Sunday, 3 November 2013

Royal Bolton Hospital could be fined £1.4 million for failing superbug targets

The Royal Bolton could face up to £1.4 million in penalties for failing superbug targets.

The Bolton NHS Foundation Trust — which runs the Royal Bolton Hospital — has already reported 23 cases of superbug Clostridium Diffcile since April.

Between April, this year, and April, 2014, it has an annual target of just 28.

Once the trust hits this, it will be fined £50,000 for every case over the target by the Bolton Clinical Commissioning Group — the organisation which allocates funding for the its services.

This means if the number increases at the same rate for the rest of the year — an average 4.6 cases a month — there will be about 55 cases for the year and the trust will be fined £1.4 million.

Hospital bosses have now launched a £290,000 battle plan to tackle superbugs.

Director of Nursing, Trish Armstrong-Child, was appointed permanently by Bolton NHS Foundation Trust in August and is on a mission to drive down the number of C Difficile cases in the hospital and community.

Simon Worthington, Director of Finance, admitted it was unlikely the trust would achieve this year’s target.

He said: “We have a comprehensive plan to reduce the number of cases of C.Difficile in the best interests of patients and this is now showing results.

“However due to the high number of cases previously, it is unlikely we will achieve this year’s target and may incur financial penalties, which is obviously a concern. However we do have risk management arrangements with the CCG and it is possible in certain circumstances that the total penalty may not be imposed.”

All CCG’s across the UK can impose financial penalties if foundation trust breach certain targets as part of a national contract.

“We have a zero tolerance to hospital acquired infections, and ideally want no patient to get an infection while in the care of the NHS. The target is 28 for Bolton Foundation Trust, and if they breach this target, as per the national contract, these penalties can be applied. We always have joint discussions with the trust to understand the application of any penalties and their impact.”Su Long, chief officer of Bolton CCG, said: “These targets are set nationally by NHS England and one of these targets is the rates of Clostridium difficile or C Diff.

The CCG says it is “impressed” with action being taken to combat superbugs at the hospital and expects the trust to meet its targets next year.

Yet some say the financial penalties are a backward step for hospital finances.

Cllr Andy Morgan, who sits on the health scrutiny committee, said: “We are supposed to all be in this together and imposing fines for breaching a target we already knew we would fail.

“If the CCG is going to impose this fine, I would hope it gives the trust some extra funds to specifically target the C Difficile.

“It’s a ludicrous idea to impose fines like that.”

How the hospital will tackle superbugs THE C-Difficile action plan will concentrate on improving all wards on the A to D block at the Royal Bolton Hospital by January 2014.

So far, the hospital has replaced 107 mattresses, 37 commodes and installed new hand basins and floor laminates at four ward entrances, with another nine to go.

The £290,000 investment has also bought ‘fogging’ machines, which use Hydrogen Peroxide Vapour to decontaminate wards.

Bosses have have also installed sliding doors on older wards.

Ms Armstrong-Child said: “What I am really keen to do is to raise the awareness of infection control in the hospital and bring that message home that it is everybody’s business. It’s not about hierarchy and not just the staff’s responsibility — it’s patients and visitors too.

“We’ve increased the amount of reminders at the entrances to the hospital and wards to reinforce that message because it has to be a constant from everybody. This is not just a 12-month turnaround plan, this is about sustainable practices that will bring down the number of C-Difficile cases.”

The director of nursing has also commissioned an independent review of cleaning practices in the trust.

She added: “Good care is all about the basics and Bolton has had some challenges over the past year.

“The target is a real challenge there’s no doubt about it.”

How Royal Bolton will make improvements

THE C-Difficile action plan will concentrate on improving all wards on the A to D block at the Royal Bolton Hospital by January, 2014.

So far, the hospital has replaced 107 mattresses, 37 commodes and installed new hand basins and floor laminates at four ward entrances, with another nine to go.

The £290,000 investment has also bought ‘fogging’ machines, which use Hydrogen Peroxide Vapour to decontaminate wards.

Bosses have have also installed sliding doors on older wards. Ms Armstrong-Child said: “What I am really keen to do is to raise the awareness of infection control in the hospital and bring the message home that it is everybody’s business.

It’s not about hierarchy and not just the staff’s responsibility — it’s patients and visitors too.

“We’ve increased the amount of reminders at the entrances to the hospital and wards to reinforce that message because it has to be a constant from everybody.

This is not just a 12-month turnaround plan, this is about sustainable practices that will bring down the number of C-Difficile cases.”

The director of nursing has also commissioned an independent review of cleaning practices in the trust.

She added: “Good care is all about the basics and Bolton has had some challenges over the past year.

“The target is a real challenge there’s no doubt about it.”

This article is courtesy from The Bolton News.

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