DOCSLIB.ORG

An Independent Review of John Watkinson's Dismissal by Royal

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
An Independent Review of John Watkinson's Dismissal by Royal An independent review into the approach and behaviour of NHS South West in relation to the dismissal of John Watkinson by Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust A report for the Chief Executive of the NHS December 2010 Authors: Lucy Scott-Moncrieff Ed Marsden © Verita 2010 Verita is an independent consultancy which specialises in conducting and managing investigations reviews and inquiries for public sector and statutory organisations. Verita 53 Frith St London W1D 4SN Telephone 020 7494 5670 Fax 020 7734 9325 Email [email protected] Website www.verita.net 2 Contents Introduction 4 Terms of reference 7 Executive summary 8 Details of the review Approach, structure and those involved 19 Questions raised 26 Part 1 – facts and findings Brief chronology 30 Upper gastrointestinal cancer reconfiguration 42 RCHT performance 66 Bromley report and the Hawker review 96 Other matters investigated 133 Part 2 – analysis and conclusions Analysis and conclusions 151 Appendices Appendix A Secretary of State for Health‟s announcement 168 Appendix B List of interviewees 169 Appendix C Documents reviewed 170 Appendix D Review team biographies 174 3 Introduction 1.1 John Watkinson took up his post as chief executive of the Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust (RCHT) on 1 January 2007. The trust has a long history of financial difficulties and in 2007 was ranked by the Healthcare Commission to be the worst performing NHS organisation in the south west. In late 2007 it was one of four NHS organisations required to account for its poor performance at a meeting with Sir David Nicholson, NHS chief executive. RCHT is not a foundation trust1. 1.2 Plans to transfer the surgical treatment of some upper gastrointestinal cancers (upper GI) from Treliske Hospital2 in Cornwall to Derriford Hospital in Devon were the subject of controversy and dispute in Cornwall throughout 2008. RCHT obtained counsel‟s opinion confirming the need for public consultation before any change was decided. John Watkinson led the discussion on this opinion at a meeting of the RCHT board on 5 August 2008. 1.3 Mr Watkinson was the chief executive of Bromley Hospitals NHS Trust (Bromley) before his appointment to RCHT. In late 2007 Bromley commissioned an independent review into its financial management and governance, covering the period when Mr Watkinson was chief executive and the year after he left. 1.4 The Bromley report was published on 25 September 2008 and raised serious concerns about the financial management and governance of the trust. The RCHT board asked Mr Watkinson to take special leave and RCHT and NHS South West (the SHA) announced an independent review to: “…consider whether the issues of competence and behaviour highlighted in the Bromley report have in any way occurred in the Royal Cornwall Hospitals Trust. 1 NHS foundation trusts are established as independent public benefit corporations and are free from central government control and from SHA performance management. Instead they are regulated by Monitor and operate by the terms of their authorisation. 2 RCHT is the main provider of acute services in Cornwall. It provides services to three sites including Royal Cornwall Hospital (Treliske Hospital, Truro), West Cornwall Hospital (Penzance) and St Michael‟s Hospital (Hayle) 4 The joint review will also clarify whether the Royal Cornwall Hospitals financial management and governance arrangements have been and remain appropriate.” 1.5 The RCHT board suspended John Watkinson on 2 October 2008. 1.6 RCHT and the SHA appointed a team of four independent experts, led by Professor Ruth Hawker, to undertake the review. The Hawker report was published on 20 March 2009 and criticised the trust‟s financial management, governance arrangements, its board and its chief executive. The RCHT board accepted its conclusions and recommendations at a meeting convened to consider the report. 1.7 The RCHT board dismissed John Watkinson on 16 April 2009, the day after a meeting between him and two non-executive directors. The reason given in his letter of dismissal was: “the board considers that your actions have led to a breakdown in trust and confidence and that there is no realistic alternative to termination of employment.” 1.8 John Watkinson‟s appeal against this decision was heard by a panel of independent non-executive directors who upheld the decision to dismiss. 1.9 Mr Watkinson took his case to the employment tribunal. On 5 May 2010 the tribunal found that he had been unfairly dismissed because he had made a “protected disclosure” covered by the Public Interest Disclosure Act. The disclosure was of counsel‟s opinion regarding consultation, made on 5 August 2008. The tribunal also found that RCHT acted as it did as a result of pressure from NHS South West. Mr Watkinson‟s witness statement sets out his reasons for believing this was the case, and the tribunal seems to have accepted his arguments. 