Annual Review 2009 - Sandwell & West Birmingham Hospitals

Chapter One
Accessible and Responsive Care
We are working to ensure our services are quick and convenient
to use, responsive to individual needs, that we treat patients
with dignity and respect and that our access times and patient
survey results compare well with other trusts.
GUM Clinic waiting times
THE Trust‘s Genito-Urinary Medicine services
have been praised by the Director of Public
Health at Sandwell Primary Care Trust.
In March this year, Dr John Middleton wrote
to the Dartmouth Clinic to commend the work
being done to improve performance. Since June
2008, the Trust has offered 100% of patients an
appointment within 48 hours, compared to 80%
for the year 2007/08. In his letter, Dr Middleton
said it was one of the best rates in the UK.
The target of patients seen within the 48 hour
timescale has also increased, with 86% of
patients being seen in January 2009, compared
to 56% in May 2008.
Tyrone Roberts, Matron in Gynaecology, puts this
success down to improved access to services.
“There are clinics every day but the team also
set up walk-in clinics every afternoon and two
evening clinics: one at the Dartmouth Clinic,
and another one at the Lyng Health Centre in
Oldbury,” he explained.
“We also stopped closing at lunchtimes and
phones are manned from 9am to 5pm,” he
added. The Trust has also seen a drop in people
not attending appointments from 16% in April
2008 to just 4% in January 2009.
Patient experience
Major work is underway to improve
the experience of patients at
City, Sandwell and Rowley Regis
hospitals. Whether it’s the ward
environment, hospital food,
refreshments for visitors or the
attitude of staff, staff are working
hard to try and make the Trust a
better place for patients.
A cool way to help patients
Blue beakers are now in use on
wards across the Trust to indicate
patients who may need help with
drinking.
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In the same way that patients with
a red tray may need supervision
or extra time to eat their meals,
patients with a blue beaker may
also experience difficulty in
drinking and may need some help,
support or encouragement.