The Norfolk and Waveney Mental health NHS Foundation Trust (NWMHFT) has been rated among the best of all Trusts in the country by the CQC – and is one of just only four in the eastern region recognised nationally.

The Trust has achieved the highest possible accolade by being awarded ‘excellent’ in both categories. Last year the Trust was awarded excellent for ‘quality of financial management’ and Good for ‘quality of services’.

The findings were announced in the Annual Health Check: a system which scores all NHS trusts in the country on aspects of their performance, including the quality of the services they provide to patients and the public and how well they manage their finances and other resources such as their property and staff.

Chief executive Aidan Thomas, who joined the Trust on October 1, said: “We are delighted with the CQC health check scores. It is excellent news for service users and partners, and recognises what our staff have achieved.

“I am new to the service but am not surprised because the Trust has been working hard to bring quality and a patient focus to its services, and so has had consistently improved ratings over the last three years. We are proud to be among the best mental health services in the country.”

The current ratings are based on the Trusts performance between 1 April 2008 and 31 March 2009 – the Trust’s first year with Foundation Trust status.

On 1 February 2008 the Trust became a Foundation Trust, meaning it is more accountable to its members. Anyone interested in finding out more about becoming a member of the Trust should contact the members’ office on 01603 421494 for an information pack or visit www.nwmhft.nhs.uk

The Trust provides a range of specialist mental health and substance misuse services across a large geographical area: over 2000 square miles for Norfolk and over 140 square miles for Waveney in north Suffolk, covering a population of nearly 950,000. There are currently over 18,000 service users in Norfolk and Waveney.