16 October 2008
By Paul Dicken
More NHS trusts are managing their money well and delivering good services, the Healthcare Commission has said in its annual comprehensive performance assessment of the health service.
The Annual health check 2007/08, published on October 16, showed that 42 trusts out of the total 391 were now rated 'excellent' for 'use of resources' and for 'quality of services', up from just two when the assessment regime began in 2005/06.
Gary Needle, head of assessment and methods at the commission, said there was now a high correlation between quality of services and use of resources in trusts. 'That's the first time that that has happened. In the past two years the use of resources score has lagged behind that for quality of service,' he said.
'The best trusts in the country are capable of managing quality of services to patients at the same time as managing their resources.'
The overall picture from the 2007/08 report is positive, showing that 151 trusts improved their rating. The number rated 'weak' for both quality of service and use of resources is now down to six, from 20 last year.
Commission chief executive Anna Walker said there was an overall shift of trusts rated from 'fair' up to 'good' or 'excellent', while greater correlation between use of resources and the quality of services showed 'trusts are not concentrating on one at the expense of the other'. Trusts that were having difficulties 'tend to be struggling with both', she added.
For the first time, over half of trusts were rated 'excellent' or 'good' on financial management; 99% of foundation trusts achieved an 'excellent' or 'good' score.
Sue Slipman, director of the Foundation Trust Network at the NHS Confederation, told Public Finance that the ratings showed foundation trusts were delivering 'added value' and that the model was working.
Health Secretary Alan Johnson said progress was being made by the NHS at 'both ends of the scale'. Johnson and commission chair Sir Ian Kennedy have written to 57 of the best performing trusts to thank staff for their efforts.
The 34 trusts rated 'weak' in either quality or finance have been asked to produce a plan detailing the steps being taken to address problems by October 23.
Primary care trusts were rated as the worst-performing sector. The commission warned those not meeting core standards, such as safety, 'to get their act together' ahead of the new inspection regime under the Care Quality Commission.
Organisations will have to meet the CQC's requirements by 2010 to keep their registration.
The six trusts rated weak for both quality and finance
East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust
Brent Teaching Primary Care Trust
Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital NHS Trust
Great Yarmouth and Waveney Primary Care Trust
North Yorkshire and York Primary Care Trust
Scarborough and North East Yorkshire Health Care NHS Trust
PFoct2008
