in “special measures” in 2015 due to poor performance, marking the beginning of the trust’s long-standing struggle. Although it briefly left special measures the following year, it was re-entered in 2017 following further setbacks. The trust, which provides mental health services across Norfolk and Suffolk, had faced consistent criticism from the Care Quality Commission (CQC), being rated “inadequate” on four separate occasions between 2015 and 2023.
However, the trust has now exited the Recovery Support Programme, a national initiative designed to help failing providers. In a statement, the trust’s chair, Zoe Billingham, expressed confidence in the progress made, saying, “We have now achieved stability; we have a clear plan; the means for delivery; and the belief that we can change NSFT once and for all, for the better.”
The trust’s chief executive, Caroline Donovan, echoed this optimism, highlighting improvements in service user satisfaction, reduced waiting times, and better performance indicators. “There truly is so much that has been achieved by everyone last year, and so much to feel optimistic about in 2025,” Donovan said.
Despite this, the trust will continue to operate under regional oversight, with NHS England maintaining a watchful eye on its ongoing improvement. Clare Panniker, NHS England’s regional director, welcomed the move but cautioned that “there is still much work to do.” She added that the NHS would ensure that improvements continue to be made quickly.
The trust’s exit from the Recovery Support Programme has sparked mixed reactions, with some campaigners questioning whether the decision was premature. Mark Harrison, chair of the NSFT Crisis Campaign, expressed a lack of confidence in NHS England, citing years of systemic failure in the region’s mental health services. “We don’t understand how NSFT can be released from the Recovery Support Programme ahead of an independent inspection from the CQC,” Harrison said.
The CQC confirmed that NHS England can factor in previous reports when making decisions about a trust’s status. NSFT stated it had successfully completed 100% of the CQC’s required actions, including a review of 12,503 deaths between 2019 and 2023. The review found over 420 “unexplained unnatural deaths” during that period, though the trust noted that no national figures exist for comparison. Males aged 40 to 50 were the most commonly affected demographic.
In response, Labour MPs for Norwich North and Ipswich, Alice Macdonald and Jack Abbott, called the decision to remove the trust from special measures “welcome progress” but cautioned that it must lead to sustained improvements in care. In a joint statement, they said: “It remains the case that many people in our region are yet to feel this progress in their lived experience of mental health care, with many still recounting tragic personal stories of institutional failure.”
The trust’s future remains under close scrutiny, with calls for continued transparency and independent oversight as it works to rebuild trust and provide better care for those with mental health needs across Norfolk and Suffolk.
Related topics:
