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Hello all,
In June we publicly announced our new Chief Executive and plans for a new Community Diagnostic service in Redhill. We also published our Quality Account, recognised our Armed Forces, and celebrated our Endoscopy services, who became JAG accredited.
Our services
Heatwave
This month the Trust responded to two amber heat-health alerts with temperatures locally pushing 30 degrees for several days in a row. In addition to trying to keep our site as cool as possible with additional fans and air conditioning units, we took a number of steps to support our patients, including increased reviews of high-risk patients and those most vulnerable to heat-related illnesses, rescheduling physiotherapy to cooler hours where necessary, and increased distribution of cold drinks. The Trust also asked visitors to consider the best time to visit loved ones - such as in the morning or later in the evening when the hospital building is a bit cooler. We also reminded the local community of where to seek care for any heat-related medical conditions.
Enhanced care RPIW
This month we held an enhanced care Rapid Process Improvement Workshop to agree a consistent more efficient approach to how we assess patients who need extra supervision when they are in hospital - with the aim of improving services and making them safer. For patients, this means more timely interventions and a smoother care journey, which can often mean earlier discharges home – something we know is better for them and the wider healthcare system. Ultimately, enhancing our care processes is a direct investment in patient safety and staff wellbeing. In a time where resources are limited, that kind of investment feels really important to ensuring safe, effective, and compassionate care.
Endoscopy services achieve JAG accreditation
At the end of May our Endoscopy team facilitated a visit from the Joint Advisory Group (JAG), who assess and accredit endoscopy services in the UK and Ireland to ensure that the highest quality care is being provided to patients undergoing tests or treatment. I am delighted to say that our team was awarded a prestigious five-year JAG accreditation certificate, certifying its services until 2030, which is fantastic news. The team have worked incredibly hard since the initial JAG visit last November, and achieving the JAG accreditation is a huge testament to the hard work and dedication of the whole team to delivering high-quality patient care.
Our partners
Mental health patients in ED
In June the Trust has continued to see growing levels of patients with mental health conditions through its emergency pathways, with many having complex needs that require significant support. This has been a very challenging environment for patients requiring care and the staff caring for them. We are continuing to work closely with our partners across Surrey and Sussex on how we can better care for those patients’ awaiting admission to specialist mental health care settings, safely within our Emergency Department.
Horsham District Older People’s Forum
It always feels important to engage with our local communities where we can and this month, we joined the Horsham District Older People’s Forum meeting with our ICB partners in Sussex to set out the actions we have taken to improve phlebotomy services at Horsham Hospital since the online booking system launched in March. It was a positive meeting where we talked through some of the marked improvements in this space – including more available appointments and better patient experience on site; with quicker appointment times and more car parking thanks to less people waiting for a walk-in appointment.
Trust news
New Chief Executive
This month, the Trust also announced the name of its new Chief Executive – Andrew Hines who will take over when I retire in August. Andrew is the current Executive Director for Group Development at Barts Health NHS Trust and brings with him over 30 years’ senior leadership experience in provider and regional roles across London and the South of England. He has held board-level responsibility for a wide portfolio including operations, strategy, digital, and estates and facilities. He has also held senior leadership roles at a system level, including in London where he was Interim Regional Director for the NHS Trust Development Authority and Regional Chief Operating Officer for NHS Improvement, playing a key role in supporting trust boards to deliver better services for patients through effective leadership. You can find out more about Andrew’s appointment on our website. He will take up his post on 1 September.
Quality Account
In June we published our 2024/25 Quality Account, which describes the Trust’s performance and achievements in the last financial year – including our continued focus on productivity; improving safety, quality of care, and patient experience; and exploring partnership working to reduce waiting times and improve access to services. The report also outlines our plans for 2025/26. You can find a copy of the Trust Quality Account here on our website.
Recognising our Armed Forces
This month we also marked national Armed Forces Week - a chance to show our support for the men and women who make up the Armed Forces community, from currently serving troops to service families, veterans and cadets. At SASH, we are a Veteran Aware Trust who are recognised as silver in the Deference Employer Recognition scheme - which recognises organisations who pledge, demonstrate or advocate their support to the armed forces community, and align their values with the Armed Forces Covenant.
As a Trust, as well as a number of reservists, we also have a dedicated Armed Forces lead, and Veteran Champions to support our veterans awareness work. Dr Ben Field, Consultant Endocrinologist at SASH, is one of those champions. Commenting on this year's celebrations, he noted how the current state of world politics has brought home to us all how important it is for the UK to maintain military preparedness, which begins with supporting those who are serving in the armed forces and ensuring that the demands of their roles are not a barrier to accessing NHS care. Nasreen Panchoo, the Trust's new Armed Forces Lead, also hosted a stall at East Surrey Hospital throughout the week to help raise awareness among staff, patients and the local community of the Trust's work in this area.
Best wishes,
Angela Stevenson
Chief Executive