Welcome to our Partner Brief for September 2024.
In this month’s brief, we address ongoing financial challenges, alongside our commitment to improving sepsis care.
We were also pleased to host Ed Miliband at Montagu Hospital to showcase our new diagnostic suite and celebrate the burying of a time capsule.
Additionally, we’ve introduced a Visitor’s Charter and hosted our Annual Members Meeting for 2023/24.
Thank you for your continued support.
Our financial challenges
Like many NHS providers across the country, DBTH is currently facing significant financial challenges.
By month four of the financial year, it was projected that without intervention, the Trust could exceed its planned £26 million deficit by an additional £23 million, resulting in a total deficit of £49 million.
In response, recovery actions were quickly identified and put into place. As a result, both month four and month five showed progress toward getting back on track. Once the month six results are in, the Trust will re-forecast and determine if any further actions are needed.
The key areas of focus include:
- Maximising theatre and outpatient throughput.
- Revitalising the cost improvement plan (CIP).
- Reducing temporary staffing costs.
- Strengthening financial controls.
- Reducing non-essential spending and managing clinical supply costs.
Your collaboration and support are critical to navigating these challenges and improving our financial position.
Together, we can ensure that DBTH continues to provide high-quality care while securing a stable and sustainable future. We greatly appreciate your ongoing partnership in these efforts. We will further update on this work in the coming weeks.
Investment in sepsis care and prevention
Sepsis remains a major health challenge, impacting 245,000 people annually in the UK and causing over 48,000 deaths. At Doncaster and Bassetlaw Teaching Hospitals (DBTH), improving sepsis care is a top priority. We’ve implemented the UK Sepsis Trust’s ‘Sepsis Six Care Bundle,’ which can reduce mortality by nearly 47% when applied swiftly.
Key initiatives include appointing two sepsis nurse specialists (adults and paediatrics), enhancing early detection through electronic tracking tools, and introducing Sepsis Response Boxes to streamline care. Additionally, we’ve launched dedicated sepsis training for all staff to ensure early recognition and effective management.
Through collaboration and shared best practices with our partners, we aim to continue improving outcomes for sepsis patients across the Trust and beyond.
Many of these improvements have only been made possible thanks to support from Doncaster and Bassetlaw Teaching Hospitals Charity, who aid us in our mission to deliver exceptional care for all.
Ed Miliband tours new imaging suite development and lays time capsule in historic ceremony at Montagu Hospital
This month, we marked an historic occasion as a time capsule was laid on the grounds of the new Montagu Community Diagnostic Centre (CDC) Imaging Suite at Montagu Hospital. The ceremony, continuing a long-standing tradition at the hospital site, celebrated the future of healthcare while paying tribute to the hospital’s rich history.
The event was attended by Ed Miliband, MP for Doncaster North and Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, who witnessed first-hand two significant developments at Montagu Hospital.
The tour began at the new CDC Imaging Suite, showcasing the future CT and MRI scanning areas. The building also features sustainable rooftop technology like heat pumps for energy-efficient temperature control.
After the tour, a time capsule was placed near the Imaging Suite entrance. It contains items reflecting the Trust’s recent history, including Trust magazines, children’s drawings from the COVID-19 pandemic, and artefacts from the Imaging Suite’s construction. It also holds a copy of ‘Good Health – A Pictorial Celebration of DBTH,’ written by Trust Archivist Garry Swann, highlighting the Trust’s long history.
DBTH Annual Members Meeting 2024
Our Annual Members Meeting was held Thursday 26 September. During the meeting we covered:
- Our overall operational activity
- Our highlights and challenges throughout the year
- Our financial performance
- An update on local, regional and national developments in health and social care
You can watch the session by clicking the video below:
Local MPs visit Doncaster Royal Infirmary
In mid-September, we were pleased to welcome all four Doncaster-based Members of Parliament to Doncaster Royal Infirmary.
During their visit, the MPs met with Richard Parker, our Chief Executive, and Suzy Brain England, Chair of the Trust. The discussions focused on key developments and challenges, highlighting our shared commitment to ensuring that local people continue to receive the best possible NHS services. This visit reflects our ongoing collaboration to support and improve healthcare in the region.
Introducing the Visitor’s Charter
This initiative was crafted with feedback from patients, service users, colleagues at the Trust, and other key stakeholders.
The Visitor’s Charter aligns with the organisation’s recently launched Nursing, Midwifery, and Allied Health Professionals Quality Strategy and supports our overarching vision: “Healthier together – delivering exceptional healthcare for all.”
Our Shining Stars
Since 2020, thanks to the incredible support of local businesses, schools, and the community, our hospitals in South Yorkshire and Bassetlaw have brightened the festive season with star lights, raising over £80,000 for Doncaster & Bassetlaw Teaching Hospitals Charity.
The Shining Stars campaign brings holiday cheer to patients, staff, and visitors, while honoring our ‘shining stars’ and remembering those we’ve lost.
With your help, we’ve funded projects like a bereavement suite, therapy huskies for staff wellbeing, and ward improvements. Your ongoing support makes a real difference to our patients, families, and dedicated colleagues.
Operational activity
Below you can see our activity in August, broken down by type of patient, and where these individuals received care and treatment.
Media and communications
Every month, the Trust publishes a number of items via its external channels to highlight developments at the Trust.
Contact the team
The Communications Team looks after media and stakeholder relations, digital communications, internal communications and patient information for the trust. The Communications Team should be the first point of contact for all media requests.
Thank you for reading!
The next edition of this newsletter will be available in mid-September. If you have any questions, please contact emma.shaheen@nhs.net or call 01302 644244.
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