Statement: Trust improvements – learning from deaths response
As a Trust, we are working really hard to learn from the deaths of people who were receiving our services at the time of their death and will do our very best to ensure these incidences are minimised in future.
Patient safety is a priority for us
When a coroner indicates that we must learn from any deaths of people in our care, they issue us with a Prevention of Future Deaths report. We respond to all reports such as these and work to make sure that recommendations and actions are being implemented. Every report has resulted in an action plan sent to the coroner to commit to actions that are needed to improve care.
Our Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Caroline Donovan has focused on patient safety as one of her key priorities since her arrival. She has appointed an experienced patient safety advisor who was previously a Chief Nurse and Chief Operating Officer from an outstanding rated mental health trust.
A review of prevention of future deaths is already underway to ensure improvements in practice have been made and learning is embedded across clinical services. We have already identified key themes for us to continue working together on, including but not limited to communication, waiting times, medicines management and record keeping.
As an example, one area where the Trust has made considerable progress, linked to the prevention of future deaths reports is its work with carers across Norfolk and Suffolk. A detailed carer development programme is in place, supporting carers, families, and those they are caring for. We know there are lots of other examples of great work going on across the Trust to support our progress.
Sustainable improvement over time is something we are committed too
We are committed to working to improve our culture and believe progress has already been made.
Our new cultural programme Listening into Action launched this month, enables all staff, partners and service users and carers to work together to take action on areas you decide need improvement.
This programme will take some years to embed to ensure we improve in a sustainable way and there is confidence to deliver compassionate and kind care, resulting in regulators rating the trust good or outstanding.
We value the importance of listening to the concerns of patients, families and staff, and allowing people to raise those concerns openly, honestly, and safely. We have support for staff to raise concerns independently and confidentially via our Guardian service. Our CEO, Caroline and The board are committed to listening, learning, and acting on what we are told.