Healthcare Commission Annual Health Check

The Healthcare Commission (HCC) published its Annual Health Check ratings for every trust this month, replacing the old star ratings system.

The ratings were calculated using data collected during 2005/06 from the former Oxfordshire Mental Healthcare NHS Trust (OMHT) and Buckinghamshire Mental Health NHS Trust (BMHT).

Each Trust submitted a self assessment declaration to the HCC which indicated whether they had adequate assurance to meet each of the core standards which all trusts are judged on. OMHT rated itself compliant against all of the core standards. BMHT rated itself non-compliant against two of the core standards and action plans were put into place immediately to bring the Trust into compliance.

After all the information was collected by the HCC, 10% of ‘at risk’ trusts were selected to receive a visit. BMHT was selected for a visit and five of the standards were scrutinised by the HCC to ensure that the Trust provided assurance that they met each of these standards.

After collecting all of their information and making their visits, the HCC rated all trusts from weak to excellent on both the quality of services provided and the use of resources. These results were published on the HCC website at www.healthcarecommission.org.uk

Oxfordshire
OMHT was rated ‘fair’ for its use of resources and ‘fair’ for the quality of services.

OMHT met all of the core standards but received the rating as a result of only achieving ‘fair’ in the community mental health services review and the new national targets. The Trust has put an action plan in place to address the shortfalls identified in the community services review and is making progress against the new national targets.

Buckinghamshire
BMHT was rated ‘weak’ for its use of resources and ‘weak’ for the quality of services. This was because the Healthcare Commission did not believe the Trust had sufficient evidence to prove they met five of the 44 core standards. However, there have been a number of significant improvements over the past year. These improvements include the introduction of a named doctor for child protection and a new system to monitor the standard of food for patients.

We accept that the Trust was rated ‘weak’ for the use of its resources. Buckinghamshire had faced a number of financially challenging years and the Trust had to pay off previous deficits from its budget. As a result of a rigid financial recovery plan, BMHT made considerable progress which was taken over into the new Trust.

There are many positive improvements which have already taken place in Buckinghamshire and these were demonstrated in the recent community mental health service review commissioned by the Healthcare Commission where Buckinghamshire was rated in the top 9% in the country for their mental health services in the community. Buckinghamshire also received very positive feedback from the user survey also commissioned by the Healthcare Commission.

Julie Waldron, Chief Executive, said,
“I would like to thank all staff for their continued support and effort to help develop and improve services. As a result of your hard work I am sure that we will see a much improved rating for the new Trust next year.”

The Trust is developing an action plan for all of the areas which were rated weak across both counties.