Following today’s announcement that the East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust has been placed in ‘special measures’, Huw Merriman, MP for Bexhill and Battle and Amber Rudd, MP for Hastings and Rye, have released the following joint statement:
“It is with great disappointment that we learn that the NHS Trust Development Agency (TDA) have placed East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust into the category of 'special measures' following a recommendation from the Care Quality Commission.
Whilst concerned by this announcement, we welcome the acknowledgement by East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust that patients and staff have been let down and regard this acknowledgement as a step in the direction to embrace the need for rapid change.
As local MPs, it is of key importance to us that the hospital staff feel truly valued and their morale is lifted. To this extent, we are pleased that the Care Quality Commission (CQC) recognised that the staff were very committed, caring and did their utmost to achieve the best outcomes for patients. We hope that the staff will feel empowered to continue to act with this ethos and that new senior management will make the changes which the TDA require in order for the Trust to exit the 'special measures' category in twelve months’ time.
Whilst the category of 'special measures' is a cause for concern, the status will permit the Trust to access additional resources and expertise which, if properly harnessed, will help to bring about improvements.
We have supported the Trust through these difficult times and now want to do everything we can to stand alongside staff and patients and support the highlighted changes and improvements which the Trust management will need to deliver to bring it out special measures. We will be visiting our local hospitals over the coming weeks to show our support and discuss the recent developments with staff and patients.
We believe that change occurs for the better when management, staff, patients and community representatives all work together for the common good. As MPs, we are committed to this mantra and would encourage our constituents to do likewise.”
ENDS