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Trust achieves highest possible accolade for safety
PATIENTS
choosing Southport & Ormskirk Hospital NHS Trust will be choosing
one of the safest Trusts in the country, an independent health
watchdog has confirmed. We have been awarded the highest level under
the Clinical Negligence Scheme for Trusts (CNST) for both general
medical and surgical services and for the separate category of
maternity services and are now 1 of only 3 Hospitals in England to
have achieved this.
CNST assesses the risks patients face when they attend a hospital by
measuring the systems in place to minimise such risks and then
judges the Trust accordingly. We have therefore been declared to
have the lowest level of risk for patients among District General
Hospitals.
During March the NHS Litigation Authority carried out an assessment
on our Maternity services and has just awarded it the highest level
three. This follows the level three awarded for general acute
services in February 2006.
Because of this award, we are able to save money on our insurance
premium as we are assessed to have a reduced risk this means a
saving of around £600,000.
Lynne Eastham, Head of Maternity Services said:- "This is a
wonderful achievement for both our patients and staff. It has
confirmed what we have always believed that maternity services are
committed to providing the safest possible standards of care for
mothers and babies. It has shown that the systems we have in place
that are based on national guidelines are monitored continually and
any changes necessary are carried out straight away. Our staff can
be very proud of all the hard work that they have put in to achieve
these awards."
A win-win situation
Sir Ron Watson, Chairman, said:- "This is fabulous news for
our patients. Coming into hospital is often a very anxious time but
in gathering the evidence for this assessment it became apparent
that everyone right throughout the Trust treats safety very
seriously. It has taken many years of very hard work by everyone
from the cleaners to the doctors and they should be proud of what
they have achieved.
The Government continually requires us to save money and people
understandably worry that this may mean fewer or poorer services.
This is an excellent example of where, through a lot of hard work,
we have been able to cut costs and provide an improved service to
patients. It is a win-win situation.
This is as good a guarantee as you will get about the competence of
the staff who treat you. In the era of free choice where patients
are asked to choose the hospital where they want to go, I would urge
patients to look very carefully at the safety record of the choices
on offer".
Up
to 98% of privately built new homes to get '0 rating' for
environmental sustainability
UP to 98% of
new homes, built by private developers, will be sold on the open
market despite getting a '0 rating' for environmental
sustainability, the National Housing Federation has warned.
Under new building regulations introduced last week, private
developers will have to have their homes rated against the Code for
Sustainable Homes, as part of an effort to ensure all new homes are
built to greener standards. However, under a loophole, private
developers can build homes that emit just as much carbon as before
and simply choose to get a '0 rating'.
Currently, just 2% of privately built homes meet voluntary standards
on environmental sustainability under a similar code, called Eco
Homes - even though 92% of homes built by housing associations are
rated as 'good' or 'very good'. Now, all
new homes will be required to receive a rating against the new Code
for Sustainable Homes, which tests the environmental standards of
properties against 9 criteria and gives an overall rating of between
1 and 6 stars. However, a get-out clause for developers allows
them to avoid a physical assessment if they provide buyers with a '0
rated' certificate stating that the home has not been assessed
under the code at all. This loophole will not be closed until April
2010 - when all private developers will have to ensure that their
homes reach at least 3 stars under the code.
The Federation, which represents England's housing associations,
fears the loophole will lead to some developers exaggerating the
green standards of their properties, with homes being marketed as
having received a rating under the code when they do not even meet
basic eco-standards. Federation officials are concerned that some
developers will claim the only reason they did not submit their
homes to a full physical assessment was to avoid the extra expense
involved.
Federation assistant director Gavin Smart said the government must
compel private developers to meet mandatory standards, in line with
those already met by housing associations, who are now being
compelled to build homes that reduce carbon emissions by 25% and
achieve at least three stars under the new code. Mr Smart
said:- "What is the point of an eco-ratings scheme if
developers can opt-out to avoid a bad result? The Government
needs to show leadership on this issue and make green homes the
norm, not the exception. Housing associations are building homes
that meet tough environmental standards, so private developers must
be able to do this too - long before April 2010. Ministers
should raise the minimum building regulations to make sure all new
homes are environmentally sound. My
advice to house buyers is to be extra wary of any properties that
haven't been assessed against the Code for Sustainable Homes. Don't
just take the seller's word that a property is environmentally
friendly." |
Home Secretary meets North West victims of workplace abuse
HOME
Secretary, Jacqui Smith, met with victims of abuse in the workplace
from Blackpool and Cheshire at Usdaw's annual conference in
Blackpool. Jacqui Smith was at the Usdaw conference to
re-launch the Union's Freedom From Fear campaign to protect
shopworkers from violence and abuse in the workplace. The Home
Secretary also unveiled Voices From the Frontline: revisited -
Usdaw's document giving the latest figures on violence against
shopworkers.
Figures from the 2007
survey show that:-
· 2/3rds of shopworkers were verbally abused over the last 12
months.
· 1/3rd of
shopworkers were threatened in the last 12 months.
· Nearly 1 in 10
shopworkers has been a victim of physical violence during their
career.
Jacqui commented:-
"Retail crime is not a victimless crime. The Government is
working with Usdaw and retail employers to help lower the incidence
of retail crime. Usdaw's pioneering Freedom From Fear Campaign has
really moved the issue up the political agenda, which shows how a
trade union can effectively engage and protect its members.
In the Home
Office we have established the National Retail Crime Steering Group,
which will provide retailers with new, innovative solutions to
tackle retail crime. I am delighted that Usdaw has agreed to take a
seat on the Group, putting the Union at the heart of policy making.
Freedom From Fear is an important campaign that continues to move
the agenda forward and will help all stakeholders to improve safety
in stores and deliver respect for shopworkers."
John Hannett, Usdaw General Secretary, added:- "I launched
Usdaw's Freedom From Fear campaign in 2002 to highlight and tackle a
rising tide of violence, threats and abuse against our members and
all shopworkers. The campaign gives a strong message to our members,
'Abuse is not a part of the job'.
For too long shopworkers felt they had to put up with verbal abuse
and threats. Now there is hope and our campaign is delivering real
improvements. However, there is still a long way to go, and while
there is any abuse towards shopworkers our job will go on. That's
why Usdaw is relaunching Freedom From Fear, and we are very grateful
to Jacqui Smith for joining us today to show her ongoing support for
this important campaign."
Usdaw's ADM is being
held at Blackpool's Winter Gardens from 27 to 30 April 2008,
attended by approximately 1,500 representatives of Usdaw's 359,000
members. Usdaw is the fourth largest union in the UK and represents
shopworkers, factory and warehouse workers, drivers, clerical
workers, insurance workers, butchers, slaughterhouse workers, meat
packers, milk round and dairy process workers. |
