Agenda item

The Board considered a report of the Strategic Director, Communities which presented the Members with a summary of the St Helens and Knowsley Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust Quality Account 2011/12.

The Board was advised that The Quality Account provided detailed information regarding the achievements St Helens and Knowsley Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust Account had made over the last year and what comparisons could be drawn from the previous years’ performance.

The Board was advised that last year, the Trust had set quality improvement targets of reducing falls, hospital acquired pressure sores and health care associated infections as part of patient safety programme. The Trust had managed to achieve these improvements and in the case of falls and pressure ulcers, the target had been exceeded.

It was reported that in addition to the quality improvement targets, the Trust also monitored it’s performance against 12 national quality targets.   The Trust had achieved 11/12 national quality targets, the exception being: the percentage of patients who had suffered a stroke and spent 90% of their time on a dedicated stroke unit. The target was 80% and the Trust had achieved 78.3%.

Furthermore, it was reported that the Trust had also scored well in both local and national patient experience surveys.  The number of formal complaints had reduced for the sixth consecutive year, with 401 complaints received in 2011/12. 

In conclusion, it was reported that an ‘Excellent’ rating had also been achieved by the Trust in the Patient Environment Action Team assessments.  This rating was across both St Helens and Whiston Hospitals and for all categories including cleanliness, hygiene, infection control, the environment, accessibility, food and privacy and dignity.

Copies of the Quality Account Document and a summary was circulated at the meeting.

The following comments arose from the discussion:-

·       The Board welcomed the report and noted that pressure ulcers could be serious and the actions being taken to reduce the number of patients with pressure ulcers in the hospital;

·       It was noted that complaints could result in a better service and that all complaints needed to be dealt with appropriately.  It was also noted that as well as the complaints process, feedback was received from numerous different areas and the lessons learned were fed back through the service;

·       The Board welcomed the introduction of Health Passports which were individual documents compiled by the patient, their relatives and carers and could be used to provide written communication about a patient’s needs, preferences, likes and dislikes which could greatly assist in the care that the Trust provided;

·       The Never Events Policy was noted and it was also noted that  checklists were used widely to ensure patient safety;

·       How complaints were monitored was noted.  The Board also noted that complaints regarding the attitude of staff and the lack of communication had reduced as a result of training and that the PAL service was being used more frequently; and

·       Clarity was sought on the increase in A&E and what percentage was due to alcohol.  In response, it was reported that the top reasons for ill health was alcohol abuse, obesity and smoking.  It was also reported that this information would be reported back to the January meeting as part of the Urgent Care Plan Strategy.

RESOLVED: That the report and comments raised be noted.