King Edward VII's Hospital First In The UK To Receive Det Norske Veritas Quality Standard

Online, June 23, 2012 (Newswire.com) - In a UK first, King Edward VII's Hospital has received an international quality accreditation from the Norway-based quality controller Det Norske Veritas Healthcare (DNV).

The accreditation signifies the hospital has met a stringent set of standards, including clinical, management and environmental safety. It follows a recent Care Quality Commission (CQC) review which found the hospital is achieving the best standards in patient care.

John Lofthouse, Chief Executive at King Edward VII's Hospital, says the hospital is committed to exceeding its own quality standards.

"The DNV accreditation is an important achievement as it shows we are meeting all requirements for providing the best in healthcare while meeting global quality standards," says Mr Lofthouse.

"This world-recognised accreditation will be particularly reassuring to our growing body of international patients, who can feel confident they have access to the best consultants, nurses and facilities," he says.

DNV Healthcare has 140 years of experience in setting safety benchmarks and is responsible for the set of risk management standards used by all NHS trusts in England. The requirements of DNV International Accreditation are based on standards developed by the US Government, and include annual reviews looking at all aspects of quality care and management.

The UK Director of DNV Healthcare, James Lawrence, says the organization worked closely with King Edward VII's Hospital throughout the quality review process.

"Our experience working with King Edward VII's Hospital was very positive. This two-way process gave us a great insight into how this highly respected hospital operates, and we have both taught each other a great deal when it comes to setting standards in quality healthcare," says Mr Lawrence.