HSCB/PHA Annual Quality Report demonstrates the work involved in quality care.

The Health and Social Care Board (HSCB) and Public Health Agency (PHA) Annual Quality Report 2014/2015 is being published today to mark World Quality Day. Annual Quality Reports are a recommendation of Quality 2020: a 10 year strategy to protect and improve quality in Health and Social Care in NI (DHSSPS). These are also published by the Health and Social Care Trusts and arms-length bodies.

Mary Hinds, Director of Nursing, PHA says,

“This year’s HSCB/PHA Quality Report demonstrates the wealth of great work that goes into the high quality services health and social care staff aim to provide for every patient and client in their care. It is by putting the patient at the heart of everything we do that we will continue to make excellent progress against the goals of the Quality 2020 strategy.

Learning from patient experience as it happens, 10,000 Voices uses patient stories to provide real-time improvements in various aspects of care. As we go forward next year we will, no doubt, achieve even more, to ensure that patients, carers and their families will remain confident about the quality of health and social care services in NI.”

During 2014/15 good progress has been made against the goals set in the Quality 2020 Strategy – transforming the culture; strengthening the workforce; measuring the improvement; raising the standards; and integrating the care.

The focus on learning from Serious Adverse Incidents (SAIs) has produced a variety of methods to share learning in a timely manner through learning letters; reminder of good practice letters; newsletters; thematic reviews; training; audits, guidelines, and resources.

Publication of HSC-wide Annual Quality Reports is also provided for in the Quality 2020 strategy which was launched in November 2011 to create a strategic framework and plan of action, to protect and improve quality in Health and Social Care (HSC) for the next ten years. The 2013/14 HSCT annual quality reports were reviewed and standardised; and a set of core indicators developed to act as a baseline to monitor improvement.

The 10,000 Voices programme is key in raising the standards in the way services are commissioned and delivered. The initiative has focused on a range of areas throughout 2014/15 including unscheduled care such as received in the Emergency Department; care received in the home; nursing and midwifery care; and Northern Ireland Ambulance Service care. Real time improvements are made, based on the stories collected from almost 7000 patients, clients and staff who are involved.

Michael Bloomfield, Director of Performance and Corporate Services, HSCB said:

“It is vitally important that we promote and protect the quality of services reflected in the Quality Report, particularly in financially challenged circumstances. HSCB and PHA are committed to continue to focus on efforts to ensure and improve existing good practice. I would like to thank all the staff who continue to aim for the highest quality in care and put our patients at the heart of everything we do.

To view the annual quality report click here.

For further information on Q2020 strategy see: www.dhsspsni.gov.uk/quality_strategy_2020 or contact Lisa Stone at lisa.stone@hscni.net