Concerns on medicines management have been overcome at the James Paget University Hospital (JPH) in Gorleston, but a warning on patient care remains in place.

Inspectors from watchdog the Care Quality Commission (CQC) made an unannounced visit on May 2 and found the hospital to be compliant on medicine management issues flagged in January this year.

The hospital has had three warnings since September 2011 - the first on care and nutrition standards, the second on service provision and the third on patient care and welfare.

Improvements have led to the first two warnings being lifted, but the third - issued in April 2012 - remains in place.

While the JPH still has work to do, MPs say they are confident in new leadership and bosses say they are pleased that progress has been recognised.

David Hill, who started as chief executive in April 2012, said: 'We have previously acknowledged that the pace of improvement at the trust had not been fast enough.

'This has changed and achieving full compliance in this area is recognition of the hard work by our staff to make the required improvements and to meet the CQC standards.'

When inspectors visited this month to check on medicines management compliance, they noted much better record keeping, and improved availability of medicines.

In a report they highlighted positive changes to prescription charts and that medicines are kept safe and secure.

It also includes comments from patients and staff about the positive changes that have been made.

Peter Franzen, the hospital's interim chairman, added: 'This report is a significant step forward and an indication that the organisation is well on the road to recovery.

'We will continue this work to make further improvements so that we achieve compliance in all areas.'

The latest CQC report - published today - shows patients were complimentary about their treatment, how their medicines were managed and had no complaints.

They said that they were provided information about medicines in a way that was useful to them and were provided pain relief when they needed it without delay.

Senior nurses highlighted the new systems in place to monitor and improve the quality of medicines management and that more leadership has led to nursing staff feeling better supported.

Nurses also praised the improvements to pharmacy services on the wards which has helped to improve record keeping and made it easier for them to get help and advice.

And Great Yarmouth MP Brandon Lewis says he is confident in the hospital under new chief executive David Hill.

'The staff with the new senior management at the JPH have been working hard to move things forward for the benefit of patients and the hospital,' he said. 'I have been impressed with the decisive actions and determination recently and this outcome is confirmation that although there is still work to do things are now clearly moving in the right direction.

'It is a positive move forward for the hospital and its staff.'

Suffolk Coastal MP Therese Coffey added: 'I am delighted to see the hard-working staff at the JPH pull together and achieve success. This is another important step for patients and the Hospital.'

The hospital faces two more inspections - on 'Care and Welfare' and 'Records'.

If found compliant, it will be the first time the hospital has been in the clear since an initial failed inspection into nutrition and dignity standards more than a year ago - in April 2011.