Derriford liver service praised as 'tremendous achievement' for patient care

University Hospitals Plymouth has kept its national accreditation for its liver service, confirming that people in Plymouth and Dartmoor continue to have access to high-quality specialist care close to home.

The accreditation comes from the Improving Quality in Liver Services (IQILS) programme, which is run by the Royal College of Physicians. 

IQILS reviews liver services across the UK to check whether teams are meeting evidence-based national standards; such as patient safety, communication, clinical pathways, staff training and overall organisation of the service. 

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After the latest review, the IQILS team said they wished to “congratulate the Plymouth team for the high standard of achievement, and for their hard work during the accreditation process.”

The liver service at Derriford Hospital supports patients from across Plymouth, South Devon and parts of Cornwall, working with people who have a wide range of liver conditions, from common illnesses to rare and complex cases. 

The Trust says keeping accreditation is important to give local patients confidence that they are receiving care that matches recognised national expectations.

Hepatology Advanced Clinical Practitioner Amanda Clements said the team had worked hard to meet the standards required. “This is a tremendous achievement for our team,” she said. 

“The IQILS process has been an opportunity to reflect on the quality of care we provide, celebrate our strengths, and identify ways to keep improving. It’s rewarding to see that our commitment to patients and service excellence has been recognised at a national level.”

Plymouth’s liver service began its full accreditation process in 2022, and during that time, staff gathered evidence of best practice, reviewed how care is delivered and strengthened governance structures that make the service safer and more consistent. 

The most recent assessment involved an external team of clinical reviewers and a patient assessor, as well as discussions with patients who are treated locally.

The Trust says the accreditation has supported improvements within the service and has helped ensure that patient experience remains central to the way care is planned and delivered. 

Keeping accreditation also means the service will continue to be reviewed regularly, allowing staff to identify areas where further progress can be made.

University Hospitals Plymouth says it will continue taking part in the IQILS programme so that liver patients in the city and the wider region can rely on services that meet national standards now and in the future.