1.14 Following the new hospital opening in 2000, the Trust received a zero star rating for 2001 from the Department4 because of various operational and financial concerns. At the time of the letting of the PFI contract there was a plan to keep the Trust's finances in balance. The Trust subsequently had financial difficulties, however, although the PFI contract price had remained unchanged. The Trust later became one of four NHS Trusts where the Department introduced its franchised management scheme in May 2002. The franchise involved the Trust working in partnership with the Basildon and Thurrock University Hospitals NHS Trust (a three star rated Trust) to benefit from sharing best practice and developing new ways of working.
1.15 The Trust's previous Chief Executive had retired in late 2001. The Chief Executive role was then carried out, initially on a temporary basis which later became permanent, by the Chief Executive of the Basildon and Thurrock University Hospitals NHS Trust.5 In addition, there had been several other changes to the Trust's board. These resulted in the appointment of a new chairman, finance director and two new non-executive directors.
1.16 The new senior management instigated a management plan which succeeded in improving the overall performance of the hospital. The new management plan led to the Trust being awarded three star status (the highest rating) by CHI for 2003 and 2004. Some of the hospital's key performance statistics are set out in Figure 3. The Trust was in financial balance in 2003-04.
3 | Darent Valley Hospital: Some key performance statistics |
Years to 31 March | 2000-011 | 2001-02 | 2002-03 | 2003-04 |
Bed occupancy rate | 90.46% | 94.13% | 94.4% | 92.8% |
National average | 84.0% | 85.1% | 85.4% | 85.8% |
Number of attendances to A&E | 50,634 | 48,330 | 49,443 | 56,729 |
% of admissions to A&E seen within NHS target time; see footnotes 6 & 7 | Trolley wait target achieved | Trolley wait target achieved | 90% (target achieved) | 90.7% (target achieved) |
National average | Not available | Not available | Not available | 90.6% |
% of patients with hospital acquired infection | Not available | Not available | 7.0% | 4.4% |
CHI Star rating | No stars3 | 1 star | 3 stars | 3 stars |
Reported Waiting List (inpatient and Day Case) | 3,284 | 3,346 | 2,680 | 2,543 |
Reported Waiting List (6 months and above) | 921 | 1,046 | 557 | 266 |
Non-elective admissions | 10,060 | 10,572 | 13,032 | 14,732 |
Source: The Trust, the Department and CHI | ||||
NOTES 1 2001 covers the move to the new Darent Valley hospital. 2 The Department estimates that on average around 9 per cent of inpatients at any one time will have a healthcare acquired infection. 3 Given by the Department before CHI assumed responsibility for awarding star ratings. | ||||
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4 This was before CHI assumed responsibility for awarding star ratings.
5 The new Chief Executive was appointed in May 2002 though had been on secondment from November 2001.
6 The target for 2002-03 was set for March 2003 only.
7 Since May 2004 the Trust is achieving 98% of admissions to A&E seen within NHS target time. The demand for A&E services at Darent Valley Hospital has grown by 15 per cent per annum since 2002.