Star ratings are announced

The Star ratings for Trusts for 2003/04 have now been announced. The Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital NHS Trust has been informed that it has fallen from two to one star.

The reason the Trust fell by a star was due to us failing to ensure that all elective patients were treated within 9 months by 31st March 2004. At the end of March 24 patients had waited longer than 9 months for surgery. The Trust also had a marginal failure in achieving the target for giving patients booked dates for appointments.

The Trust’s Chief Executive, Paul Forden, said that both he and the staff were disappointed in losing one of its stars. He said that all staff had worked extremely hard to ensure that patients received the best possible care. Although we failed to treat 24 patients within the 9 month target this needs to be taken in the context of our total workload. Last year we treated in excess of 130,000 inpatients and 330,000 outpatients. That said, we recognise that patients wish to wait the minimum time possible for treatment and we will continue to work as hard as ever to improve further.

Mr Forden went on to say that whilst the Trust failed on these 2 targets, the Trust had reduced maximum inpatient waiting times over the last year from 12 months to 9 months, the maximum outpatient waiting time had reduced from 21 weeks to 17 weeks, all patients suspected of having cancer were now seen within 2 weeks of referral by their GP and over 90% of patients attending A&E were seen and either treated or admitted within 4 hours. This shows that considerable progress has been achieved for which the staff deserve a great deal of credit and thanks.

Media Contact: Hayley Gerrard at the NNUH on 01603 287200