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Hospital Trust again named as one of Britain's top 40 Hospitals
FOR the 4th year running, Southport and Ormskirk Hospital NHS Trust has been named among the top performers at the country's 5th 40 Top
Hospitals programme as assessed by the country's leading hospital benchmarking company, CHKS. The Trust is the only one on Merseyside to be among this year's 40 Top Hospitals, and 1 of only 5 from the North West.
Commenting on the Trust's achievement, Chief Executive Jonathan Parry said:- "We have entered this programme for the last 4 years and each year we have been named in the 40 Top Hospitals and this is a fantastic achievement. We would not have received this award if it weren't for the hard work of all staff. It shows that their skill, dedication and commitment has improved the quality of care we provide to our patients and the health community. This award is also very satisfying as it is an opportunity to be judged against other Trusts across the country."
The independent CHKS review covers the whole of the United Kingdom and looks at the performance of 120 hospitals. The Study is not a league table and all the hospital trusts entered into the programme because they wanted their performance to be measured against recognised clinical healthcare standards.
In this year's programme a number of NHS Trusts have improved their performance in the indicators selected by CHKS, making the achievement of a place in the top 40 that much harder. More trusts entered the programme this year compared to last year.
The report is based on indicators within 3 key areas: clinical effectiveness and outcomes, efficiency and patient-carer experience. The report is complied from data collected over 12 months to December 2004, which represents the most up to date data available to the NHS. The following 17 indicators developed by CHKS were used in the assessment::-
* Risk adjusted mortality index
* Emergency readmission rates (within 28 days of discharge)
* Discharge of stroke patients to their own home
* Discharge of patients to home after hip operations
* Risk adjusted complications index
* The planning and management of day cases
* Day case rate for specific procedures (nominated by the British Association of Day Surgery)
* Risk adjusted length of stay index
* Cost of in-patient activity (case mix adjusted and assessed for market forces)
* Missed outpatient appointments
* Procedures not carried out due to hospital decision
* Proportion of waiting list patients treated who waited less than 6 months
* Proportion of waiting list patients treated who waited less than 12 months
* Proportion of surgical treatments provided to patients over 75 (case mix & population adjusted)
* Staff survey across hospitals to assess the impact of the NHS as an employer
* Hospital acquired infection rates (MRSA only)
* Out-patient and A&E survey of patients experience e.g. respect and dignity, prompt access and co-ordination of care
Each of the 40 Top Hospitals is an achiever of high quality care. The participating hospitals are representative of hospital care across the UK and importantly they were invited to enter the programme.
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A voter's guide for 5 May
2005
THE Electoral Commission is reminding voters in the North West to follow some simple but important steps to help ensure their vote is safe, secret and counted for the elections on 5 May.
Postal voters
It is the voter's right to vote alone and in secret. They should not let anyone vote for them.
Voters may be sent more than 1 ballot paper if there is more than 1 election on the same day. Voters should mark a cross
(X) in the box to the right of the name of the party or candidate they want to vote for. They must not identify themselves or make any other mark on their ballot paper, or their vote may not be counted.
Completed ballot papers should be put in the envelope and sealed immediately by the voter to keep their vote secret.
Postal voters must also sign a declaration of identity in front of a witness and get the witness to sign and complete their details, but should not let the witness see how they voted.
Voters should post their completed ballot paper themselves wherever practical.
Postal voters are reminded to return their vote as soon as possible. Royal Mail recomm that postal votes are posted by 3 May. If voters need to return their postal vote in person, they can hand it in at a local polling station on Election Day. It must arrive with their Returning Officer or at a local polling station before 10pm on Thursday 5 May.
At the polling station
Voters will receive a poll card before the election telling them where to vote. Polling stations are open from 7am until 10pm.
Voters should tell the staff inside the polling station their name and address so they can check that they are on the electoral register. They do not need their poll card to vote.
Staff at the polling station will give voters a ballot paper listing the parties and candidates they can vote for. It will be stamped with an official mark. Voters may be given more than one ballot paper if there is more than one election on the same day.
Voters should take their ballot paper into a polling booth so that no one can see how they vote. They should mark a cross (X) in the box to the right of the name of the party or candidate they want to vote for. They must not identify themselves or make any other mark on their ballot paper, or their vote may not be counted.
Finally, when the voter has marked their vote, they should fold the ballot paper in half and put it in the ballot box. They should not let anyone see their vote.
If voters are not clear what to do, they can ask the staff at the polling station for assistance.
Further information about how to vote is available on The Electoral Commission's website:-
www.aboutmyvote.co.uk, or by calling 0800 3 280 280.
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