Quality accounts

Each year, NHS trusts like ours publish our quality account. 

In our quality account, we:

• review last year’s quality priorities
• set ourselves new quality priorities for the coming year.

Our priorities for this year are:

Priority 1

Improving medication safety through implementation of paperless controlled drug registers for stock controlled drugs in the Omnicell cabinets.

The introduction of electronic medicine storage cabinets supports the digital recording of controlled drug use; discrepancy between stock balance recorded and the actual quantity within the Omnicell can generate a discrepancy report to prompt investigation by the ward pharmacist and nurse in charge.

The move away from paper-based controlled drug records to a digital solution will support the safe and secure handling of controlled drugs, enhance opportunities to reduce discrepancies, improve stock control, and reduce nursing time required to maintaining paper-based records.

Priority 2

Improving the experiences of women and families during labour and birth to make them feel safe.

Everyone should receive care that embodies kindness, compassion, and respect, ensuring they are never left alone, and their concerns are always listened to, addressed, and responded to promptly.

Priority 3

Improving patient safety and experience by introducing electronic consenting for our patients.

Patients have a fundamental legal and ethical right to determine what happens to their own bodies and to be supported to make decisions that are right for them.

For consent to be valid, it must be voluntary and informed, and the person consenting must have the capacity to make the decision.

The implementation of a digital consent tool would improve our Trust’s consent process and ensure the organisation meets the national consent standards.

Priority 4

APC priority- Implement and standardise the management of deterioration and suspected sepsis in over 16s clinical guideline.

We have discussed each of the priorities for 2025 to 26 with clinical teams and with designated executive and operational leads who are accountable for their delivery. Our trust executive group and our quality and safety committee have confirmed their support for these priorities.

Priority 1

Implementation of the ‘Timely Care Hub’ quality board across the trust. (Safe and Effective). The purpose of the timely care hub is to provide visibility to the clinical staff on the wards the key quality and safety risks and actions for completion, such as falls risk assessment, VTE and nutrition screening.

Two out of two goals achieved.

Priority 2

Rollout of the Purpose – T risk assessment (current tool waterlow), and to embed the skin tone assessment tool, and measurement methodology across the trust (Safe and Caring). Purpose – T and the skin tone assessment tools, are evidence based national tools for staff to use to assess patients skin condition and to improve skin care across the trust.

Two out of two goals achieved.

Priority 3

Enhancing Outpatient Services: Optimising Information and Communication for Patient Care (Caring and Responsive). This is due to an increase and change in activity, and the themes from formal complaints and PALS.

Four out of five goals achieved; one goal partially achieved.

The goal was to reduce the rate of patients who did not attend their appointments by improving appointment letters and text reminders. The DNA rate improved slightly to 9%, but the impact of some actions was less than expected.

Priority 4

Reduce harm to patients and improve safety outcomes associated with invasive procedures with Natssips and Locssips (Safe). Natssips and Locssips provide guidance and safety steps for invasive procedures across the trust.

Seven out of eight goals achieved; one goal partially achieved.

Step up to safety has not been fully introduced. Work is ongoing to raise awareness and embed programme more widely with clinical teams.