03 CoG mins 19 Mar 09 - 44KB [PDF] - Newcastle Hospitals

ACTION
would be challenging but ought to be achievable. C. difficile performance was
well within trajectory, at 270 against the year-end target of 550.
Mrs Hornett commented on the recent unannounced inspection by the Healthcare
Commission. Informal feedback had Identified examples of good practice such as
the Hand Hygiene posters, compliance with “bare below the elbows”, the Saving
Lives posters and campaign, Infection Control notice boards for patients and staff
and the visibility of the Infection Control Nurses “on the floor”. There had been few
clinical concerns and some hotel services storage issues had been addressed
immediately. The draft report from the Commission was expected within weeks.
iv)
Patient Care Performance
Mrs Hornett presented the activity and performance report and highlighted that,
while A & E had been very busy, the national target had been met. Department of
Health thresholds for the cancer waiting times had still not been published.
With regard to the 18 Weeks Referral to Treatment targets, Mr Allison reported
that the Trust was in good shape overall, with the exceptions of Dental Non-
Admitted Patient care and Orthopaedics Admitted Patient care, which would be
compliant by September, as agreed with commissioners and hence there would
not be penalties with regard to this specialty. Musculo-Skeletal Outpatients were
part of a region-wide review. Data quality had improved substantially. Regrettably
commissioners had not committed any funding to the public health targets of
smoking in pregnancy and breastfeeding initiation.
Professor Arthur commented that Did Not Attend (DNA) rates in Outpatients
appeared high. Mr Allison said that this was affected by school holidays and
other, socio-demographic factors. A recent pilot with NHS Direct, using text
message reminders, had halved the rate.
v) Annual Plan 2009/10
Mr Allison gave an overview of the annual plan development process and progress
to date. He highlighted the extent of Consultant engagement and their inputs to
the development of the annual plan. The increasingly important role of Practice-
Based Commissioning was noted. Marketing of services was being developed.
Key strategic developments were itemised, including the Institute of
Transplantation, Great North Children’s Hospital, Midwifery-led Maternity Unit, the
Northern Centre for Cancer Care and redevelopment of the Newcastle General
Hospital site. An advanced draft of the plan would be brought to the next meeting,
for consideration by governors.
Mr
Allison
vi)
Commissioning Requirements
Mr Allison reported that activity volumes had now been agreed with all PCTs
including North of Tyne. An additional £4 million of activity had been ordered by
the North East Specialist Commissioning Group. Overall, an additional £10 million
of income was anticipated for the forthcoming year. The outcomes of HRG4, the
new basis for clinical coding of activity, had been disappointing in the initial
modelling.
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