Monitor has published the reports on the causes of the follow-up out-patients delays, the diagnostic review of maternity and neonatal services and the governance review across our hospitals.
We previously told you that this series of reports would be published on why these problems have happened and what we are going to do about them to ensure we have sustainable healthcare services for the residents of Morecambe Bay.
The three key reports undoubtedly make uncomfortable reading for the Trust but we accept their findings. Everyone has been working hard to make the changes that are needed to resolve the current issues at the Trust and considerable progress has already made.
However, the appointment of Sir David Henshaw as interim Chair and two new directors will give us the additional resources and expertise at the top of the Trust to drive through the changes that we still need to make, whilst also ensuring longer term improvements to our services.
This has been a difficult time for the organisation and the on-going commitment and hard work of our staff during this time is very much appreciated.
Below is a response to the key parts from the reports:
OUTPATIENTS FOLLOW-UP APPOINTMENTS
All urgent and priority patients were seen before the end of last year and we aim to see all routine cases by the end of March.
This has been a significant programme of work and we have already made a lot of progress. We are grateful for the hard work of the doctors, nurses and other staff to resolve this problem as quickly and effectively as possible.
It is vital that we fully understand what caused these delays. That is why we commissioned Helen Bellairs to carry out a thorough and independent investigation.
Her report makes it clear that there were a number of reasons for the delays and that there have been some significant mistakes. We are very disappointed that these problems have occurred at the Trust and I very much regret the effect this has had on patients.
This situation is unacceptable and we are determined to ensure this cannot happen again. As Helen Bellairs sets out in the report, we are currently introducing a new follow-up booking system which she says ‘offers a permanent solution to preventing the situation from reoccurring’. This system is already running successfully in Gynaecology and puts clinicians in charge of how their clinics are run.
We will also be making further changes as a result the Helen Bellairs report and the work that has been carried out by Monitor and the CQC.
The 24 hour, seven day a week dedicated phone line (0845 608 0278) to allow any patients with concerns about their follow-up appointment to call and seek assistance remains in operation.
MATERNITY SERVICES
Following the CQC’s report on maternity services at the Trust last year, Monitor appointed external expert clinical advisors to undertake a diagnostic review of maternity services including their interface with paediatrics.
As their report shows, when this work was carried out last autumn, the diagnostic team identified a number of potential risks. Over the last two months, we have been working with the advisors to make a series of significant improvements.
Plans have already been put in place for additional training in risk management and a new online risk management system is being rolled out across the Trust and is already up and running for maternity. The risks identified by the diagnostic review will also be managed by this system.
150 maternity staff have been trained on the new system and are actively using the system for risk identification and management.
A dedicated risk manager has been appointed to lead the development of this work and a further risk manager will support the roll out to all divisions and specialities.
We are grateful to the diagnostics team appointed by Monitor for the support they have been providing over the last few months in identifying key areas of concern as well as the actions that need to be taken to deal with these issues. A lot of progress has already been made and we know our staff are making considerable efforts to ensure these actions are completed without delay.
We have also taken action to address the issues identified in the CQC’s review of our maternity services. All the relevant evidence was submitted to the CQC on 21 November 2011 and the CQC will review the information before reporting back to the Trust.
Following the publication of the CQC report, the Trust quickly established a telephone line for concerned mothers. This service is still in operation Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm, and can be reached on 01539 715082.
We have begun to develop the new partnership relationship with the Liverpool Women’s NHS Foundation Trust. This includes a staff development programme, a ‘buddy system’ for midwives and other professionals with the opportunity for staff to spend time at the specialist Women’s hospital.
On 13 December, a recruitment event took place which was extremely successful and 11.4 full-time equivalent midwives have been appointed since. This shows individuals from across the UK making the commitment to relocate to work at UHMBT. These new appointments will form part of succession planning as some staff approach retirement, assist with creating time for additional training and reduce the reliance on agency staff.
Approximately 50 per cent of these new appointments will be based at FGH but will rotate around the three maternity units in the Trust to ensure they have exposure to each of our maternity units. This will further enhance inter hospital working relationships and give the midwives more opportunity to be involved in changes across the service.
The Nursing and Midwifery Council visited the Trust in December to review progress with the Supervisory, Trust and Local Supervisory Authority action plans. Verbal feedback was positive and it has been agreed that they will visit again in the summer 2012.
If you have any specific questions regarding these reports, please take the time to come along to one of the drop in staff road shows that I mentioned in my update yesterday afternoon.
Copies of the reports are available on Monitor’s website by clicking here.
Tony Halsall
Chief Executive
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Further information
For further press information please contact Louise Fleming on 01539 716685
or e-mail louise.fleming@mbht.nhs.uk
