You may have already been notified but as we are sending out this Partnership Update, I was delighted to see that the Improving Healthcare Together programme has published the report from the independent Clinical Senates of London and the South East, following their review of the proposals for Epsom and St Helier hospitals, and the second phase of the draft independent interim Integrated Impact Assessment. I welcome both reports as these provide a great deal of evidence which the clinical commissioning groups and programme can consider as the draft pre-consultation business case  is further developed. 

The Clinical Senates independent advice and recommendations  will help clinical teams shape the proposals for major acute services at Epsom and St Helier. The Senates have commended the programme for our drive and initiative in developing such an innovative solution to the three key challenges facing Epsom and St Helier hospitals - workforce, estates and financial sustainability. 

The clinical model proposed  will mean we keep the majority of care as local as possible, at both St Helier and Epsom hospitals. The Senates stated clearly that there are significant benefits to bringing together the six acute hospital services (A&E, emergency surgery, critical care, paediatrics, maternity and acute medicine) into a new purpose built facility located on one of the three hospital sites. 

You can read the report on the  Improving Healthcare Together website here. 

The Integrated Impact  Assessment is focused on four impact assessment areas: 

What is clear from this  work to date is that there are positive impacts across all options for change, as opposed to the do nothing option. Patients are likely to experience improved outcomes arising from:

• The achievement of workforce standards which promote consultant delivered care
• Reducing variation through the establishment of seven-day services
• A model which allows for a critical mass of cases to be undertaken and provides opportunities for sub-specialisation
• Timely access to co-dependent services as a result of their co-location, in fit for purpose facilities.

You can read the report  on the Improving Healthcare Together website  here.

As we entered the month we received a letter from Anthony Clarkson, Director of Organ Donation and Transplantation for NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT), thanking us for helping the UK with the ambition of becoming world class in the area of organ donation and transplantation. In 2018/19 from four consented donors, we facilitated two actual solid organ donations resulting in five patients receiving a transplant during the time period. This is in comparison to 2017/18 when we facilitated two actual solid organ donors from three consented donors. We referred 44 patients to NHSBT's Organ Donation Services Team and missed no opportunities to follow best practice. This is something we will be continuing to promote and support as whilst we played our part in 2018/19, there are many more people needing help.

This month has seen periods of extreme weather conditions - persistent heavy rain, weather warnings and localised flooding, as well as heatwave warnings. Although the hospitals have not been as badly affected as in the past, we did not quite make it through unscathed. Following heavy rain earlier in the month we had to close areas at St Helier on A6 and B1 because rainwater entered through the ceiling and ITU was also affected.

 

Adverse weather was not the only thing keeping the Estates and Facilities Team busy in June; our new vacuum insulated evaporator (effectively a large vacuum flask for storing liquid oxygen) was craned into place at Epsom.

Also at St Helier, the £20 million project to reduce the amount of energy used and to transform the hospital environment for patients took a step forward, as scaffolding to install new ductwork to serve A2 theatres went up between Ferguson House and A block.

 

Last year we spent a record £49.7 million on improving our facilities and equipment and this year looks to be as busy. In last month's update we focused on the investments being made at Epsom Hospital.  We have an equally demanding programme of improvements taking place at St Helier Hospital - some of which have already been completed and others underway:  

 

Already completed:

Coming soon:

From next month the Trust will start to receive the first of our new ambulances.  We have invested £2 million into the 48 new vehicles, which will provide our patients and staff with state of the art facilities.

 

On the topic of inclusivity, we have held two planning events for the re-introduction of our staff LGBTQI+ network. This complements our Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) and disability networks which are already active in hearing from staff on how we can improve and make the organisation a great place to work for everyone.

Anyone who has ever been caught in the wind and rain while waiting for the 293 bus at the back of Epsom Hospital can breathe a sigh of relief, as the bus stop on Woodcote Road finally has a shelter. The shelter comes courtesy of Epsom and Ewell Borough Council and is thanks to a bid from Cllr Liz Frost.