1.10 On 17 June 2010 the Secretary of State for Health announced an independent review into the SHA‟s involvement in the decision to dismiss John Watkinson. Sir David Nicholson, NHS chief executive commissioned Verita to conduct it. 5 1.11 Verita is a consultancy specialising in the management and conduct of investigations, reviews and inquiries in public sector organisations. Lucy Scott-Moncrieff, Verita associate, and Ed Marsden, managing director of Verita, conducted the work. 1.12 Our terms of reference are set out in section two. Our review is concerned with the actions of NHS South West in relation to Mr Watkinson‟s dismissal. We have not reviewed the legality of John Watkinson‟s dismissal, which has already been adjudicated upon, nor have we reviewed the merits or otherwise of the reconfiguration of upper gastrointestinal (upper GI) cancer services in the south west peninsula. We have looked at the interaction between the SHA and RCHT only to the extent necessary to fulfil our terms of reference. 1.13 We identified a panel of experts with whom we discussed our evidence, findings and conclusions. They saw some of the documents as appropriate. The panel were: Kathryn Riddle, chair, NHS Yorkshire & Humber; Kate Gordon, chair, The Queen Elizabeth Hospital King‟s Lynn NHS Trust; and Sheena Cumiskey, chief executive, Cheshire and Wirral Partnership NHS Foundation Trust. None has a close association with the individuals or organisations involved in this review. 6 2. Terms of reference 2.1 The Secretary of State for Health announced this review in a written ministerial statement to the House of Commons on 17 June 2010. 2.2 The terms of reference for this review are: To examine all the SHA‟s interactions with the Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust in relation to the dismissal of John Watkinson and, by association, the trust‟s position in relation to the provision of the upper GI services in Cornwall. In particular, to determine: The chronology of events and decisions made in the running up to the dismissal of John Watkinson. What involvement NHS South West had in his dismissal and whether or not this was motivated by the reconfiguration of upper gastro-intestinal services or otherwise. Whether the SHA acted appropriately, proportionately, in keeping with its role and within its statutory responsibilities. The review should not duplicate the review of the proposals to reconfigure upper GI services in the southwest which was recently carried out by the Independent Reconfiguration Panel, nor any subsequent appeal of the employment tribunal‟s decision. However, it may consider these and any other relevant background evidence to make its determinations. 2.3 The ministerial statement appears at appendix A. 2.4 In conducting the review we did not and do not challenge the decision of the employment tribunal that Mr Watkinson was unfairly dismissed. 7 3. Executive summary Introduction 3.1 This report provides an independent review of NHS South West‟s (the SHA) involvement in the dismissal of John Watkinson from the Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust (RCHT). It was commissioned by Sir David Nicholson, NHS chief executive, on behalf of the Secretary of State for Health who announced the review in a written ministerial statement to the House of Commons on 17 June 2010. 3.2 An employment tribunal decided in May 2010 that John Watkinson was unfairly dismissed because he had made a “protected disclosure” covered by the Public Interest Disclosure Act. The disclosure was of counsel‟s opinion regarding consultation on the reconfiguration of services made on 5 August 2008. The tribunal also found that RCHT acted as it did as a result of pressure from the SHA. 3.3 The terms of reference for the review are set out in section two of our full report. They required us to concentrate solely on the actions of NHS South West. We have not therefore inquired into the legality of John Watkinson‟s dismissal, which has already been adjudicated on, neither have we reviewed the merits or otherwise of the reconfiguration of upper gastrointestinal (upper GI) cancer services in the south west peninsula. Our approach 3.4 This review started in July 2010 and was conducted in private. Our draft report was submitted to the Department of Health at the end of September. 3.5 We were provided with copies of the witness statements and associated papers available to the employment tribunal and we asked for and received a great deal of other documentation relating to the SHA, the trust, upper GI cancer services, inspection visits, and independent review reports. We conducted 38 formal interviews (including some by telephone) either in the Verita offices, the House of Commons or in Truro, Cornwall. 8 3.6 The interviews were recorded and those interviewed were advised that they might be quoted in the report.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • APPENDIX C Respondents to the Inquiry's Stage Four Consultation
    SHIP05$$$7 30-11-04 13:02:18 Pag Table: SHIPMN Unit: PA0C Page Type: SO Proof Round: APPENDIX C Respondents to the Inquiry’s Stage Four Consultation Paper Organisations Author (if named) Action against MedicalAccidents Mr Peter Walsh,Chief Executive Ms Fiona Freedland, Legal Director Association of Chief Police Officers in Chief Constable William Rae, Honorary Scotland Secretary Association of Medical Secretaries, Practice Mrs Pauline Webdale, Fellow & Previous Managers, Administrators and Receptionists NationalChairman Association for Nurse Prescribing Ms Barbara Stuttle, Chair Avon, Gloucestershire & Wiltshire Strategic Dr M Durkin, Director of Clinical Quality Health Authority Barnsley Primary Care Trust Dr Joan Miller, Consultant in Public Health Billericay, Brentwood & Wickford Primary Care Mr David Gibbins, Director of Modernisation Trust and Commissioning Birkenhead & Wallasey Primary Care Trust Mr John South, Director of Primary Care British Medical Association Ms Sally Watson, Director of Political & RepresentationalActivities Burntwood, Lichfield & Tamworth Primary Care Trust Calderdale Primary Care Trust Ms Ruth Lumb, Clinical Governance Manager Cheshire & Merseyside Strategic Health Dr Iqbal Sram, Assistant Director, Clinical Authority Performance Cheshire West Primary Care Trust Dr Maureen Swanson, MedicalAdviser & Clinical Governance Lead City & Hackney GP Appraisers Workshop Dr Christopher Derrett Committee of GeneralPractice Education Dr Pat Lane, Chair Directors Commission for Healthcare Audit & Inspection Mrs Elizabeth
    [Show full text]
  • Final HOSP Letter from UW June 2014
    Ursula Ward MSc MA Trust Headquarters Chief Executive F Level, Queen Alexandra Hospital Southwick Hill Road Cosham PORTSMOUTH, PO6 3LY Tel: 023 9228 6770 Chair, Health Overview & Scrutiny Panel Customer, Community & Democratic Services Portsmouth City Council Civic Offices Guildhall Square Portsmouth PO1 2AL 27 June 2014 Dear Chair Update letter from Portsmouth Hospitals NHS Trust I write to provide the Health Overview Scrutiny Panel with an update from Portsmouth Hospitals NHS Trust. My colleague Peter Mellor, Director for Corporate Affairs, will further expand upon these issues at the formal HOSP meeting on 8 July. You may be aware that the hospital trust has a new Chairman. Sir Ian Carruthers OBE was appointed by the NHS Trust Development Authority (NHS TDA), and he joined us this month. Sir Ian has great experience of health care within the NHS having previously been Chief Executive of NHS South of England and the South West Strategic Health Authority and was interim CEO of the NHS. He also held Chief Executive roles at the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Strategic Health Authority and Dorset and Somerset Strategic Health Authority. Sir Ian replaces Alan Cole, who held the Interim Chairman role for a 12 month period, and now continues, in his role as Deputy Chairman. We continue to push ahead with our innovative clinical developments and I am proud to announce that the Queen Alexandra Hospital has become the first Epicentre for robotic colorectal surgery in the UK. The designation was offered by Intuitive Surgical, maker of the da Vinci robotic surgical system. To have become an Epicentre the hospital must include a host surgeon who has completed at least 100 colorectal cases using the robot; teachable, reproducible and effective surgical techniques; and willingness to work towards being the most highly rated Epicentre in the nation.
    [Show full text]
  • Sir Nigel Crisp Steps Down from DH
    Final press notice: Sir Nigel Crisp steps down from DH Sir Nigel Crisp today announced that he is to step down from his post as Chief Executive of the NHS and Permanent Secretary at the Department of Health at the end of the month. He is to take early retirement after more than five years in one of the most challenging jobs in Whitehall, during which he oversaw the implementation of the first half of the ten-year NHS Plan. In a message to NHS and departmental staff, Sir Nigel said: “I have been privileged to serve as Chief Executive of the NHS and Permanent Secretary of the Department of Health for more than five years. So it is with pride, as well as sadness, that I announce my retirement. “Looking back over the last five years, I am proud that the NHS has achieved or exceeded the challenging targets it has been set. Over this period, people have made enormous changes in the NHS. “Where it matters, at the front-line, the old hierarchies are breaking down and outdated practices are changing. “But not everything has gone well. I am particularly saddened by the difficulties we have had over the last few months and the financial problems we are grappling with. As Chief Executive, I wish to acknowledge my accountability for problems just as I may take some credit for achievements. “Looking forward, I have concluded that, despite these problems, the timing of my retirement is right for the NHS. We have built a good foundation but this is a very big moment of change.
    [Show full text]
  • Independent Sector Treatment Centres
    House of Commons Health Committee Independent Sector Treatment Centres Fourth Report of Session 2005–06 Volume I HC 934-I House of Commons Health Committee Independent Sector Treatment Centres Fourth Report of Session 2005–06 Volume I Report, together with formal minutes Ordered by The House of Commons to be printed 13 July 2006 HC 934-I Published on 25 July 2006 by authority of the House of Commons London: The Stationery Office Limited £0.00 The Health Committee The Health Committee is appointed by the House of Commons to examine the expenditure, administration, and policy of the Department of Health and its associated bodies. Current membership Rt Hon Kevin Barron MP (Labour, Rother Valley) (Chairman) Mr David Amess MP (Conservative, Southend West) Charlotte Atkins MP (Labour, Staffordshire Moorlands) Mr Ronnie Campbell MP (Labour, Blyth Valley) Jim Dowd MP (Labour, Lewisham West) Sandra Gidley MP (Liberal Democrat, Romsey) Anne Milton MP (Conservative, Guildford) Dr Doug Naysmith MP (Labour, Bristol North West) Mike Penning MP (Conservative, Hemel Hempstead) Dr Howard Stoate MP (Labour, Dartford) Dr Richard Taylor MP (Independent, Wyre Forest) Mr Paul Burstow MP (Liberal Democrat, Sutton & Cheam) was a Member of the Committee during the inquiry Powers The Committee is one of the departmental select committees, the powers of which are set out in House of Commons Standing Orders, principally in SO No 152. These are available on the Internet via www.parliament.uk. Publications The Reports and evidence of the Committee are published by The Stationery Office by Order of the House. All publications of the Committee (including press notices) are on the Internet at www.parliament.uk/healthcom Committee staff The current staff of the Committee are Dr David Harrison (Clerk), Eliot Wilson (Second Clerk), Christine Kirkpatrick (Committee Specialist), Ralph Coulbeck (Committee Specialist), Duma Langton (Committee Assistant) and Julie Storey (Secretary).
    [Show full text]
  • Annual Report 2011/12, Including the Quarter, Quarter 4 2011/12
    including thequarter. theyear. Quarter 4 2011/12 NHS Chief Executive’s annual report 2011/12 theyear. 2011/12 Enter DH INFORMATION READER BOX Policy Clinical Estates HR/Workforce Commissioner Development IM&T Management Provider Development Finance Planning/Performance Improvement and Efficiency Social Care/Partnership Working Document purpose For information Gateway reference 17802 Title The Year: NHS Chief Executive’s annual report 2011/12, including The Quarter, Quarter 4 2011/12 Author Sir David Nicholson Publication date 21 June 2012 Target audience PCT Cluster CEs, NHS Trust CEs, SHA Cluster CEs, Care Trust CEs, Foundation Trust CEs, PCT Cluster Chairs, NHS Trust Board Chairs, Special HA CEs, Directors of Finance Circulation list Medical Directors, Directors of PH, Directors of Nursing, Local Authority CEs, Directors of Adult SSs, GPs, Communications Leads, Directors of Children’s SSs, Voluntary Organisations/NDPBs Description Sir David Nicholson’s annual report highlights progress and achievements across the NHS during the last 12 months, and challenges that remain as the NHS continues through transition. Cross references The Year: NHS Chief Executive’s annual report 2008/2009 Superseded documents N/A Action required N/A Timing N/A Contact details Office of the NHS Chief Executive Room 428 Richmond House London SW1A 2NS For recipient’s use theyear. 04 Introduction s ntentoC 06 Quality 06 Our ambition 06 What we have delivered 06 Infection control 08 Waiting times 08 Dentistry 09 Ambulance services 09 A&E performance 09 Cancer 10
    [Show full text]
  • HSJ Awards 2010
    2010AwArds contentS Foreword Alastair McLellan 3 Acute heAlthcAre orgAnisAtion oF the yeAr Calderdale and Huddersfield Foundation Trust 5 primAry cAre orgAnisAtion oF the yeAr NHS Western Cheshire 7 Acute And primAry cAre innovAtion Bexley Care Trust 9 Farbe/colour: PANTONE 288 CV best sociAl mArketing project NHS Tower Hamlets 11 clinicAl service redesign The NHS in London 13 eFFiciency initiAtive oF the yeAr Greenwich Community Health Services 15 enhAncing quAlity And eFFiciency in services For children And young people Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals Foundation Trust 17 good corporAte citizenship Sandwell PCT 19 improving cAre with technology Central Manchester University Hospitals Foundation Trust 21 innovAtion in mentAl heAlth Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health Foundation Trust 23 mAnAging long term conditions Pathfinder Healthcare Developments with Aetna UK 25 pArtnership working NHS Bradford and Airedale Community Health Services 27 pAtient centred cAre Bexley Care Trust 29 pAtient sAFety Royal Berkshire Foundation Trust 31 procurement initiAtive oF the yeAr NHS Supply Chain 33 quAlity And productivity Supplement editor Salford Royal Foundation Trust 35 Rebecca Creamer Writer workForce development Stuart Shepherd NHS Birmingham East and North 37 Designer Catherine Hollick Sub editor Amit Srivastava Sponsorship Marie Rogers David Bell Jason Winthrop Winners, clockwise from top left: Stuart Huntley, Steve Russell, Annie Laverty Group event manager Clare Ellner hsj.co.uk 2 December 2010 HSJ Awards 1 FOREWORD ALASTAIR McLELLAN Times are EDITOR getting tougher The NHS remains an inspiration for health systems across the world. In the toughest year for the NHS for and the HSJ over a decade, the HSJ Awards prove once again that the service remains a centre of excellence.
    [Show full text]
  • The Ceremonial Heads of Uk Universities
    036-043_THE_DEC0111.qxp:Layout 1 29/11/11 13:01 Page 38 WHO’S REPRESENTING? THE CEREMONIAL HEADS OF UK UNIVERSITIES WHO’S REPRESENTING? THE CEREMONIAL HEADS OF UK UNIVERSITIES University Position Name Background In post since University Position Name Background In post since University of Aberdeen Chancellor Lord Wilson of Tillyorn Retired diplomat; former governor of Hong Kong 1997 University of Dundee Chancellor Lord Patel Obstetrician 2006 University of Aberdeen Rector Stephen Robertson Comedian 2008 University of Dundee Rector Brian Cox Actor 2010 University of Abertay Dundee Chancellor Lord Cullen of Whitekirk Senior member of the Scottish judiciary 2009 Durham University Chancellor Bill Bryson Author 2005 Aberystwyth University President Sir Emyr Jones Parry Retired diplomat 2008 University of East Anglia Chancellor Sir Brandon Gough Businessman and chartered accountant 2003 Anglia Ruskin University Chancellor Lord Ashcroft Businessman, author and philanthropist 2001 University of East London No chancellor Aston University Chancellor Sir John Sunderland Former president, CBI; former chief executive, Cadbury Schweppes 2010 Edge Hill University Chancellor Tanya Byron Psychologist, writer and television presenter 2008 Bangor University President Lord Elis-Thomas Welsh politician; former leader of Plaid Cymru 2000 University of Edinburgh Chancellor HRH the Princess Royal, Member of the Royal Family 2011 University of Bath Chancellor Lord Tugendhat British politician and businessman 1998 Princess Anne Bath Spa University No chancellor
    [Show full text]
  • Managing Continuous Improvement
    Managing Continuous Improvement Conference proceedings Managing Continuous Improvement Based on the conference held on 1 July 2011 in Cardiff Lead author: Sir Paul Williams OBE CStJ DL Co-authors: Tim Heywood, Leadership Programme Manager, 1000 Lives Plus Jan Williams OBE, Chair, Welsh Divisional Council, Institute of Healthcare Management Published: December 2011 ©1000 Lives Plus, 2011 1 Managing Continuous Improvement Managing Continuous Improvement Conference Proceedings Contents 1. Introduction ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 3 2. Conference Proceedings ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 5 3. Key Considerations for Managing Continuous Improvement ... ... 10 4. Conclusion ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 12 5. Speaker Biographies ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... 13 Improving care, delivering quality 1000 Lives Plus is the national improvement programme, supporting organisations and individuals to deliver the highest quality and safest healthcare for the people of Wales. www.1000livesplus.wales.nhs.uk We are grateful to the Health Foundation for their support in the production of this paper. ©1000 Lives Plus, 2011 2 Managing Continuous Improvement 1. Introduction „Managing Continuous Improvement‟ was a day conference held on Friday 1 July in Cardiff. The event was co-ordinated by the Institute of Healthcare Management and 1000 Lives Plus, with the support of ABPI Cymru Wales, Atos Origin Alliance, HCML, Cardiff and Vale University Health Board and Cardiff University. The seminar was held to mark the retirement of Sir Paul Williams OBE CStJ DL, from the role of Director General of Health and Social Services and Chief Executive of NHS Wales. The keynote speakers were Nigel Edwards, Director of Policy of the NHS Confederation, and Peter Cavanagh, Medical Advisor for Patient Safety and Clinical leadership for NHS Southwest in England. Sir Paul chaired the seminar and was given the opportunity to share his thoughts in the last formal session.
    [Show full text]
  • NHS Deficits
    House of Commons Health Committee NHS Deficits First Report of Session 2006–07 Volume I Report, together with formal minutes Ordered by The House of Commons to be printed 7 December 2006 HC 73-I [Incorporating HC 1204, Session 2005-06] Published on 13 December 2006 by authority of the House of Commons London: The Stationery Office Limited £0.00 The Health Committee The Health Committee is appointed by the House of Commons to examine the expenditure, administration, and policy of the Department of Health and its associated bodies. Current membership Rt Hon Kevin Barron MP (Labour, Rother Valley) (Chairman) Mr David Amess MP (Conservative, Southend West) Charlotte Atkins MP (Labour, Staffordshire Moorlands) Mr Ronnie Campbell MP (Labour, Blyth Valley) Jim Dowd MP (Labour, Lewisham West) Sandra Gidley MP (Liberal Democrat, Romsey) Anne Milton MP (Conservative, Guildford) Dr Doug Naysmith MP (Labour, Bristol North West) Mike Penning MP (Conservative, Hemel Hempstead) Dr Howard Stoate MP (Labour, Dartford) Dr Richard Taylor MP (Independent, Wyre Forest) Powers The Committee is one of the departmental select committees, the powers of which are set out in House of Commons Standing Orders, principally in SO No 152. These are available on the Internet via www.parliament.uk. Publications The Reports and evidence of the Committee are published by The Stationery Office by Order of the House. All publications of the Committee (including press notices) are on the Internet at www.parliament.uk/healthcom Committee staff The current staff of the Committee are Dr David Harrison (Clerk), Emma Graham (Second Clerk), Christine Kirkpatrick (Committee Specialist), Ralph Coulbeck (Committee Specialist), Duma Langton (Committee Assistant) and Julie Storey (Secretary), Jim Hudson (Senior Office Clerk) and Luke Robinson (Media Officer).
    [Show full text]
  • Consultation on Organisation Changes to Ambulance Service
    Agenda Item No 9 PP13/06 Eden District Council Council 23 February 2006 Consultation on Organisational Changes to Ambulance Service NHS Trusts in the North West of England Director of Policy and Performance 1 Purpose of Report 1.1 To inform members of the proposal to create a single Ambulance Service NHS Trust for the North West and seek Council’s views to form the basis of a response. 2 Report Details 2.1 The Department of Health has issued a national consultation on the future “Configuration of NHS Ambulance Trusts in England” as part of the initiative to commission a patient-led NHS. The consultation period lasts 14 weeks from 14th December 2005 to 22nd March 2006 and comments on the proposals affecting the North West are being collated by Cheshire and Merseyside Strategic Health Authority (SHA) for submission to the Secretary of State for Health. 2.2 The proposal is to replace the 31 existing Ambulance Service Trusts with 11 much larger trusts across the country that are ‘operationally fit for future challenges and have a strategic link with health and regional / local government bodies’. It is based on the review conducted by the Chief Executive of the London Ambulance NHS Trust and National Ambulance Advisor who recommended reconfiguring the management support functions and structures of the Trusts to improve patient care (set out in “Taking Healthcare to the Patient: Transforming NHS Ambulance Services” June 2005). The intention is to assist ambulance trusts to deliver a better, more responsive, more efficient service that enables them to work closely on the planning and delivery of local health services and in terms of dealing with major emergencies e.g.
    [Show full text]
  • TRUST BOARD MEETING in PUBLIC Thursday 6 October 2016 at 10
    TRUST BOARD MEETING IN PUBLIC Thursday 6 October 2016 At 10:00am VENUE: Oasis Centre Queen Alexandra Hospital COSHAM Trust Board Meeting in Public Held on Thursday 1 September 2016 at 10:00am Lecture Theatre Queen Alexandra Hospital MINUTES Present: Sir Ian Carruthers Chairman Steve Erskine Non-Executive Director Liz Conway Non-Executive Director Mike Attenborough-Cox Non-Executive Director Mark Nellthorp Non-Executive Director Tim Powell Interim Chief Executive Cathy Stone Director of Nursing Chris Adcock Director of Finance Simon Holmes Medical Director Ed Donald Chief Operating Officer Rebecca Kopecek Interim Director of Workforce Simon Jupp Director of Strategy In Attendance: Simon Hunter Chief of Service, Emergency Medicine Rosemary Brownbridge Head of Nursing, Emergency Medicine Ali Bartens Chief of Service, AMU Peter Mellor Director of Corporate Affairs Michelle Andrews PA to Trust Board (Minutes) Item Minute No 109/16 Apologies: John Smith, Non-Executive Director Rob Haigh, Director for Emergency Care Declaration of Interests: There were no declarations of interest. 110/16 Patient Story Simon Hunter, Chief of Service, and Rosemary Brownbridge, Head of Nursing, were in attendance for this item and delivered the following presentation which summarised the general patient experience across the Emergency Medicine CSC: Trust Board EM CSC re patient story Sept Liz Conway asked about staff morale within the department. Rosemary advised that due to the never ending pressures staff morale had been very low, particularly after the publication of the CQC report, even though staff had been prepared for the likelihood of a negative report. However, the positive response from the public following the publication of the report has been a real morale boost.
    [Show full text]
  • Department of Health: the National Programme for IT in the NHS
    House of Commons Committee of Public Accounts Department of Health: The National Programme for IT in the NHS Twentieth Report of Session 2006–07 Report, together with formal minutes, oral and written evidence Ordered by The House of Commons to be printed 26 March 2007 HC 390 [Incorporating HC 1360-i of Session 2005-06] Published on 11 April 2007 by authority of the House of Commons London: The Stationery Office Limited £20.00 The Committee of Public Accounts The Committee of Public Accounts is appointed by the House of Commons to examine “the accounts showing the appropriation of the sums granted by Parliament to meet the public expenditure, and of such other accounts laid before Parliament as the committee may think fit” (Standing Order No 148). Current membership Mr Richard Bacon MP (Conservative, South Norfolk) Annette Brooke MP (Liberal Democrat, Mid Dorset and Poole North) Greg Clark MP (Conservative, Tunbridge Wells) Rt Hon David Curry MP (Conservative, Skipton and Ripon) Mr Ian Davidson MP (Labour, Glasgow South West) Mr Philip Dunne MP (Conservative, Ludlow) Helen Goodman MP (Labour, Bishop Auckland) Mr John Healey MP (Labour, Wentworth) Mr Sadiq Khan MP (Labour, Tooting) Mr Edward Leigh MP (Conservative, Gainsborough) (Chairman) Sarah McCarthy-Fry MP (Labour, Portsmouth North) Mr Austin Mitchell MP (Labour, Great Grimsby) Dr John Pugh MP (Liberal Democrat, Southport) Don Touhig MP (Labour, Islwyn) Rt Hon Alan Williams MP (Labour, Swansea West) Iain Wright MP (Labour, Hartlepool) The following were also Members of the Committee during the period of the inquiry: Angela Browning MP (Conservative, Tiverton and Honiton) Kitty Ussher MP (Labour, Burnley) Powers Powers of the Committee of Public Accounts are set out in House of Commons Standing Orders, principally in SO No 148.
    [Show full text]