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CEO’s Column As we come to the end of another year, I want to take this opportunity to earnestly thank staff for their hard work and commitment on behalf of both the Board and more importantly the patients. We have seen over a hundred staff awarded this year for their length of service and the loyalty they have shown the Trust. Others have been recognised for dedication to their jobs and frequently going over and above what is expected of them is their desire to look after patients. I know that there is much more of this going on behind-thescenes too and I wish to acknowledge everybody here for their invaluable efforts in helping us get to where we are today. As a Trust, we have faced several challenges but we have also seen some real highlights during the year. We saw an improvement in our Healthcare Commission (HCC) ratings, scoring ‘Good’ for both our Quality of Services and Use of Resources. Our position on healthcare associated infection is much stronger and we have made great strides on both 18 weeks and 98%. These have been fantastic achievements for us and play a key role in our bid to become a Foundation Trust. However, as ever, further work is required. Our Cost Improvement Plan (CIP) is an area that needs strengthening further and an plan of action is well underway to address this and the Executive Team is working closely with Business Units to look at ways of improving efficiency. Our recent Hospital Standardised Mortality Rate (HSMR) was not quite as we expected. Investigation into this has discovered that the incorrect coding of some patients’ conditions led to some misinterpretation of the statistics recorded. Measures such as spot audits of clinical deaths are now being conducted to improve our figures and have been successful to date. Operational targets will continue to test us over the coming year but I hope that as we have now started to see a steady improvement in all key areas, we can go onwards and upwards from here. Finally, I would like to wish you all a merry Christmas and a Happy New year. Chris Pocklington Chief Executive RECENT SUCCESS AND INNOVATIONS AT THE TRUST Our Pathology team is one of only four trusts in the country to be chosen to pilot new molecular techniques in breast cancer surgery. The availability of test results whilst the patient is in theatre means the surgeons can be more precise in the removal of tissue. Previously, patients would have to return for more surgery if further test results proved cancerous cells were still present. We are also one of only two trusts in the East of England, to have become a Rapid Improvement Site for the High Volume Care Orthopaedics Programme. Working with the NHS Institute for Innovation and Improvement, we have access to dedicated support to help redesign the pathways in the hip and knee replacement service. In addition to this, Chris Cook, R&D Facilitator/IP Scout, who led the recent Statement of Clinical Need (SOCN) pilot project, has been selected to participate in SOCN workshops and presentations and to be a point of contact for other trusts getting involved in the scheme. Knowledge and Skills Framework Re-launch Knowledge and Skills Framework (KSF) will be re-launched in January 2009 with the full support of Alan Farmer, Director of Workforce, and the Trust Board. A new project team is now in place, managed in partnership by Gemma Haynes, Training Advisor and Sylvia Hayes, Staff Side Secretary. Your department will be informed of how KSF will be fully implemented in your area. If you have a draft KSF outline yet to be finalised, please ensure you have it available. If you do not have a KSF outline, these are currently in the process of being developed. If you have any queries throughout any part of the process, the project team can be contacted via ksf@pah.nhs.uk or please phone Gemma Haynes on extension 7613 or Sylvia Hayes on extension 3275. 2 intouch
Our Journey to Foundation Trust Status The road towards Foundation Trust status has beeen a long and treacherous one but it is now possible to steam ahead with our application. It has been a long journey to this point but I am confident that the worst of it is now behind us. We have secured our position operationally, albeit we need to continue on our operational trajectories to be absolutely certain of this. FT status holds some exciting opportunities for the future of local healthcare. This view has been supported by evidence presented in a report recently published by the Foundation Trust Network: ‘NHS Foundation Trusts: the story so far’. This document highlights examples of new initiatives introduced by FTs across the country as a result of the operational flexibility and financial independence that FT status brought to them. Our membership database is strong, but please keep encouraging your family and friends to sign up if they have not already done so. You can join via our website: www.pah.nhs.uk. If you would like to know more about any aspect of our FT application, please do not hesitate to contact me on extension 7019 or by email: james.day@pah.nhs.uk James Day, Trust Secretary Call for Staff Governors It is hoped we will achieve FT status by July 2009. The Trust will then have a new governance system including a Council of Governors. Six of these will be elected members of staff, with one from each of the following groups: Medical & Dental, Nursing & Midwifery, Allied Health Professionals, Support & Estates Services, Administrative & Clerical and Volunteers. As a staff governor, you could influence positive changes to the Trust’s services by voicing your own opinions and the views of other members of staff; you will meet like minded people who also want to make a difference and you will help shape the future of local healthcare. It really is an excellent personal development opportunity. Individuals will be required to commit to 25-30 hours per year, including attending four Council of Governors meetings and working groups. It is a voluntary role, but Governors will be entitled to reasonable expenses in connection with their duties. Attendance at training, induction and development sessions is expected. You can nominate yourself for election to a three year term as a staff governor provided you have worked in the Trust for at least one year. Election of Governors is planned to take place by secret postal ballot early in the new year. • For more information please contact James Day on extension 7019 or Deborah Gunn-Roberts on extension 7295 for an informal and confidential briefing. intouch 3
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Page 5 and 6: ‘Milk Kitchen’ Opens in Materni
Page 7 and 8: Tracey Offers Stoma Care Tracey Har

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