18/05/2010

The Chief Executive of NHS Gloucestershire, Jan Stubbings said she was pleased that a practical way forward had been agreed with the County’s Health, Community and Care Overview and Scrutiny Committee over ward changes at Gloucestershire Royal Hospital.

Jan Stubbings said:

“We have listened to the views of staff and members of the community and are pleased that some changes can be made now which will improve the quality of services and the patient experience.”

“The proposals supported today relate to trauma and acute assessment and reflect the steps taken by NHS staff to improve the patient experience by reducing delays during admission to hospital and reducing the length of hospital stay.”

In relation to acute assessment, the proposal describes locating all emergency assessment facilities currently at Gloucestershire Royal Hospital in the same area.

This will improve the patient experience, improve management and use of beds and improve the flow of patients requiring admission from the Emergency Unit.

In relation to Trauma, the proposal is to bring together the Trauma services currently at Gloucestershire Royal Hospital, to improve the way care can be provided.

Whilst introducing these ward changes and aiming to provide services using fewer beds, the Hospitals Trust will ensure that all beds remain available should they be needed.

This will remain the case until such time as there is sufficient evidence that the changes are working efficiently and effectively.

The ward changes in trauma and acute assessment will be phased in over the coming weeks and a working group will be set up with members of the Health, Community and Care Overview and Scrutiny Committee to oversee them.

Jan added:

“We believe that the right balance has been struck between proposed changes that can safely be made now to improve patient care such as trauma and acute assessment and those that need further review alongside the development of community services such as general and old age medicine.”

“We have, and continue to make, great strides in the development of services in community hospitals and in patient’s own homes as well as reducing the time people need to spend in hospital, but we have agreed to review further the proposals for general and old age medicine. This reflects the feedback that we have received.”

Chief Executive of Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Dr Frank Harsent said:

“We have benefitted from a valuable staff and public engagement process and are grateful to the Health, Community and Care Overview and Scrutiny Committee for working with us to set that in train.”

“Patient care is of paramount importance to us and must continue to be the guiding principle as healthcare continues to develop and change over time.”

“We are both committed to maintaining high quality services for patients and living within our means.”