Wandsworth's Health Service in good health
The Healthcare Commission has just released its performance figures for all NHS Trusts in England and Wales. And Wandsworth's Primary Care Trust has, for the second year in a row, improved a category: it's now rated "good" at its use of resources. In 2006/7 it was in the lowest category possible; last year it was "fair"; now we're in the top half of the table for the first time.
However, there are still ways Wandsworth PCT can do better. While it's clearly getting to grips with its financial controls - wasting less, targeting resources better, investing in the right services; it is still in the bottom half of the table in terms of "quality of service" - the aspect of their service we experience and the more important measure.
In particular, the Trust still has not got to grips with infection control: preventing the spread of superbugs and other germs and diseases; it is not achieving targets for all A&E patients being seen within four hours; and its booking service failed the test too.
But the Trust scored a full-house in terms of "patient focus" - treating patients with dignity and respect, food quality, responding to complaints and the like; "governance" and "cost effectiveness".
Managers will argue that quality of service will follow once resources are properly targeted, and I hope they're right. With the amount of our money Labour has invested in the NHS, I want to see Wandsworth with "excellent" services - in both quality and use of resources.
Download the full Healthcare Commission report for Wandsworth PCT here.
However, there are still ways Wandsworth PCT can do better. While it's clearly getting to grips with its financial controls - wasting less, targeting resources better, investing in the right services; it is still in the bottom half of the table in terms of "quality of service" - the aspect of their service we experience and the more important measure.
In particular, the Trust still has not got to grips with infection control: preventing the spread of superbugs and other germs and diseases; it is not achieving targets for all A&E patients being seen within four hours; and its booking service failed the test too.
But the Trust scored a full-house in terms of "patient focus" - treating patients with dignity and respect, food quality, responding to complaints and the like; "governance" and "cost effectiveness".
Managers will argue that quality of service will follow once resources are properly targeted, and I hope they're right. With the amount of our money Labour has invested in the NHS, I want to see Wandsworth with "excellent" services - in both quality and use of resources.
Download the full Healthcare Commission report for Wandsworth PCT here.
Labels: health
posted by Stuart King at
15:21
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