LETTER: Disappointed but positive experience

Trustees were pleased that the CQC inspection team acknowledged that the service at Holbeach Hospital was good with regard to its effectiveness, was caring and responsive.
With regard to these they were particularly pleased that the report noted that “people’s outcomes were consistently good” and that the service users lived in a “purpose-built environment that was well maintained” trustees accept that there remains works to do to further improve the facilities, and due to careful financial management and recent bequests and donations have plans in place to further enhance the facility.
The dedicated and hard work of the staff was recognised by both residents and their families.
There were numerous comments about the caring and thoughtful attitude of the staff.
The trust have placed significant emphasis on the need for staff to undertake training, and whilst there remain areas where further training is required, the lack of formal training in certain areas was recognised as not having had a significant impact on resident’s care.
Since the inspection much of the identified shortfall in training has been rectified.
The report identified that the trust deals effectively with patients who are resident for both longer and shorter stays and offers a good quality of service to those who are at end of life, and that caring for such a diverse group of patients puts additional strain on staff.
As is the case across the care sector the ability to recruit sufficient staff is an ongoing issue and has affected the efficiency of the service but the trust have put in place financial rewards for staff to recognise their loyalty to the trust and also the current cost of living crisis.
These measures, which were recognised by the inspectors, have been put in place by the trustees despite the increase in fees paid by the trust’s public sector users not reflecting the increasing costs being faced.
The weaknesses identified with regard to the service being safe and well led have been accepted by the trustees and since the inspection many of the issues have been resolved.
Subsequent to the inspection the trust has confirmed the decision to introduce digitalised record keeping across the whole establishment which had been the subject of ongoing discussions for a period of time as to its effectiveness.
The introduction of this system will alleviate many of the other issues regarding record keeping etc raised by the report and which the trust acknowledge have been a long-standing issue.
The system will also allow easier and more effective monitoring by the trustees of the activities in the facility.
Whilst disappointed that the overall rating of the facility remains at Requires Improvement the trustees see the inspection as having been a positive experience and one which will allow them to focus on implementing the necessary changes required to see the rating moves to at least good when the next inspection takes place.
The hospital remains a facility owned and run by the community, to serve the community and the trustees, all of whom are volunteers, remain committed to continuing to ensure that it operates in an appropriate manner and offers the service, those who established it some 30 years ago, envisaged it doing.
Anybody interested in joining as a member and or trustee is encouraged to contact Rebecca Atkinson at the hospital via email info@holbeach-hospital.org.uk

Chris Penney
Chairman of trustees