Agenda item

Attending from Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust (WAHT) were:

Vicky Morris, Chief Nursing Officer

Sarah Smith, Director of Strategy, Planning and Improvement

Dr Graham James, Divisional Medical Director of Surgery

The Chief Nursing Officer talked through the actions she had taken since her appointment to the Trust Board four months previously and referred to the Quality Improvement Plan (QIP), attached to the Agenda, which had been approved by the Trust Board following the Care Quality Commission (CQC) published reports.

It was noted that the QIP was a working document and a product of a number of different reports to ensure a consistent and clear approach for all stakeholders.  It would be updated monthly and reported to each Trust Board whilst WAHT was in special measures.

There were six themes within the Plan, with the common goal of continuous improvement:

·         Deteriorating Patient

·         Operational Improvement

·         Governance

·         Patient Experience and Engagement

·         Safe Care

·         Culture and Workforce.

In the discussion that followed, key points included:

·         Members were interested to know how complaints were handled and were informed that the current response time was very poor and unacceptable.  Further information was requested

·         Staff training was vital and was increasingly available online, resulting in a positive outcome as it could be completed to suit the individual working pattern

·         When asked about the level of staff morale, the Chief Nursing Officer stated that it was poor on her arrival, however, she had made great efforts to be more visible and visit departments, also resulting in positive promotion and value at Board level.  In addition, it was important to celebrate success, which had been introduced

·         In addition, uncertainty over  the FoAHSW programme had not helped with staff morale, therefore, improvements should now be seen more quickly

·         When asked what help was available to staff to ensure their own health and wellbeing, it was noted that staff had access to liaison services

·         Improving quality was key and ensuring that there continued to be a consistent approach across all disciplines was a challenge.  However, compliance was achievable in time and a robust system of monitoring had been introduced

·         Concerns were raised about capacity, especially as the full hospital protocol had been implemented on three occasions recently.

·         Members were reassured to hear about the plans already in place and the monitoring arrangements which the Trust Board had approved.  The Committee also acknowledged that the CQC had no concerns about the care of patients

Simon Adams, the Chief Operating Officer of Healthwatch Worcestershire was invited to comment and reported that following the CCGs decision, improvement should now be immediate.  He referred to the improvement in dealing with fractured neck of femur as an indication where performance had improved from one of the worst to one of the best performing Trusts.  He also reminded members about the Healthwatch report 'Care in the Corridor' which made 38 recommendations to the Trust.

The Chairman thanked everyone for a useful discussion and looked forward to quality updates at regular intervals.  The reputation of the Trust was crucial to the reputation of the County.

The HOSC Chairman concluded the meeting by suggesting that the Committee should have a number of key objectives and advised he would share these for discussion outside of the meeting.