The RISE (Recognition of Innovation, Safe Care and Excellence) clinical accreditation programme is now underway in six wards at St James’s University Hospital and Leeds General Infirmary. It will be rolled out across the Trust from 2026.
Quality of care will be measured across six key pillars: Patient Experience, Leadership, Staff Experience, Harm-Free Care, Research and Innovation, and Digital. There will be four award levels: Bronze, Silver, Gold and Platinum.
Beverley Geary, Chief Nurse at Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, said: “Our patients deserve the best care, that is safe and of high quality. This programme will provide us with benchmarks and measures of quality, identify areas of excellent practice and show us where teams need more support. It will also release more time for colleagues to care for patients.
“We all want to deliver the best quality of care for our patients and this new programme will help us to do just that. It’s a positive step forward for the Trust.”
The new programme will replace a number of different ways of measuring quality of care, which have been used previously in the Trust.
Emma Rogers, Deputy Chief Nurse, said: “This programme is rooted in excellence and collaboration, and a shared purpose to provide outstanding care to our patients. It has been shaped by the voices and feedback of colleagues on the front line.
“This isn’t about ticking boxes, it’s about raising standards, recognising learning, inspiring improvements, and sustaining quality and excellence at every level through continuous improvement.”
If an area does not meet the bronze requirement, they will be supported to improve by specialist teams. All areas will be consistently monitored each month to ensure standards are being met. Each area will have monthly data displayed and a plaque in the area once accredited.
The new programme is being embedded across the Trust and wards and areas are likely to begin receiving their award levels by mid-2026.