WIREDGOV

Model of care is safe and clinically appropriate.

A report, by the Chief Medical Officer, into the running of the emergency department at Ninewells hospital, has found that the current model of care is safe and clinically appropriate.

CMO Dr Catherine Calderwood, visited the emergency department at Ninewells earlier this week to investigate concerns around patient safety in A&E.

During her visit she met with senior management, clinical staff in the emergency department, acute medical unit and acute surgical receiving unit and surgical and anaesthetics and medicine multi-disciplinary teams to discuss patient safety and the impact of waiting times targets.

Speaking after her visit, Dr Calderwood said:

“Earlier this week I met NHS Tayside clinicians and undertook a tour of the unscheduled care facilities at Ninewells hospital. Following my visit I am satisfied that the principles that underpin NHS Tayside’s emergency department model is patient safety and outcome focused and not target driven.

“There is no evidence to support the allegation that patients are admitted to specialty wards, or specialty doctors are unable to see patients within the emergency department, purely to achieve targets.

“NHS Tayside has also confirmed that surgeons and physicians regularly attend the A&E department to assess patients.

“The hospital has made significant improvements in patient safety including a reduction above the national average in hospital deaths. The emergency department team assured me that improved patient waiting times and consistent attainment of the 98 per cent target is a by-product of early senior review, decision-making and focused investigations.

“However, it was apparent that at times the communication between emergency department staff and other speciality teams is not always as good as it could be, which has led to misunderstandings.

“To tackle this I have suggested several recommendations on the back of my findings. This includes improving communication links between consultants from all specialities that have involvement with the emergency department.

“Staff from different departments should meet regularly and these meetings should also be attended by nursing and other staff working between the emergency department and the receiving units.

“Emergency department consultants should also have a participative role in the induction of new medical, nursing and other relevant healthcare staff to ensure understanding of the agreed operational procedures within A&E.

“Work is also already underway within NHS Tayside to create a whole system approach to patient care. It is important that each individual unit or department sees themselves as part of the larger hospital team to ensure best patient care."

Notes To Editors

Health Secretary Shona Robison asked the CMO to visit Ninewells hospital following concerns around patient safety and waiting time targets. The CMO will return to Ninewells in six months’ time to ensure recommendations have been taken forward.

The CMO’s report is available here: http://www.gov.scot/Publications/2015/06/4768