Trust shortlisted in Top Hospitals Awards

Plymouth Hospitals NHS Trust has been shortlisted for the excellence in accident and emergency care award, part of the CHKS annual Top Hospitals programme awards 2015 and is now in the last three.

The CHKS Top Hospitals awards celebrate the success of healthcare providers across the UK and are awarded to healthcare organisations for their achievements in healthcare quality and improvement.

Plymouth Hospitals NHS was shortlisted, along with five other Trusts, following an analysis of 28 measures. These measures were divided into domains for clinical outcomes and patient experience. Clinical outcomes included Department of Health indicators for Accident and Emergency (A&E) departments (e.g. waiting times for treatment and patients leaving without treatment) as well as results from clinical audits.

Patient experience included results of the Care Quality Commission patient experience surveys (for A&E departments).

Dr Ian Higginson, Consultant in Emergency Medicine and Service Line Director for the Emergency Department at Plymouth Hospitals, said: “We are delighted to have been shortlisted for this award, particularly as it's by an organisation from out of our area. It reflects the dedication and sheer hard work of the staff in our department.”

The six shortlisted trusts were invited to submit a detailed entry using a questionnaire which was then considered by a panel of expert judges. The judges are: Dr Clifford Mann, President, Royal College of Emergency Medicine; Professor Keith Willett, National Director for acute episodes of care, NHS England and Janet Davies, Executive Director, Royal College of Nursing. The judges then visit three shortlisted trusts and decide on a winner.

Ann James, Chief Executive of Plymouth Hospitals NHS Trust, said: “The Emergency Department being shortlisted in the final three of the CHKS Top Hospitals programme is a real testament to the hard work and commitment of the staff within the department who work incredibly hard and provide excellent care to our patients.”

Jason Harries, Managing Director, CHKS said: “Plymouth Hospitals NHS Trust should take pride in having been shortlisted on the basis of our analysis of A&E outcomes and we look forward to the next stage in the process which will see us announcing a winner on the 19th May at our awards ceremony in London.”

CHKS Ltd, part of Capita plc, is a provider of healthcare intelligence and quality improvement services to the NHS and independent healthcare sector. With over 25 years’ experience and having worked with over 400 clients, CHKS has a portfolio of information products, internationally-recognised accreditation programmes and consultancy services which provide clinicians and managers with the information needed to drive improvements in patient care, financial efficiency, clinical effectiveness and quality.

The original six shortlisted trusts are:

Dorset County Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Plymouth Hospitals NHS Trust
Gateshead Health NHS Foundation Trust
South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
Harrogate and District NHS Foundation Trust
Derby Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust