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Breaking
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14 September 2005
Trust’s
MRSA challenge. Despite
taking “a range of comprehensive actions” BSUH is still significantly
challenged by its MRSA target, the board was told at its public meeting today.
Last November
the Department of Health announced a target to reduce MRSA Bacteraemia (MRSA
measurable in the bloodstream by half by 2008.
For the trust,
this means a target figure of a total of 43 cases in 2008.
The April-June
quarter figure for BSUH was a total of 36 cases, 12 more that the target of 24
cases.
The board was
told of plans to invite an external review to ensure all possible measures are
being taken.
Other measures
under consideration include pop-ups on patients’ TV screens to remind staff
and visitors of the importance of hand washing and using alcohol gel and a pilot
scheme of a system that would detect the presence or absence of gel on the hands
of people touching ward door handles.
8 September 2005
Panorama: No
need for inquiry now, says Healthcare Commission. A
report of a visit by the South East Area Team of the Healthcare Commission
issued today concludes : “there is no immediate concern for patients now on
Peel and Stewart ward”.
The visit was
made on July 26th following the screening of the BBC Panorama
programme, Undercover Nurse (see below).
The team found
that patients were comfortable and well cared for. A patient who had been on the
ward when filming took place told the team that considerable improvements had
taken place.
“Since Peter
Coles (Chief Executive) and Alison Robertson (Director of Nursing) came into
post in September 04 and March 05 respectively,” the report states, “there
has been a clear focus for the improvement of services for patients.”
It continues:
“In light of the fact that improvements are seen to be progressing and
following a review of the current work the Area Team recommends that the
situation at RSCH does not currently meet the criteria for a formal
investigation and that a referral to the Commission’s Investigations Unit for
consideration of an investigation into past activity would not be helpful at
this time.
“The
Healthcare Commission’s South East Area Team should, however, work
collaboratively with the Surrey and Sussex Strategic Health Authority to follow
up action plans and to monitor the progress. They will also maintain contact
with local patient and voluntary groups to ensure that their views on progress
are heard.”
The report is
critical, however, of the old (pre-Victorian) Barry Building where it considers
the ward environment on Peel and Stewart is “not conducive to the needs of
patients and staff in the 21st century.”
It says the
trust should consider the move of wards in the Barry Building at the earliest
opportunity.
Recognising the
competing demands for capital finance, however, it says the Commission would
prefer to see a plan for ensuring all wards meet an acceptable standard
“within the shortest possible timescale.”
A major
interview with Alison Robertson appears in next month’s Bulletin, online in
approximately two weeks’ time.
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18th
July 2005
Panorama
undercover film fails to present whole picture. A
BBC Panorama programme due to be shown on Wednesday 20 July following secret
filming on Peel and Stewart ward will not present a true picture, says chief
executive Peter Coles.
Using footing
of a film taken secretly by a nurse sent to work undercover, it will include
images that will “undoubtedly be upsetting and show lapses in quality of
care” of mainly elderly patients, he admits.
“It is
critical of nursing standards and some other clinical care issues and also
focuses on cleaning and food,” he says.
But at the time
of filming, the trust was already undertaking its own investigation following
complaints by patients, relatives and staff.
In a letter to
staff, he adds: “A major programme of change has been put in
place, a new ward sister was appointed in March of this year and we believe the
standards of care we provide to our patients on the ward are of high quality.”
Although the
chief executive was interviewed a week before the showing and shown a few clips
from the programme, he says he has been told there is no intention of referring
to the trust’s own investigation.
“That tells
us that all they are interested in is presenting a partial account, not a true
picture of the ward.”
He believes the
programme will be selective and not present a full and accurate picture, but
also believes “we must always acknowledge failings where they occur and
apologise to patients and their families if we have not always reached the highest standards.”
He is also
critical of the use of a trained nurse to make the film and has protested to the
programme makers about the conflict of interest between a nurse’s
responsibility for her patients and her interests in broadcasting.
“Once we have
seen the final programme we can take a balanced view of what it reveals. One
thing is certain. The care provided by staff now on Peel and Stewart is of high
quality.”
Financial
problems continue. Urgent
discussions to identify action needed to get the trust back into financial
balance were called for by finance director David Dumigan in a report to the
July board meeting.
The deficit at
the end of May, he said, was £4.1 million.
Action so far
taken includes the establishment of a vacancy control group. This meets weekly
to review all vacancies in directorates “not delivering to the financial
plan”.
“Austerity
measures” have also been taken to reduce expenditure on bank and agency use.
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The Royal Sussex County Hospital, Brighton