SLHT's High Quality of Care Confirmed in National CQC Report Today

28-Jun-2012

South London Healthcare NHS Trust‘s improving and consistent quality of care was confirmed today by the Care Quality Commission (CQC). The CQC inspected 14 000 hospitals, care homes and dental practices to ensure they were meeting all the essential standards they should.

National media reports today have focussed on a proportion of hospitals not meeting some of the key care needs expected in staffing levels, safe management of medicine and maternity care.

South London Healthcare has met all of the expected following recent reviews of its three sites.

In addition, SLHT scores very well in mortality rates, patient safety and infection prevention.

SLHT was told this week that it faces the possibility of being placed into administration due to its long –standing financial problems.

However, the Department of Health made clear that the quality of care at SLHT is good and that the decision on administration was related to money only.

Chief Executive Dr Chris Streather says: "We are pleased that in what has been a very difficult week for our trust, staff and patients, that we have confirmation in today's national report on quality of care from the CQC that South London Healthcare is performing well in all of the key quality of care issues. Our problem is with finance and this needs to be sorted out but our patients should take heart from the fact that we have among the lowest mortality and infection rates in the whole of England."

Further Information About South London Healthcare NHS Trust

Mortality

The Trust mortality rates, which compare the safety of our services with other hospitals, have continued to improve. The Dr. Foster Hospital Guide 2011 identified the Trust as one of the safest in the country and one of only 6 hospitals whose mortality rates were better than expected in 3 or more of the 4 categories Dr. Foster uses to assess mortality. The Trust is also in the best 2% of trusts nationally for expected levels of mortality after surgery.

Patient safety

Information from Dr Foster also shows that our record on pressure ulcers, and pulmonary embolisms and deep vein thrombosis following surgery is better than other hospitals. We set ourselves tough targets around pressure ulcers this year. We had no grade 4 (the most serious) pressure ulcers and a 24% reduction in pressure ulcers overall. We also reduced falls numbers by 14% and the number of falls resulting in high or catastrophic (NPSA categories) harm by 40%.

Infection rates

The Health Protection Agency two weeks ago issued the results of a national survey of infection rates in English hospitals. The average number of infections picked up by patients runs at 6.5%, while SLHT's was three times lower at 2.1% (lower than in private hospitals) – see press release.

Local services

We continue to develop local specialist services and in August 2011 we welcomed the Secretary of State for Health, who opened the Hyper-Acute Stroke Unit (HASU) at the Princess Royal University Hospital (PRUH).

The progress in maternity services has continued with the opening of the Oasis, midwifery-led birthing unit at the PRUH. The contribution the Oasis team has made to improving local maternity services was recognised at the Royal College of Midwifery awards where they won a national prize as "team of the year".

Patient experience

The experience of patients, as reported in the national in-patient survey, has improved this year, with an average 2.3% increase in the questions in the national survey. This includes good progress in areas like medicines and the experience of patients leaving hospital where we have put a lot of effort working with the Local Involvement Networks, the League of Friends and volunteers.