Agenda item

Report of the Senior Associate Director of Assurance and Compliance

The Senior Associate Director of Assurance and Compliance, County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust submitted a report (previously circulated) updating Members on the Trust’s progress against its Quality Accounts as at October 2024 to the end of Quarter 2, 2024/25.

It was reported that the majority of the priorities were broadly on track and there had been improvement over time for most; that none of the priorities had seen deterioration in performance; and that where further work was needed for amber or red rated areas, these were documented through Executive Oversight and governance processes and were reported on through the Quality Committee, SLT and IQAC. The submitted report outlined the key actions, status update, impact and rating for each quality indicator.

Members queried the figures relating to mixed sex breaches and discussion ensued regarding the priority ‘improving maternity services’, with Members seeking clarification regarding maternity and neonatal incidents; the reasoning behind the reinstatement of the home birth service; and following a question, the Senior Associate Director of Assurance and Compliance advised Members that further information would be provided as to the Trusts position on multiple births at Darlington Memorial Hospital.

Members queried the ratings for the priorities, noting that none were currently on target. Members were informed that many of the priorities were long term priorities over the course of the four-year quality strategy, ‘Quality Matters’; it was hoped that by the end of the four year period a number of the priorities would be green or ‘on track’ and the remainder yellow or ‘broadly on track’; and that high demands on service along with complex patient groups had an impact on the progress of the priorities. 

In relation to the priority ‘continued improvement in end of life care’ Members sought further information regarding the funding for palliative care within local hospices.

The Public Health Portfolio Lead in attendance at the meeting requested further information in relation to the number of new cases of Carbapenemase-producing Enterobacterales (CPE), including the number of patients on the wards with open outbreaks; and timescales for works on sinks and water light bathing. The Senior Associate Director of Assurance and Compliance confirmed that whilst sinks in proximity to bays were out of use there were other sinks on the wards for staff use; that refurbishment of other wards was required but was dependent on capital allocation; and further details relating to cases, including mode of transmission would be provided.

The Public Health Portfolio Lead also sought clarification regarding the wards with low compliance for infection prevention and control, requesting details of those wards; the Senior Associate Director of Assurance and Compliance assured Members of the work being undertaken in relation to reducing harm from healthcare associated infections, which included the operational refresh programme and regular meetings of the infection control champions.

Discussion also ensued regarding the methods of communicating key messages to staff within the Trust; and in relation to the priority ‘Improving recognition and acting on patient deterioration’ Members noted the trial of Martha’s rule at Darlington Memorial Hospital, welcoming further updates at a later date.

RESOLVED – (a) That the progress against the Trust’s priorities be noted.

(b) That Adults Scrutiny Committee be requested to give consideration to the Carbapenemase-producing Enterobacterales (CPE) data in respect of Care Homes and Domiciliary Care.