WEST London Mental Health Trust has made a 'tremendous effort' to improve their staffing, governance and communication.

That is the verdict of the Care Quality Commission (CQC) who lifted the final two improvement conditions it placed on the trust in April this year.

A review of the trust, by the independent healthcare regulator earlier this year, handed them strict deadlines to improve.

This week the CQC revealed they were finally satisfied after the trust embarked on a recruitment drive and improved services.

Colin Hough, CQC regional director for London, said: "WLMHT has come a long way in a relatively short period of time since it was first registered in April.

"We recognise that the trust has made a tremendous effort to ensure that it is fully compliant with the essential standards.

"The measures the trust has taken to tightening governing structures and the reporting of untoward incidences will ensure that the services it provides to patients are at acceptable standards.

"Similarly, it was important for the trust to address the issue around staffing levels."

A study released by CQC in September showed that patients treated by the trust, which runs services in Hammersmith and Fulham, Ealing and Hounslow, was 'significantly worse' than the national average.

An investigation in 2009 found trust patients forced to sleep on sofas or kept too long on the intensive care unit because of overcrowded wards.

Peter Cubbon, WLMHT chief executive, welcomed the acknowledgment of their improvement but said there is still work to do.

He said: "We have come a long way over the last year. Our staff have worked with patients and carers to drive improvements and to meet CQC expectations.

"This announcement is good news for people using our services and our staff. Our priority is to continue to drive up standards so that our patients receive consistently high quality care in all our units and in the community.

"We're committed to providing excellent care, and the CQC have confirmed we are moving in the right direction."