Another positive report for Swindon Hospital Trust

Following it's positive review by the Commission for Health Improvement which placed it in the top 10% of Trusts in the country, Swindon and Marlborough NHS Trust has been awarded two stars in the national performance ratings.

The ratings covered the period 2002/2003 when the Trust planned and carried out the relocation from Princess Margaret Hospital to The Great Western.

Chief Executive Lyn Hill Tout said:" Maintaining our Two Star Status for our performance in a year when there were so many other demands on our time is a remarkable achievement. To deliver high levels of patient care when everyone in the organisation was heavily involved in the relocation speaks volumes for the calibre and dedication of our staff. Not only did they do themselves and the Trust proud, most importantly they did their patients proud and I cannot commend their efforts highly enough. The transfer could not have been carried out so smoothly without the help and support of our partner organisations.

"Although we are delighted with our rating we are not complacent. We have done well but we know there are areas where we need to improve."

The ratings, published for the first time by the Commission for Health Improvement take into account CHI reviews, performance against nine key indicators which range from waiting times to financial management and performance in areas of clinical focus, patient focus and capacity and capability.

Lyn said she was very pleased with the review. "In terms of Key we achieved all nine targets. Within this category the hospital performed well by seeing 99% patients within two weeks of an urgent GP referral for suspected cancer. We also had no out patients waiting for an appointment more than 26 weeks or more than 21 weeks at the end of March 2003 and the Trust ended the year in financial balance." "In terms of clinical focus we were scored above average in our infection control procedures (a score of 91 against a national average of 83) which is a reflection of some excellent work done in that field from having alcohol hand gel outside and on the wards to prevent the spread if infection through to appointing 75 Infection Control Link Networkers who have specific responsibilities for monitoring and improving infection control practices within their clinical areas.

"Our figures for giving Thrombolysis, a clot busting drug, to appropriate patients within 30 minutes of admission were also above average (71.8% with a national average of 68.2%). We were also significantly above average in our level of compliance with the Clinical Negligence Scheme for Trusts risk management standards, which means that we handle a wide range of risks very well.

"In terms of patient focus we were significantly below average on our waiting times for the rapid access chest pain clinic (34.5% v 94.8%) but this was attributable to significant staff shortages which are being addressed. We are also below average for breast cancer treatment (91% against a national average of 99.%). The issue of delayed discharges has been well documented and at 8.7% we are above the national average of 4%."

For the future the Chief Executive said plans were in place to deal with many of the negative issues raised in the ratings. "We have plans to significantly increase capacity. The hospital already has plans to increase beds by 59 in the followed by a brand new, 128 bedded diagnosis and treatment centre which will open in 2005. These developments along with the work we are doing with our local health and social services partners will enable us to manage emergency demands more effectively and to reduce the number of patients whose operation is cancelled. There will also be improvements in waiting times in A&E once a decision to admit a patient has been made because more beds will be available."

"These ratings are very encouraging because, with a relatively small number of exceptions, they show that we are performing well and at the end of the day, providing a good service for our patients is why we are all here."