Published on: 27th November 2009
Monitor, the independent regulator of NHS foundation trusts, has this afternoon confirmed the Task Force that will drive and ensure the swift implementation of actions to secure the provision of high quality care at Basildon and Thurrock University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.
The Task Force, which will include three key elements, will work closely with the Board of the Trust to ensure that required improvements in care are delivered as quickly as possible.
It will include:
Dr Edward Baker, Medical Director at Guy's and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust will lead the medical input on the Task Force. He will ensure rapid and effective implementation of the necessary clinical changes at the Trust and will provide expert medical oversight and mentoring to the Trust’s medical leads. Dr Baker will ensure clinical co-ordination on the Task Force.
Louise Boden, Chief Nurse at University College London Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, will lead the nursing input on the Task Force. Louise will ensure rapid and effective implementation of the necessary nursing changes at the Trust and also provide expert nursing oversight and mentoring to the Trust’s nursing leads. Louise will ensure nursing co-ordination on the Task Force.
The Programme Delivery Office, which will co-ordinate the delivery of all necessary actions, will be operated by a team from PricewaterhouseCoopers with specialist experience . The key deliverables are to:
The Programme Delivery Office will be responsible for overseeing and holding all parties to account for the delivery of the programme, in particular ensuring that known and likely issues (e.g. mortality, emergency care, CQC registration, Children’s services, HCAI prevention regulation breaches) are addressed in a timely, rigorous and effective manner. The Programme Delivery Office will track implementation of actions to resolve issues and develop robust reporting to the Board and others on quality of services and delivery of agreed plans.
The Task Force, which will have access to further resources as necessary, will ensure the delivery at pace of the improvements required at the Trust. It will report directly to the Board of the Trust. The Trust Board will meet with Monitor at least monthly to confirm that all the agreed actions have been undertaken, key measures of success achieved and expected improvements in care delivered.
Dr William Moyes, Executive Chairman of Monitor, said:
“Monitor are sending in a task force of top clinical experts and specialist support in order to drive rapid improvement of services at this Trust. We’ll also hold the Trust Board accountable at every step of the way and meet with them on at least a monthly basis. High quality patient care should be every hospital’s top priority and we are taking swift action to ensure that progress on this is accelerated.
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Notes to editors: