The second review focussed on acute medical admissions at Noble’s Hospital and the care of people with long term conditions in both the hospital and community setting. As with the findings from the first review published in April, the latest report contains a mixture of positives as well as areas for improvement.
Minister for Health and Social Care, Howard Quayle MHK, said:
“Once again the caring nature of our staff, their commitment to provide the very best service for patients and their desire to develop existing services has been recognised and highlighted. I would like to commend our staff for their continued dedication and professionalism.
“Although there are areas where we need to make changes it is important that we do not overlook the positives of which we can be proud. There are several ‘good news stories’ and the WMQRS found many examples of best practice and commended these achievements.”
Examples include:
- The development of the Island’s Diabetes Service over the past decade
- The Island’s Cardiac Rehabilitation Service which met 92% of the WMQRS quality standards
- The enhanced patient care and information available through strong links with local charities and support organisations such as the local branch of the British Heart Foundation
- The Island’s Respiratory Service, where the WMQRS felt that staff provided care which goes ‘above and beyond that which could reasonably be expected’.
The Minister continued:
“We have already begun work in several areas where the WMQRS has identified scope to enhance and develop our services. In addition we are moving swiftly to address any concerns that they raised. The one immediate risk – out of hours cover for issues with pacemakers – has already been addressed and the WMQRS has confirmed that it is content with this measure.”
The report touches upon several issues which the Department was already actively addressing and with which work is progressing well. The findings from the WMQRS will however assist the Department in continuing this work and such findings are likely to be recurring and consistent themes across all 13 reports.
Examples include:
- The effectiveness of IT systems, however the Department has now secured major upgrades to both the main Noble’s Hospital and GP computer systems
- The need to work on reducing inappropriate admissions to Noble’s Hospital and improving support at the point of discharge to avoid delays. The Department is already aware of the need to enhance community care options in both community health services and social care services by continuing to develop joint working that cuts across teams and which moves to further integrate care. This was one of the key drivers for the merging of the departments of Health and Social Care earlier this year
- The ongoing challenges Government faces in providing a comprehensive health service for a small Island community. For example, instances where the Island has a single specialist and the impact this has on the ability to provide adequate out of hours and holiday cover.
The Minister added:
“We will need to continue to think carefully and creatively about how we address issues where we have limited specialists given the Island’s size and location when compared to Trusts in England for example.
“Despite some of the findings, work is already well underway with real and tangible progress being made. In my first four months as Minister I have been impressed by staff in the Department and their tireless work, not least in commencing the major projects to address the long term challenges facing us, for which I thank them.”
The Department’s senior team is being reshaped following a review by management consultants Beamans in 2013. The review also recommended a new Governance Board for Noble’s Hospital which is planned to be developed later this year. The Department has seen the appointment of a new Chief Executive and the imminent appointment of a new Managing Director for Acute Care and a new Medical Director at Noble’s Hospital. The Department is also now able to bid for additional monies from a special fund established as part of the 2014/15 Budget which can be used to implement changes as a result of the WMQRS quality assurance reviews.
The Minister concluded:
“As with the first report I have requested that a robust and comprehensive action plan be developed as a matter of urgency. This will be published and progress will be monitored to ensure that we do not lose momentum.
“I appreciate that some members of our community may be concerned by some of the report’s findings. It is important to remember that these reviews have been proactively initiated by the Department as part of a constructive and professional process of continual improvement for the Island’s health services. We will not shy away from the findings and I want no stone left unturned. Only then can we be sure that we have the best possible health service, ready to face the challenges that lie ahead.”
A copy of the report can be downloaded here along with the accompanying appendix.
