Dear colleague,

In November last year, the Care Quality Commission (CQC) inspected our two A&Es, several wards, and the Radiology department at King George Hospital (KGH). Their findings have been published today. 

Disappointingly, although perhaps not surprisingly, some of our ratings have changed – like many trusts there have been times where we’ve had to look after patients in corridors and the care we provide isn’t always what we’d want for our own families and friends.

I’ve talked often about how we’re working in partnership with our local authority colleagues and other NHS organisations in north east London to improve care and I’m glad the CQC acknowledged that the issues we face in the Trust are worsened by pressures in primary, community and social care and need to be fixed together. They highlighted the number of patients with mental health needs we have waiting for long periods of time in A&E cubicles because of a shortage of mental health beds as a significant concern.

The CQC also expressed concern about delays in establishing if patients had been adversely affected after we’d discovered several thousand people waiting for routine radiology investigations had been left off our waiting lists.

We have fixed the problem and have organised additional capacity for MRI, CT scans and non-obstetric ultrasounds. All of those who experienced a delay have been contacted and given an appointment for their scan. Most have now been seen.

An investigation into whether this delay has harmed patients is underway and we have contacted people where we think this might be the case. We are carrying out a thorough review of the way data is collected to ensure all our systems are working properly and reporting accurately.

I was heartened that the hard work and commitment of our staff to provide compassionate care under very difficult circumstances was recognised, and that building stability into our leadership is starting to show improvements in our culture.

You can read more in our news story and on the CQC website.

Launch of our Apprenticeship and Career Hub

It’s National Apprenticeship Week and I was delighted we kickstarted it with the launch of our own Trust Apprenticeship and Career Hub.

The hub will help us support the development of our staff – like Emillie Dady, who joined us in 2019 and said: “I am so glad I have done it; it has honestly changed my life.” It will also enable us to support our communities by enabling local people to take up apprenticeships directly with us.

Apprenticeships can help take your career in a different direction, or help you decide on a career if you’re just starting out; the range and scope of opportunities is fantastic.

Having the hub will allows us to create a workforce that’s invested in caring and supporting patients who come to us at some of their most vulnerable times in life.

Find out more in the vacancies section on our website.

“A phenomenal facility for patients”

This week we also welcomed NHS England colleagues to King George Hospital for our Elective Surgical Hub accreditation visit. The team were given a tour of the hub and spoke to staff about the work we’re doing across the surgical division to drive our waiting lists down.

I was extremely proud to hear Stella Vig, National Clinical Director for Elective Care, comment: “It’s been an incredible visit, there’s a real culture of innovation and improvement here. My huge thanks to all the NHS staff at BHRUT for all their amazing achievements and hard work in making this happen. This is a phenomenal facility for patients who are waiting for care.”

A panel will now meet before the official accreditation takes place in March, which will recognise our Trust as one of the top performing in the country for high volume, low complexity surgery – getting patients the treatments they need quicker.

 

Best wishes,

Matthew Trainer

Chief Executive