LOCAL MPS ENCOURAGED BY IMPROVEMENT PLAN FOR EAST SUSSEX HEALTHCARE NHS TRUST
09.12.2015 for immediate release: East Sussex MPs, Amber Rudd (Hastings and Rye), Huw Merriman (Bexhill and Battle) and Caroline Ansell (Eastbourne) were pleased to hear of positive steps being taken to bring East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust out of special measures when they met the senior management team and the NHS Trust Development Authority in Westminster last Thursday.
The Trust told the MPs that it aims to be out of special measures within a year but recognises this is an ambitious target. Although appointments for a new Chair and Chief Executive will be made within the next two months, the Acting Chair, Sue Bernhauser, and Acting CEO, Richard Sunley, told MPs that they are already implementing the improvement plan. It is important for this to move ahead without delay.
The NHS Trust Development Authority, represented by Anne Eden (Director of Delivery and Development for the South of England) and Paul Bennett (Portfolio Director) are overseeing the Trust’s improvement plan and providing support. They told MPs that they were encouraged to see a strong team approach by the Trust to delivering improvements and building stakeholder relationships. Most importantly, there is full acknowledgement from the Trust of what had gone wrong in the past and the focus is now entirely on delivering improvements. Maggie Oldham, Improvement Director for the Trust, told MPs that in order for the Trust to move out of special measures, patients must be at the centre of everything they do.
Speaking after the meeting Huw Merriman said “Although the Trust has a challenging journey ahead of it to move out of special measures, I was pleased to hear that they have already given themselves the ambitious target of achieving this within a year. I believe their clear ambition to improve patient experience and ensure that staff are at the centre of any changes is essential if they are to achieve this. The Trust and all its staff have my full support. I am looking forward to spending a busy night with medical and nursing staff on A&E at the Conquest in the next few weeks to see first-hand the issues they face.”
Amber Rudd said “This was a really positive meeting with the Trust and I believe that they have identified the two key issues that will successfully bring about these improvements – putting patients at the centre of the Trust and ensuring that staff at all levels are fully engaged and supported. I look forward to working closely with the Trust to support them as they strive to come out of special measures.”
Caroline Ansell said “I’m sure that the 500,000 local residents who are served by East Sussex Healthcare Trust will be encouraged to hear that the improvement plan is already being driven forward. I am now routinely visiting different wards and teams at the DGH and working closely with the Trust and patient groups to ensure that my constituents receive the very best possible healthcare.”
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From left to right: Paul Bennett, Portfolio Director, NHS Trust Development Authority, Anne Eden, Director of Delivery and Development (South) NHS Trust Development Authority, Caroline Ansell MP, Huw Merriman MP, Rt Hon Amber Rudd MP, Richard Sunley, Acting CEO of ESHT, Sue Bernhauser, Acting Chair of ESHT, Maggie Oldham, Improvement Director, ESHT.