Southport & Ormskirk NHS Trust Score top marks

Trust Chief Executive praises staff for achieving positive performance
ratings results

Southport & Ormskirk NHS Trust's Chief Executive has praised all staff for
their hard work, following today's publication of the Government's
performance ratings for all Trusts and Health Authorities.

Once again the Trust welcomes the findings (it has been awarded a two star
rating) as a positive step to highlight to patients, public and staff the
areas it is performing well in, and those where improvements need to be
made.

Chief Executive of Southport & Ormskirk NHS Trust, Jonathan Parry, said:
"The publication of the ratings provides us with valuable feedback for
improving the way that services at the Trust are delivered. We welcome the
findings with open arms, because we back the Government's intention of
putting the patient at the forefront of the new NHS, one hundred per cent.
We take the ratings results very seriously, and will be implementing action
plans to make improvements."

He added: "On the whole, the Trust is extremely pleased with the results of
the performance ratings. Every member of staff should be congratulated on
the commitment they have shown, under increasing pressure, to improve the
standard of patient care."

The data revealed 38 areas of the Trust's performance and those areas where
it is performing particularly well appear under the following performance
ratings headings:

· Percentage of last minute cancellation of operations
· Number of patients waiting more than 18 months for an inpatient admission
· Number of patients waiting more than 15 months for an inpatient admission
· Hospital cleanliness
· Progress towards Improving Working Lives Standard 'Practice Status'.
· Number of patients waiting more than 6 months for an outpatient
appointment
· The number of cancer patients seen within two weeks of referral by their
GP
· Time for patients diagnosed with breast cancer to be treated
· Compliance against clinical negligence and risk management
· Total number of patients waiting for an inpatient appointment
· Time spent in Accident & Emergency Department
· Financial Management

The performance ratings have revealed some areas for development. These
include the number of patients waiting less than six months for an inpatient
admission, and some aspects arising from the patient satisfaction survey.

The Trust will be reviewing all of the ratings, and will implement action
plans to address notified deficiencies.

Mr Parry added: "The Trust is focused on ensuring that there is no delay in
putting the action plans into practice. We will continue to support and
respond to the publication of Government reports and act upon the feedback
of patients and staff."

Full details of local performance ratings are published on the Department of
Health's website at www.doh.gov.uk/nhsperformanceindicators/2002.