2007/8
In October, the Healthcare Commission publishes the results of its annual health check on NHS organisations.
The health check gives a detailed picture of how every NHS organisation nationally is performing, with organisations assessed as weak, fair, good or excellent for quality of services and use of resources.
In the ratings announced in October 2008 for 2007/08, East Sussex Downs and Weald PCT received a weak rating for quality of services and a fair rating for use of resources.
The quality of services rating looks at areas that can affect the care and treatment a patient receives, including access to services, safety and the way an organisation is run.
The rating for use of resources is based on how well the organisation manages and uses its financial resources, and the fair rating reflects the PCT achieving break even last year and clearing its deficit of £17million.
Full details of our performance ratings are available on the Healthcare Commission’s website.
2008/9
In 2004, the Department of Health published 'Standards for Better Health'.
This describes 24 essential or 'core' standards that all healthcare organisations in England that treat NHS patients should be achieving.
By assessing compliance against these core standards as part of the Annual Health Check each year, the Care Quality Commission (CQC) get an overview of how well the Trust is achieving the general standards of care that the Department of Health requires.
The core standards cover seven areas of activity:
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safety
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care environment and amenities
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clinical and cost effectiveness
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governance
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patient focus
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accessible and responsive care
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public health
Boards of NHS trusts are responsible for making a self-assessment and public declaration on the extent to which their organisation has met the core standards.
These declarations are supplemented with comments from representatives of patients and other partners in the community - such as local authorities' overview and scrutiny committees and strategic health authorities.
For the first time this year we are required to submit separate declarations for Commissioning and for Provider Services (Community Services).
This is because the two arms are now operating as separate bodies and as such require different scrutiny.
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Annual Health Check Declaration (Commissioning)
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Annual Health Check Declaration (Provider)
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Annual Health Check Standard C7e - Action Plan for Compliance
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Annual Health Check Standard C11c - Action Plan for Compliance
The results of the 2008/9 Annual Health Check were published on 15th October 2009.
NHS East Sussex Downs and Weald was rated as fair for quality of commissioning and fair for use of resources.
You can find out more by visiting our News section, or you can visit the Care Quality Commission's website www.cqc.org.uk
2009/10
Following on from our 2008/9 Declaration which was made in May 2009, NHS East Sussex Downs and Weald is required to submit a mid year declaration covering 2009/10 for their Provider Services (East Sussex Community Health Services).
You can download the mid year declaration.
NHS East Sussex Downs and Weald's commissioning functions will be assessed as part of the World Class Commissioning Competencies.
