West Herts Hospitals Trust - on track for foundation trust status!

It seems that miracles can happen in the NHS.

In 2006-07, for the second year running, this Trust had Healthcare Commission ratings of “Weak” for both quality of services and use of resources, one of only four trusts in the country with such an abysmal record. Last year it achieved “Fair” for both ratings - and now it is well on the way to two “Good” ratings for the current year. Astonishing!

Two years ago it was a non-starter for financial trust status and faced being taken over or broken up – now it is on track to meet the Department of Health Applications Committee in May 2009, followed by Board to Board monitoring by Monitor in the summer.

It has responded to public consultation about its proposed foundation trust membership, and has both extended its consultation to February 2009 and replaced its “Out of Area Patient (& their Carers)” category with a new public constituency “Out of West Hertfordshire Area”, which will be welcomed by residents of Harrow and Hillingdon. Its membership is at 1800 and this is expected to grow when a Membership Manager takes up post in the New Year.

What has the Trust done to achieve such progress?

· It has conquered infections – no MRSA for the last two months and well within target for the year, and amongst the best in the country for its dramatic reduction in cases of clostridium difficile.

· It has achieved, or is on the way to achieving, all the national performance targets and it is a country leader with nearly 99% of its A&E patients being treated within four hours.

· As for finances, at month 8 in the year the Trust has a surplus of £1.2m and continues to forecast a £4.4m surplus by March 2009, although overspending on bank and agency staff could jeopardise that plan so - to combat the risk - if managers fail to deliver within budget, then their delegated authority will be taken away!

The Trust’s positive approach extends to an unannounced Healthcare Commission inspection in October. First hand feedback was encouraging, but with the report still awaited, the Trust has already put into place an action plan to meet criticisms the report might contain - boxes to be stored off the floors / regular cleaning of store rooms / cleaning schedules to be standardised / sellotape not to be used on posters / English tests to be undertaken by all Medirest staff prior to recruitment. The last of these points will be music to the ears of many patients and staff – although many will ask why this fundamental requirement was not standard practice anyway!

Joan Davis