The Hillingdon Hospital Trust - progress December 2008

Progress has been steady, but without dramatic news.

Foundation Trust progress
Having gained Department of Health approval to advance toward foundation trust status, the Trust is now under scrutiny by Monitor. The process for election of public and staff Governors is underway with the election for the Council of Governors in February in readiness for authorisation as a Foundation Trust, hopefully in March 2009.

Surveys of equipment and estate
Matrons have audited the Trust’s mattresses, with 180 being replaced in early December.

The Trust’s property has been comprehensively surveyed, with a report of over 1500 pages. The buildings survey was undertaken by an external company, which reports a backlog of high/significant maintenance of over £22m, with a total backlog approaching £50m - excluding C Block at Mount Vernon, which was already awaiting demolition.

Maintenance designated high/significant risk means something that can have an effect on the delivery of core healthcare services e.g. the out-patients department roof at Hillingdon Hospital needs major repair work, for which tenders have been prepared. £30m has been allocated over the next four years to reduce this high/significant risk to £2.8m and the total backlog to £17.6m.

Safeguarding children
Following the court verdict on the Baby P case, all local authorities including Hillingdon Borough, together with their partners such as the Trust, have been taking stock of the effectiveness of local practices to safeguard children. Everyone hopes that nothing similar could fall through the safety net here.

Patients’ experiences
The Trust takes seriously the views of patients. 154 in-patient survey responses in October were, as usual, carefully analysed and league tables compiled, by ward, for each survey question. Survey results are used to improve performance and to encourage increased response levels from patients. Similar surveys are being piloted for out-patients and maternity patients. A Patient Experience Steering Group is being set up to receive and monitor survey results.

Infections
The Trust was disappointed to have two MRSA cases in November but it hopes to stay within its full year target of 12 cases maximum. However, a new Department of Health target to include screening of all day cases - approximately an additional 1000 patients per month - will be very challenging, as the Trust currently screens only 22% of these cases.

Finances Revenue was lower than expected in November and operating expenses relatively high, but the year-end forecast surplus remains unchanged. Agency and locum use exerted cost pressures, also energy and utility costs.

Joan Davis