NHS staff were jubilant on learning that the mental health services they run in east London have been recognised as ‘outstanding’ by government inspectors.

The “clean bill of health” has been given to East London NHS Foundation Trust which runs services for a population of 820,000 in Tower Hamlets and surrounding areas of Hackney, Newham, The City and Redbridge.

Inspectors from the Care Quality Commission carried out a two-week assessment in June at 86 services, talking to 300 patients, 52 carers and 700 staff.

“We continuously look at what we do so we can learn to do it better,” the trust’s chief executive Dr Navina Evans said. “But we have a long way to go and this assessment will spur us on.”

Staff were found to be “enthusiastic and committed” to improve the services, while patients told inspectors that they felt they were not being judged and that their choices were being respected.

The Foundation trust has 5,000 permanent staff running 100 community and in-patient facilities from east London to Bedfordshire on a £353 million yearly budget.