Maidstone Borough Council

Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells Joint Health Overview and Scrutiny Sub Committee

Thursday 4 August 2011

Maidstone & Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust Draft Quality Accounts

Report of: Overview & Scrutiny Officer

 1.     Introduction

1.1    To consider the Quality Accounts 2010/11 and prepare a response to be submitted to the NHS which will be included with the consultation responses on their website.

2.     Recommendation

2.1    The Committee is recommended to interview Ashley Scarff,      Assistant Director of Strategy and Planning, Clare Roberts, Head of       Quality and Darren Yates, Head of Communications, representing Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS trust.

2.2    Areas of questioning could include but are not limited:

         The quality improvements and priorities detailed in the 2009/10        report which included:

· Rates of avoidable Hospital acquired infections

· Patient slips, trips and falls;

· Caring for stroke patients;

· Improving the patient’s experience of their stay in Hospital; and

· Improving communication and access to information.

And the priorities identified in the 2010/10 report which were based on the progress made against the priorities identified the previous year:

· Patient Safety

            ○        Continuing our focus on reducing the number of                      avoidable healthcare associated infections

            ○        Prevention of blood clots or venous thromboembolism               (VTE) – there is a new national target relating to                            patients who are at risk of VTE receiving treatment to                   thin the blood (Anticoagulants)

            ○        Ensuring all patients receive their appropriate                           nutritional requirements

· Clinical Effectiveness

            ○        Ensure greater efficiency of working at ward level                              through the implementation of the productive ward            programme – “releasing time to care”

            ○          Continuing our focus on improving care for patients                 who have had a stroke

            ○        Improving the care we provide for patients who are                  suffering from dementia

· Patient Experience

            ○        Continuing our focus on communication and                                      information for patients

            ○        Improving our management of discharge planning

            ○        Reducing the number of breaches we have in relation               to delivering same sex accommodation for patients

3.      Reasons for Recommendation

3.1    The Committee scrutinised the draft Quality Accounts for 2009-2010 as part of the Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust’s consultation process.  Members are providing a statutory function by commenting on matters that affect the health and well-being of the residents of Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells Boroughs.

3.2    Interviewing representatives from the NHS Trust will enable the Committee to fulfill its statutory function and gain an ongoing understanding of the problems faced by the Trust and the reasons for choosing the actions identified to improve performance for the coming year.