Local Trust provides outstanding care says national inspectors

NHS provider Cheshire and Wirral Partnership NHS Foundation Trust (CWP) is pleased to announce they are:- 'Outstanding for Care;' the only Trust in the local area with this rating; with an overall rating of:- 'Good' by the Care Quality Commission (CQC).

The news comes following the publication of a report outlining the results of an inspection that was carried out during August and September 2018. During those months, a team from the CQC re-reviewed the quality of 7 of the Trust's core services, including a review of the management and leadership of the Trust.

CWP chief executive, Sheena Cumiskey, said:- "On behalf of CWP, I am absolutely delighted to have been rated outstanding for care once again and even more so, because we are the only Trust in our local area with this rating. This really is a tremendous testimony to the hard work and dedication of our staff and our commitment to the care that we provide. I would like to thank all of the hard working members of #TeamCWP for their efforts and feel that this is the acknowledgement that they deserve."

Commenting on this, Dr Paul Lelliott, deputy chief inspector and lead on mental health for the CQC said:- "We found the standard of caring to be outstanding. Staff treated people with compassion and respect and were skilled in adapting their approach to the person, and family, they were supporting, even in difficult situations. We also found outstanding practice in children's and young people's services both in the Hospitals and in the community."

Sheena Cumiskey, continued:- "The retention of the outstanding rating for care is particularly gratifying given CWP's commitment to the person centred framework, which was launched in early 2017. Through the framework, CWP staff strive to connect with people as unique individuals with their own strengths, abilities, needs and goals. This certainly applies to the provision of care, but also applies to communication with each other."

Announcing the results, the CQC highlighted positive things they saw such as the Trust's community services, saying:- "Staff were highly skilled in managing people's complex needs, tailoring their support when required. It was clear that staff knew the people they supported and found innovative ways to personalise the service and keep people engaged with their care."

Elsewhere in the inspection, CWP was rated Good in the effective, responsive and well led categories and as requires improvement in the safe category.

Sheena concluded:- "The areas identified that "require improvement" are areas CWP were already aware of and making continuous improvements linked to our Quality Improvement strategy. Plans are in place to ensure that we are able to demonstrate and sustain compliance with the CQC regulations."

Full details of the ratings, including a ratings grid are given in the report published online on:- CQC.Org.UK.

Knowsley Walk In Centres celebrate 15 year anniversary

KNOWSLEY Walk In Centres are celebrating 15 years of operation on 3 December 2018, with the number of people using the service rising all the time. The Walk In Centres are delivered by North West Boroughs Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, and are located in Halewood, Huyton and Kirkby. They diagnose and treat over 72,000 patients every year, from all age groups, providing consultations, advice and treatment for minor injuries and illnesses.

Of the original team of 5 clinicians that helped to open the 1st Walk In Centre in Huyton, 3 still remain to this day: Louise Johnston, now Head of Service Ambulatory and Urgent Care; Tanya McGlynn, Assistant Practitioner; and Cheryl Arkwright, Clinical Lead Nurse.

Louise commented:- "I'm so incredibly proud to have been part of the Walk In Centre journey in Knowsley, which has adapted to the service needs of local patients, whilst always delivering the highest quality care. It's a pleasure to work alongside colleagues who are so dedicated and committed to their jobs. The ethos of the whole team is to put the patient at the centre of everything we do."

Tanya commented:- "I remember how nervous I felt on my 1st day back in December 2003, when I joined as a Healthcare Assistant. Since then, with the support of my colleagues, I have qualified as an Assistant Practitioner. We have worked so hard to develop the Walk In Centre service to what it is today, which has made a considerable difference to the people of Knowsley."

Cheryl added:- "It was an exciting, but daunting time to open the 1st of three walk in centres in Knowsley, which just had three consultation rooms, an office and five members of staff. Some people thought they wouldn't last, but it's fantastic to see how all three sites have evolved. By making healthcare more accessible, we provide reassurance and treatments to people when they need it most."

Halewood, Huyton and Kirkby Walk In Centres are open 8am to 9pm, over Monday to Saturday and 10am to 9pm on Sundays and Bank Holidays. If you're not sure if a Walk In Centre is the best option for you, you can contact NHS on:-111 for advice. The NHS 111 service is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, for any medical help which is needed fast, but is not a 999 emergency number!

For further information on the Trust's Walk In Centres, visit:- NWBH.NHS.UK/Walk-In-Centres.