AT WARRINGTON and Halton Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust’s annual members’ meeting in August 2013, Mel Pickup, chief executive, praised the trust for having a positive year.
Two months later the newspapers reported Warrington & Halton Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust as one of seven trusts with a higher than expected summary hospital level mortality indicator (covering the period from April 2012 to March 2013).
At the members’ meeting on September 7 this year the hospital used mortality rate information to drive improvements.
The trust has launched the crack the code campaign to ensure we continually, accurately and comprehensively document all aspects of patient’s health and the care they receive.
Providing data to medics, on their activity and how this benchmarks with local and national peers, as part of their appraisal and validation process.
Ms Pickup recognises that the improved clinical processes that are required to facilitate better data collection will undoubtedly have a beneficial effect on the measure but fails to tell the members this – leading us to believe that the improvement is down to increased clinical staffing levels, more doctors, nurses and therapists.
Why can’t Warrington Hospital have a more open culture, with better information for patients and the public?
And that information must be credible and provided on a basis that is honest and consistent.
Peter Ward, Runcorn
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here