Infection Control &Prevention

Quality and Standards

Quality Statement

St Anthony's Hospital is committed to sound policies and practices that support its effective operation. We consistently plan to meet the requirements of our patients, their visitors, consultants, our volunteers and our staff. Through a well-trained, effective and motivated workforce we aim to take the hospital forward within a culture of continuous improvement and an environment that maintains the principles underpinning both corporate and clinical governance.

Our 10 key quality statements are set out here:

The needs of patients are put first at all times.
The service is responsive to the needs of patients, their visitors and consultants.
A caring, honest and professional attitude is maintained.
Feedback from patients, visitors, consultants and staff is encouraged and viewed as an opportunity to improve.
The hospital and grounds are safe, clean and tidy and pleasing to the eye.
The confidentiality of information concerning both patients and staff is constantly observed.
Communication with patients, visitors, consultants and staff is effective.
Staff are treated fairly and encouraged to maximise their full potential.
Staff understand the nature of the business and their role within it.
The best use is made of resources and wastage minimised.

Care Quality Commission – Report of Compliance 2013

Download the Care Quality Commision Report PDF (84KB)

Performance and Audit

Performance Indicators

Constituting part of the Care Quality Commission's risk-based approach to inspection, a series of high-level indicators including numbers of surgical, of site infections, unplanned readmissions and unplanned returns to theatre have been developed to help monitor the performance of providers in the independent healthcare sector. These indicators are one of the factors taken into account when a provider’s performance against the national minimum standards is assessed and the frequency of inspections is planned. The Hospital submits a quarterly return of data to the Care Quality Commission in compliance with its mandatory responsibilities.

Audit

The evaluation of practice against agreed standards is an integral element in the programme for clinical governance at St Anthony’s Hospital. Projects are predominantly undertaken by staff to explore either areas of concern or interest. All projects fundamentally aim to support staff in achieving and maintaining the high standards of care delivered to our patients. Highlighting areas for improvement and providing reassurance that high standards of practice are maintained, the pursuit of audit and monitoring activity is afforded a high degree of importance at St Anthony’s. Up to 40 bespoke projects are either on-going or planned each year and a small team of dedicated personnel provide the necessary support.

The Hospital keeps abreast of guidance issued by the relevant professional bodies and the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence and is actively involved in the national clinical audits that are co-ordinated via the NHS and the projects directed by the National Confidential Enquiry into Patient Outcome and Death (NCEPOD).

Patient Satisfaction

St Anthony's Hospital has pursued the active canvassing of patient feedback for over 10 years.

The staff at St Anthony's welcome the comments and views of the users of its services. A structured survey questionnaire seeks the views of patients against in excess of 55 criteria covering aspects such as the professionalism and communication of our staff to the taste and choice of food. All comments are discussed and reviewed at the monthly senior management meeting.

We aim to achieve the highest standards in the services we provide and regard the feedback from our patients and their visitors as vital in this achievement.

In 2012:

1937 responses recommended St Anthony’s Hospital. This Represented over 99.4% of returns.
95.8% of patient responses regarded the services they experienced as either Excellent or Good.
97.8% of patient responses regarded the quality of their pre-admission information as either Excellent or Good.
98.5% of patient responses regarded the nursing staff as either Excellent or Good.
92.5% of patient responses regarded the food as either Excellent or Good.
99% of patient responses regarded the service given to their visitors as either Excellent or Good.

Excellent, Good, Average and Poor Questions and Responses 2004 - 2007

Complaints

The Hospital Management Team takes seriously all complaints received and works closely with consultants to ensure that as far as is reasonably practicable clinical complaints are resolved in a satisfactory manner.

Patients, their relatives and visitors are advised that, should they feel their complaint has not been dealt with satisfactorily by the Hospital, they are entitled to contact the Care Quality Commission with whom St Anthony’s is registered.

Their address is:

The Care Quality Commission
Citygate
Gallowgate
Newcastle upon Tyne
NE1 4PA

Telephone 03000 616161
Facsimilie 03000 616171