Cheltenham and Tewkesbury Primary Care Trust (PCT) was delighted to hear today that it has retained its top ranking ‘3 star status’ in the 2004 NHS Performance Indicators. These indicators relate to performance in 2003/04.

The PCT has worked very hard to maintain the ‘3 Star’ status it gained last year. Despite even tougher targets for us to meet, we have managed to achieve this.

On hearing the news, Ruth FitzJohn, Cheltenham and Tewkesbury Primary Care Trust Chair, said:

“This achievement reflects the hard work and commitment of frontline staff who deliver NHS services in the Cheltenham and Tewkesbury area, as well as the PCT headquarters staff. It also reflects the contribution of other NHS organisations in the county and our partners in the community.”

The PCT, which provides and purchases healthcare services for the 163,000 residents living in the Cheltenham and Tewkesbury area, has performed well again this year.

Caroline Fowles, PCT Chief Executive, explained:
“The ‘Star’ ratings give us an opportunity to test our performance against national standards year on year. This year the PCT scored 9 out of 9 in the key target areas.”

She continued:
“We scored top marks, above the England average, for specific targets relating to access and quality, health improvement and providing services. I would like to acknowledge the crucial contribution of the strong relationships we have built with key partners over the past two years, enabling us to do so well. Such as:

• effective joint working with Social Services to achieve low numbers of patients waiting for discharge from hospital beds and fast response rates for people needing equipment to help them to maintain their independence at home;
  
• excellent screening and vaccination rates made possible by the enthusiasm and efficiency of our local GP surgeries;
  
• supporting people with coronary heart disease; and
  
• effective prescribing”
  
  
  

The Indicators in more detail

The NHS Performance Indicators are based on how well NHS organisations have performed on several key Indicators during the financial year 2003-2004. Locally t he main findings are consistent with the PCT’s own priorities for improving performance and developing health services for patients over the next three years.

• Key targets

The Indicators show that the length of time residents in Cheltenham and Tewkesbury waited for inpatient and outpatient procedures were well within the national standards of 12 months and 21 weeks respectively.

They also point to significant achievements in Gloucestershire’s A&E departments. In 2003/2004, a snapshot of the A&E Departments showed that 92.8% of patients were seen within 4 hours of arrival at Accident and Emergency, against the national target of 90%.

The Indicators highlight that patients who live in the PCT area enjoy good levels of access to services provided by family doctors and other primary care professionals including practice nurses.

• Health improvement

We are encouraged by figures that show that the majority of Indicators covering Health Improvement suggest that the population of Cheltenham and Tewkesbury have lower levels of mortality and serious illness than in previous years, matching similar improvements elsewhere in England.

The PCT has achieved its end of year target for the number of people who have successfully ‘quit’ smoking*. The Trust has worked closely with the Gloucestershire Smoking Advice Service (GSAS), which trains and supports advisors in GP practices and reaches out to the wider community, working with schools, young people and employers. *Note: GSAS has prepared a separate news release regarding this target. Contact: Tony Cook at GSAS on 01452 429345.]

Rates for uptake of cervical and breast screening and flu vaccinations are above the national average. This is linked to the well established and successful screening programme in Gloucestershire and the work of family doctors, practice staff and community health care staff in supporting the annual flu vaccination campaign for over 65 year olds and those with chronic illness.

• Patients’ experiences

The results of the recent primary care survey are also reflected in the Indicators with marked improvements such as greater choice offered to patients and satisfaction with the cleanliness and comfort of GP practices.

• Staff experiences

This year’s staff attitude survey showed that there was good moral amongst our staff with high rates of satisfaction recorded, particularly in relation to health and safety, which was above the national average.

Room for improvement

PCT Chief Executive, Caroline Fowles explained that the PCT was not complacent about its performance. The Indicators, and other government targets, provide a focus for seeking continuous improvement in the health and wellbeing of local residents and in their experiences of NHS services.

There were a couple of areas where we performed below average. These included GP appraisal and some child health indicators relating to the percentage reduction of women quitting smoking during pregnancy and percentage increase in women choosing breastfeeding as an option.

With regards to GP appraisal we were not surprised to miss out on the 100% target, but we feel that our methodical approach is very rigorous and has been worth getting right over a period of time.

We are targeting good health messages at young women in a variety of ways. We have recently distributed a health promotion magazine called ‘Your Life’ to our local regeneration areas and via local GP surgeries and hospitals, which includes advice about quitting smoking. We have also seen the establishment of a third Breast Feeding Support Group, this time in Tewkesbury, mirroring similar groups in Cheltenham’s Hesters Way and Whaddon areas.

Caroline Fowles noted:

“Given the increasing demands on our services and even tougher targets, we face further challenges this year. However we are committed to maintaining this level of achievement and doing our best for local residents.

One of the top priorities for the PCT this year is working with partners to develop alternative ‘out of hours’ services and to expand the range and capacity of services available in the community.

Ms Fowles also acknowledged the challenges of improving access to NHS dentistry in the county – recognising that this is a key area for future service development.

Some developments which have helped us to maintain our 3 Stars

“Our aim is to ensure that individuals receive the most appropriate care in the best environment to meet their needs. Significant investment has been made in developing these services.” said Ms Fowles.

We have seen the opening of the new Medical Centre in Winchcombe and the Ashley Intermediate Care Centre in Charlton Kings, Cheltenham. These bring together community teams of GPs, nurses and therapists, making team working much easier and improving access to a range of primary and intermediate care services.

We have made developments across the age spectrum too. There has been the appointment of a second ‘Sure Start’ Health Visitor focusing on the needs of 0-4 year olds and their families and our Health Visitors have begun carrying out new born hearing screening tests in the family home rather than in hospital clinics, which is proving very popular with new mums.

Older residents have benefited from the appointment of specialist elderly care community nurses, whose role is to monitor and improve the health and wellbeing of our ageing population. Additional coronary heart disease services have also been developed as part of our new Heart Failure Service.

Gloucestershire’s performance overall

Caroline Fowles was delighted to see that other local NHS organisations had also performed well. She noted the ‘3 Star’ Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Trust and Gloucestershire Partnership NHS Trust, both providers of services to our local residents. She was please to see that Gloucestershire Ambulance Service NHS Trust and Cotswold and Vale Primary Care Trust had maintained their ‘2 Stars’. Special congratulations go to West Gloucestershire PCT, which has gained an extra star this year to joined Cheltenham and Tewkesbury PCT on ‘3 Stars’.

Caroline commented:

“The strong performance across the county is reassuring news for local residents and reflects the very real benefits of the strong partnership working that exists between local health and social care organisations.”