Mid & South Essex Integrated Care System reports improvements to urgent care, cancer, and elective care. In the year ended 31 March:
• Minimum A&E 4 hour wait time 71.16%, up 9+% on 2022-23.
• Category 2 ambulance handover times within 30 mins 84.2%.
• Elective waiting list performance improved:
- reduction of 745 patients waiting over 65 weeks.
- 1858 fewer people waiting over 52 weeks, with additional 7000 patients treated compared to 2022-3.
- The target for clearing the backlog of over 62-day cancer waits from diagnosis to treatment was exceeded with an overall reduction of 261 patients.
- Performance in the Faster Diagnosis Standard for cancer of 28 days improved to 71%.
Whilst there’s still a long way to go it’s heartening to see these improvements.
The proposed closure of St Peter’s Hospital, Maldon, Consultation closed with 5,200+ online surveys completed, hundreds of paper surveys collected, and 15 consultative events held, including SWF’s. Maldon’s public meeting had 400 attendees, with others shut out. We’re lobbying to keep investigative and outpatient services available locally, and see a significant improvement in the quality and outputs of inpatient services.
Our submission to the Public Inquiry Hearing is this Memorandum submission-inquiry-hearing-re-community-services-inc-st-peters-cherry-trees-19mar24-vf.docx (live.com) and Slides https://view.officeapps.live.com/op/view.aspx?src=https%3A%2F%2Fswfhealthsocial.files.wordpress.com%2F2024%2F03%2Finquiry-hearing-re-community-services-inc-st-peters-19mar24-vf.pptx&wdOrigin=BROWSELINK . Recording at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CSqW0r0vRPw our submission starts at 35:30. A further public consultation hearing is at Proposed changes to services at local community hospitals – now closed | MSE Virtual Views (ics.nhs.uk) .
The independent report with the findings is being prepared and will be published in late spring. This will be used to develop a ‘decision-making business case’. A decision-making meeting of the Mid & South Essex Integrated Care Board will be held in July.
The public inquiry into mental health inpatient deaths in Essex, covering deaths from 2000 to 31 December 2023, includes: serious failings to the delivery of safe and therapeutic inpatient treatment and care; the actions, practices and behaviours of staff; and, the culture and governance of the trusts and how that affected care and treatment.
The Chair of the public inquiry looking into the deaths of about 2,000 mental health patients has invited applications from core participants with a significant interest in the matters being investigated, such as: Essex-based families of mental health inpatients who have died; current and former mental health staff; and organisations providing inpatient services. She’s “committed to carrying out thorough investigations which are appropriately focused and proportionate”. The investigation will include people who died within three months of discharge, and those who died as inpatients receiving NHS-funded care in the independent sector. Hopefully the Chair will start hearing evidence soon; reassurance about the safety and efficiency of Essex’s mental health services is long overdue.
Serious concerns about Measles continue with 1109 English cases since October 2023.
With huge pressures on GPs, ambulances, A&Es and hospitals, wherever possible start by consulting your Pharmacy First, except for life- or limb-threatening emergencies.
SWF’s GPs are delivering Spring Covid Booster vaccinations. Full details at https://swfhealthsocial.co.uk/2024/02/18/an-update-from-swf-health-social-care-group-44/ .
Covid cases have stabilised at low levels with small increases in some indicators; Flu and respiratory infections are mostly falling. Public health news is on our website and in weekly e-newsletters. SWF Library provides online services and help with internet access. For health & welfare information and subscription to our newsletter, email swfhealthsocial@outlook.com , or leave voicemails on 01245 322079
SWF Health & Social Care Group 