Performance update
In June 2012, Surrey & Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust not only achieved the national performance targets but in many cases exceeded them.
18 WEEKS WAITING TIMES
• Over 90% of patients referred by their GP were seen and treated within 18 weeks for their inpatient or day-case procedure.
• Over 95% of patients referred by their GP were seen in outpatients within 18 weeks.
CANCER
• 95% of patients referred by their GP with suspected Cancer were seen by a specialist within 2 weeks.
• 99% of patients from the date of agreeing their treatment, were treated within 31 days.
• From referral by GP for suspected cancer, 85% of all patients were diagnosed and started their cancer treatment within 62 days.
A&E
• In June, 98% of patients were assessed, treated and discharged from A&E within 4 hours.
DIAGNOSTIC WAITING TIMES
• 99% of all patients referred for diagnostic tests were seen within 6 weeks including endoscopy, C.T and M.R.I.
New Weekend TIA service
TIAs are a warning sign that further TIAs, or a full stroke, may occur soon. Without treatment, there is a one in 10 chance that you will have a full stroke within four weeks of having a TIA. SASH have previously run a weekday TIA service but from July 7th 2012 we offer a 7 day a week service for high risk patients on the Acute Medical Unit.
The method of referral is shown below. Patients should be told to fast from 7pm the preceding night and arrive at the Acute medical Unit at 09.00hrs and bring their medication. They will be reviewed and if required have diagnostic imaging and appropriate treatment. Patients should be free to go from 1pm at the latest.
How to refer:
GP’s Telephone referrals should be made via Switchboard 01737 768511 to the Stroke Co-Ordinator nurses on bleep 455 available 24hours a day. A faxed referral form is then required to be sent with relevant clinical detail.
Approximately one person per 1,000 in the population is thought to suffer a Transient Ischaemic Attack (TIA) each year. This equates to more than 50,000 TIAs occurring in England each year. On average, a GP sees three cases per year, and an average hospital manages around 1,000 cases. The main signs and symptoms of a TIA can be remembered by FAST: Face-Arms-Speech-Time.
• Face. The face may have fallen on one side, the person may not be able to smile, or their mouth or eye may have drooped.
• Arms. The person with suspected stroke may not be able to raise both arms and keep them there, due to arm weakness or numbness.
• Speech. There may be slurred speech.
• Time. It is time to dial 999 immediately if you see any of these signs or symptoms.
If signs and symptoms last longer than 24 hours, it is regarded as a full stroke.
The TIA and Stroke Team at East Surrey Hospital (left to right Dr Youssif Abousleiman, Sister Shelly Goshawk, Ward Manager, Dr Natalie Powell, Sister Debbie Street, Stroke Nurse Co-ordinator and Dr Ben Mearns)
Antenatal Day Unit
We have recently appointed a Consultant Obstetric Lead for the Antenatal Day Unit (ANDU) at East Surrey Hospital. As you will be aware, ANDU is designed to assess and manage women from sixteen weeks gestation who have a pregnancy related problem which is not severe enough to warrant direct referral to delivery suite but which requires assessment more urgently than can be provided by a routine Antenatal Clinic appointment.
The ANDU midwives occasionally receive feedback that many GP’s have never been given a framework regarding which women are suitable for ANDU. In an effort to clarify this, please see below a list which although cannot be exhaustive at least gives an idea of the level of care ANDU offers.
• Reduced fetal movements
• Light vaginal bleeding
• Concerns regarding developing pre-eclampsia
• Abdominal/uterine pain
• Persistent itching
• Preterm ruptured membranes without contractions
Women who do not have a pregnancy related problem (ie chronic constipation, uncomplicated lower UTI, vaginal discharge) do not fall under the remit of ANDU.
If you have a woman whom you would like to be seen on ANDU please ring 01737 768511 ext 1726 and speak to one of the midwives. ANDU runs an appointment based system.
We are trying to improve GP’s and women’s satisfaction with ANDU and shorten waiting times. I would welcome any comments or suggestions you may have regarding your patients’ care on ANDU. My e-mail address is Nancy.Manifold@sash.nhs.uk.
Nancy Manifold Consultant Obstetrician Lead for Antenatal Day Unit East Surrey Hospital
Emergency Department at East Surrey Hospital
Please can we remind GP colleagues that there is no longer an Urgent Treatment/Walk-in Centre at East Surrey Hospital. We are continuing to see patients turning-up asking to see a General Practitioner.
GUM Clinic
We’d also like to remind GP colleagues that we no longer run the GUM (Sexual Health & Contraception) Drop in clinic! For Surrey patients this is located at Earnsdale, 2 Whitepost Hill Redhill Surrey RH1 6BD – Tel No 01737 231350 and for Sussex patients it is in Crawley Hospital.
New Paediatric ED open
We’re pleased to say that this week our newly refurbished paediatric emergency department opened at East Surrey Hospital. The newly refurbished area will greatly enhance the experience of our patients.
Patient Opinion
We welcome patient feedback as a means of improving our services and have subscribed to Patient Opinion. Please click here to see what patients are saying about our services.