Clinical standards
The Trust is disappointed to
have received only a good score for clinical services, down from
excellent in the last two years. However we were pleased to have our
improved financial controls recognised by a score of good (last year,
fair).
Dr Jane Collins commented: “We made a great many
challenging targets. However we did fail one target, relating to the
two per cent of our services that are covered by Choose and Book. I am
confident that the services we offer are clinically excellent, and that
is what everyone strives to deliver. I am disappointed that this
assessment, by focusing on one issue, plays down the excellence of what
we deliver in so many ways.”
The Healthcare Commission found some technical issues around GP access to ‘Choose and Book’.
Choose
and Book is how GPs can access hospital services: for most hospitals,
this is very important. However, as a tertiary specialist Trust, 92 per
cent of our referrals come from other hospital doctors. In fact,
Choose and Book services were a maximum of two per cent of our services
in the period concerned.
Financial systems and controls
The Trust raised its financial score from fair to good.
Dr
Collins commented: “This is due to the hard work of all our staff,
whether at the bedside, or providing the systems and support that allows
that care to happen. All our staff have had to work hard under
difficult conditions to improve our financial score - whether clinicians
or accounts staff or many other professionals. It has been a difficult
year and I am very proud of what the staff have achieved.
“We
need strong controls on our finances, so we have the means to treat
patients. Everyone here starts from the patient and sees the money as
being just a means to that end.”
