Minutes:
Mr. Daniel Elkeles, Chief Executive, Epsom and St. Helier University Hospitals Trust, provided an update to the Panel on the Trust’s latest performance and financial position.
In terms of delivering safe and effective care, Mr. Elkeles highlighted that the Trust had reported half the number (2) of trust assigned MRSA bacteraemias as at the 30 September 2015 compared to the same period last year and significantly fewer cases of C.difficile (15). The Friends and Family Test scores remained high. More staff were now completing the test and the percentage of staff who would recommend the Trust’s hospitals as a place of work and as a place to receive treatment continued to improve over last year. 63.2% of staff considered the Trust a good place to work and this was considered a good score in the context of the challenging times facing the organisation. The Trust was still delivering on its A&E target waiting times (% patients spending less than 4 hours in A&E) at 96.0% against the 95% standard although this had proved challenging over the last couple of weeks with an outbreak of a virus affecting children. It also seemed likely that for October, thanks to a huge team effort, the Trust would meet the 62 day cancer standard.
Regarding the Trust’s financial position, this was very challenging and a significantly bigger deficit was forecast than that previously reported. The Trust was looking at a deficit of somewhere between £20m - £25m. The reason for the increase in the deficit was complex but was not unusual - all Trusts were facing deficits. However, the Trust remained committed to patient care and there was good news on staffing. The medical vacancy rate had been halved and 47 doctors had been recruited since March 2015. This investment in staff had led to an increased interest in wanting to work for the Trust. The nursing agency spend rate was currently 10.2% and it was anticipated that the Trust should hit its target of 7% by year end. The majority of agency staff were employed via Government approved frameworks. In terms of consistency of care, this was improving. Consultants were on site at weekends and, in terms of consistency of care, whilst supporting the retention of a stroke unit at Epsom Hospital, the Trust welcomed the work on the Stroke Review as there was not the workforce to staff this service 24/7.
Mr. Elkeles’ report also highlighted that the Trust had a £18m capital programme to improve the patient environment, including £500k being spent on wards and clinical areas, with 25 painters, handymen and carpenters. This included the provision of new signs and the submission of planning permission for improvements to the Wells Wing. The estates review had been launched in June 2015 and since that time, the Trust had attended more than 20 public meetings, organised two open days (one on each main hospital site) placed press adverts, used social media and the trust website to publicise this engagement period. On 9 October it had been agreed by the Trust Board to extend the period of public engagement to the end of December 2015 and to report back in early 2016. It was recognised that the Trust’s estate needed considerable investment and the Trust was working hard to make a business case to secure funding and was looking at options in the context of its partnership with SW London and Surrey Downs CCGs.
Parking at both the St. Helier and Epsom sites remained a perennial problem. The Trust did not have sufficient finances to build a multi-storey car park at the Epsom site and if this was contracted out, it was likely that parking charges for visitors would be significantly higher. Parking charges had been increased to try and encourage visitors to use public transport but this had not happened. A further increase in charges was not anticipated at this time. A further 80 spaces would be freed up for visitor parking following agreement with the Council for staff parking in Hook Road. Whilst a park and ride scheme was in operation for St. Helier and Sutton Hospitals, this was not feasible in the case of Epsom Hospital and the Trust would provide a shuttle bus service from the town to the Epsom hospital site.
Other developments included the launch of Epsom Community Assessment and Diagnostics Unit (CADU) on 9 November and the holding of the inaugural Patient First Conference, Annual Public Meeting, Long Service and Staff Recognition Awards, all on the same day last month. The Trust was also one of the top performing Trusts in terms of its staff flu vaccination programme. The recent CQC inspection broadly went well and its report was awaited.