Agenda item

5.1

The Committee considered a report of Dr. David Throssell, Medical Director, Sheffield Teaching Hospitals Foundation Trust, which provided information on the quality of services delivered by Sheffield Teaching Hospitals in the year 2012/13 and identified the Quality Improvement Priorities for 2013/14.  This was supported by a presentation given by Neil Riley, Trust Secretary, and Sandi Carman, Head of Patient and Healthcare Governance. 

5.2

Members made various comments and asked a number of questions in relation to the report and presentation, to which responses were provided as follows:-

·               The issue of people awaiting discharge from hospital having to wait for medication from the pharmacy would be investigated.

·               Processes relating to the obtaining of full information about the admission of patients suffering from dementia would be examined to ensure they were sufficiently robust.

·               Cleaning was not contracted out across the Trust and there was an annual inspection which involved the quality of cleaning.  The latest technology was now being used for deep cleaning and there was now more focus on this. 

·               The Frequent Feedback Form scheme was operated across the in-patient areas.

·               The issue of pressure ulcers was a complex one involving a range of issues, but specialist equipment was available and observation was clearly an important aspect.  The Trust’s Board of Directors had received a presentation on pressure ulcers in order to improve their understanding of the issue.

·               It was generally found that the less affluent members of society tended to use hospitals as an emergency service, whilst the more affluent used the more preventative aspects.  The uptake of preventative services was important, particularly in relation to cancer services.

·               Work was being undertaken on the socio-economic background of patients, particularly in relation to non-attendance and appointments.

·               There had been significant change in working across seven days amongst clinical colleagues, with more consultants being available at the weekend and steps being taken for a routine consultant presence on delivery wards.  It had been found that people understood that Accident and Emergency facilities were available at all times at the Northern General Hospital.

·               The Trust was in the process of considering its response to the Francis Report and this would be considered alongside the Quality Report.  It was hoped that, by the end of April, there would be a clearer idea of how to embed the report’s findings into the Trust’s strategy.  It should be noted that the Francis Report also included commentary in relation to mortality and patient experience, but there had been insufficient time to consider the report for inclusion in the Quality Report objectives this year.

·               Trust officers were mindful of discharged patients failing to understand the information they were provided with, which also went to their GPs, and steps would be taken to address this.  One of the objectives of the Right First Time initiative was to address issues such as this, with increased partnership working being a key feature.  It was also important that those who would now be commissioning services were involved. 

·               In relation to cancelled operations, information on the type of operations cancelled and the reasons for their cancellation were acted upon.

·               The new Friends and Family Survey forms could be responded to at the point of contact, on-line, by post or through a phone application.  They were also sent out to people after they had been discharged.

·               Colour coding was applied to areas in hospitals to assist dementia patients, but not necessarily in bathrooms.

·               The issue of communications had this year been focused on GPs and there were good arrangements in place for those with learning difficulties.  It was important that Ward Managers were aware of the care plan for each patient.

5.3

RESOLVED: That the Committee:-

(a)

thanks Neil Riley and Sandi Carman for their contribution to the meeting;

(b)

notes the contents of the report, the presentation and the responses to questions and comments; and

(c)

requests that:-

(i)

the issue relating to the length of time that discharge patients have to wait for the issue of medication from the hospital pharmacy be added to the list of Quality Improvement Priorities for 2013/14;

(ii)

a mechanism be developed whereby patient complaints and the outcome of these complaints be reported to the Committee;

(iii)

a short information paper be presented to a future meeting of the Committee on the progress made in respect of the improvement of the quality of patient discharge forms to patients and GPs; and

(iv)

a collective discussion on the Francis Report be held by the Committee with all appropriate partners.