In response to the Francis Report our Board established a Task and Finish group. The group reviewed all the recommendations and, where necessary, identified any actions required with defined timescales. Listening Events were held to provide our staff with additional opportunities for discussion.

We are proud that the majority of the recommendations were things we were already doing. For example: -

• our values, developed with our staff, which incorporate the NHS Constitution and 6 Cs
• we have processes in place to ensure feedback from students on placement within MCH is shared
• we are able to demonstrate high levels of compliance with hand hygiene
• we have a code of conduct for support workers
• there are clear discharge planning processes in place, ensuring that no patient is discharged home at night

Over the last year we have responded further to recommendations we needed to act on: -

• we have reviewed our complaints and incidents processes identifying new ways to share the learning from these
• identified a system whereby inpatients have a nominated health professional
• we reviewed our expectations of leaders in MCH
• incorporated the Friends and Family test in our customer surveys and continue to encourage our staff to tell us if they have a concern.

Going forward we continue to review all recommendations we currently meet to assure our continued compliance as well as working to implement the national guidance as it becomes available. For example: the safe staffing guidance; the fit and proper persons test and that the support we provide our nurses meets the Nursing and Midwifery Council revalidation requirements.

The reports offered a timely reminder of those things each and every person delivering care needs to remember in everything they do. We continue to listen to the people who use our services and our staff, encouraging openness and honesty and monitoring our performance carefully. Our approach to transformation and further improvements to quality are, and will always be, delivered in the framework for delivery as set out in the Francis Report.

If you have any comments, queries or concerns please contact us.