Quality priorities

What are our quality priority programmes?

The quality priority programmes for 2024/25 are initiatives established by the Trust to improve various aspects of healthcare delivery. These programmes focus on four key areas:

  • Patient safety
  • Patient experience
  • Clinical effectiveness
  • Addressing health inequalities

These programmes were identified through a thorough review of improvement opportunities and data sources, including GIRFT (getting it right first time), the model hospital, claims, complaints, incidents and national audit data. Each programme is aligned with a specific division within the Trust for implementation, with progress monitored quarterly.

1. Deteriorating patient (PEWS & Call 4 Concern)

Aim

Establish a 24/7 contact number and process for raising concerns about patient deterioration. Ensure 95% of patients are reviewed within one hour of Call 4 Concern referral.

Measures

  • All adult patients, their families, carers and advocates have 24/7 access for rapid review if concerned about the patient’s condition
  • 95% review within one hour of Call 4 Concern

Priority 2: Tobacco and smoking reduction

Aim

Expand tobacco dependency treatment to inpatients and staff. Update and implement the NHS smoke-free policy.

Measures

  • 75% of inpatients to have smoking status recorded
  • 100% of known inpatient smokers to be referred for treatment
  • 100% of known inpatient smokers to receive very brief advice (VBA) and offered nicotine replacement therapy (NRT)

Priority 3: Improving care for our frail patients

Aim

Embed and extend front door frailty service, improve ‘acute in-reach’ services, align with surgical and end-of-life pathways

Measures

  • 10% reduction in avoidable admissions and readmissions within 30 days of discharge
  • Provide 20 same day emergency care (SDEC) new patient slots per week per site
  • Reduce length of stay (LoS) by average of 2 days
  • 80% capacity utilisation of virtual wards

Priority 4: Patient experience (nutrition and hydration)

Aim

Implement improvement actions for nutrition and hydration across all services.

Measures

  • 80% of patients to complete malnutrition universal screening tool (MUST) assessment
  • 80% of patients triggered from MUST assessment referred to dietitian support if indicated
  • 75% of patients reporting sufficient help and support during meals on Friends and Family Test

Priority 5: Implementation of PSIRF

Aim

Empower staff to respond to patient safety incidents. Embed PSIRF methodology.

Measures

  • 90% completion of level 1 and 2 patient safety training
  • Measure effectiveness of learning response methodology and engagement work

Priority 6: Transitional care

Aim

Develop coordinated transition plans across all services for young people moving from children’s to adults’ services.

Measures

  • Selection of preferred digital transition tool
  • Development and agreement of a transition policy
  • Establishment of common approach for recording and tracking transitions on CernerEPR
  • Completion of skills gap audit and delivery of training in at least two specialties
  • Development of best practice transition pathways in at least two specialties
Contributors
layla amyco Lilley Bridges George Vasilopoulos