The opportunity to contribute to the Healthcare Commission Annual Health Check on Infection Control
Sheona Browne, Area Manager for Kent of the Healthcare Commission will be in attendance for this item.
Minutes:
(Sheona Browne, Healthcare Commission Area Team Leader for Kent, Medway and East Sussex and Sandra Tracey, Assessor, Healthcare Commission were in attendance for this item)
(1) The Committee had before it a presentation regarding third-party commentaries on Trusts’ self declarations in respect of Healthcare Commission Core Standards – and the way that Overview and Scrutiny Committees, Patient and Public Involvement Forums, Foundation Trust Boards of Governors and Strategic Health Authorities could contribute to the Annual Health Check by this means.
(2) Also before the Committee were details relating to the weighting of the information which the Healthcare Commission received from third party commentaries, as well as some examples of intelligence that had been extracted from 2006/2007 commentaries and “top tips” for those submitting commentaries, derived from previous Annual Health Checks.
(3) The Committee noted that the most useful commentaries:-
a) were written in a clear and concise way;
b) contained information relevant to the current Annual Health Check;
c) clearly related to one or more Core Standard;
d) stated whether the third party thought that the Trust was compliant with the relevant Standard;
e) contained supporting evidence from a range of sources;
f) included detailed information, for example dates and outcomes;
g) clearly demonstrated how the third party had been involved;
h) used full names and avoided the use of acronyms; and
i) focused on commenting on the Standards rather than the criticism of the content of Standards and the system of assessment.
(4) The Committee were also informed that it helped if third parties contributing to the dialogue:-
a) had regular interaction with the Trust;
b) had access to Trust reports that highlighted patient concerns, e.g. patient survey reports, Patient Advisory Liaison Services reports, complaints reports, etc.;
c) had attended Board and other Trust meetings where these issues were discussed;
d) were familiar with current legislation and Trust policies on relevant issues, such as safety and equality;
e) carried out their own surveys and reviews;
f) witnessed at first hand where the policies and initiatives were being implemented;
g) had been involved in the development of new initiatives; and
h) felt able to challenge Trusts and influence change.
(5) The Committee then proceeded to ask a range of questions of the Healthcare Commission representatives, as set out in Appendix 3 of these Minutes.
Conclusions and outcomes from evidence
(1) The Committee concluded the session by agreeing that it would need to meet again to discuss this topic further on 27 November 2007.
(2) The Overview and Scrutiny Manager reminded the Committee of some of the issues which had arisen during the day. These items were only indicative of some of the discussion and were by no means exhaustive. The Committee would return to the conclusions and recommendations arising from thorough examinations of Infection Control across Kent and Medway following the next meeting, on 27 November.
(3) Some of the issues raised included:-
a) the Director of Public Health’s statement that part of her role was proactive monitoring of infection prevention and control across the Kent and Medway Health economy;
b) the role of the Strategic Health Authority;
c) how best practice in individual Trusts was shared so that there was a consistent approach across the Kent and Medway Health economy;
d) how the Primary Care Trusts were dealing with the issue of antibiotic prescribing;
e) what methods were being used to engage patients and the public, and inform them how they could help prevent healthcare-associated infections;
f) the welcome opportunity to receive an action plan from the Maidstone & Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust on how they were responding to the Healthcare Commission report;
g) how adult social care and other stakeholders were responding to the issue of step-down facilities and delayed discharge, given that bed occupancy within the Maidstone & Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust was currently at 95%, instead of the recommended level of 85%;
h) understanding from the Strategic Health Authority how the money earmarked by the government recently for deep cleaning was to be allocated to Trusts across Kent and Medway;
i) the welcome offer by the Healthcare Commission to undertake some training for Members of the Committee on what makes a good third party dialogue contribution to the Annual Health Check; and
j) the Healthcare Commission’s welcome offer for Members to accompany them on some visits to Health organisations so that Members could see at first hand how the Committee might contribute to the Healthcare Commission’s Annual Health Check.