Closer collaboration

I recently advised you about plans to explore deeper collaboration between us and the Barts Health group to transform access, care and outcomes for our patients.

The next step of this collaboration is for NHS England to recruit a “chair in common” to lead the separate Boards of the two trusts, which is expected to conclude by August. There are already a number of “chair in common” appointments across the NHS in London. Both trusts will remain separate statutory bodies.

A joint statement has been published on both of our websites, which summarises the proposal so far, includes a link to the “chair in common” job description, and also notes that we are taking the opportunity to recruit substantively to the Chief Executive post, which has been held on an interim basis for some years.

I’d also like to take this opportunity to reiterate our joint commitment to developing a stronger integrated care relationship within each borough. We want clinical and managerial leaders from our Trust and Barts Health engaged with system partners in a shared agenda to tackle health inequalities, improve health outcomes, and grow the roles of each hospital as anchors within their local communities.

I will continue to keep you updated.

Mile End EDC opens doors to BHRUT patients

An example of great collaboration is the Mile End Early Diagnosis Centre (EDC), which has welcomed its first patient from our Trust.

The EDC is a joint initiative between us, Barts and Homerton and focuses on improving early diagnosis by inviting those who have an increased risk of cancer to attend regular screenings.

You may have read about 84-year-old Ann Baker, from Dagenham, who took advantage of the additional services on offer to our communities which meant she only had to wait a week for a colonoscopy.

A true measure of success for our services is what patients say about them, so I was delighted when Ann said the biggest compliment she could give the EDC is she’d ‘like to go back and would also recommend it to loved ones’. Well done to everyone!

Outpatient clinic holds 162 consultations in one day

Across the country, we know that the pandemic has had a big impact on outpatient waiting times. To support our recovery, we need great initiatives like the Mile End EDC to get us back on track and seeing patients as quickly as we can.

As we continue to focus on initiatives to reduce waiting times, I was extremely impressed that a special surgical outpatient clinic on Saturday 15 May saw 162 outpatients for a consultation at Queen’s Hospital, helping to reduce backlog.

We had five consultants and five registrars working on the day and they were able to see patients who had various symptoms.

Off the back of this successful clinic, we’ve planned two more for June. This fantastic team effort is one of our many initiatives to reduce appointment backlog.

I look forward to updating you.

Global Accessibility Awareness Day

We must remember that around 20 per cent of people in the UK have some form of disability. We need to make sure that they can access online services, along with the rest of the population.

Last Thursday (20 May) was Global Accessibility Awareness Day and its purpose is to highlight digital accessibility and inclusion. Through lots of hard work, I’m delighted that our website has risen from outside the top 100 (April 2020) to sixth place in the May 2021 index produced by accessibility experts Silktide.

I want to take a moment to congratulate my colleagues involved in our steep rise up the ladder, as I’m sure you will agree this is a great improvement in 13 months.

BHRUT nurse visits No.10

Also last Thursday, Number 10 Downing Street held a special reception to thank NHS staff for their hard work during the pandemic and I am delighted that one of our nurses, Tabitha Kihayile, was selected to attend.

Tabitha is from our respiratory team and she attended alongside two our North East London CCG colleagues Khoyrun Nessa and Chair Jagan John.

You don’t need me to remind you how tough it has been for all NHS staff over the past 15 months, so I’m glad Tabitha was able to relax for the evening and have an ‘amazing experience’, as she put it!

I hope you all have a good week.

Best wishes. 

Tony Chambers
Chief Executive