EDS Content - Goal 1

Health Services and Patients Data - Goal 1

Outcome 1.1

Services are commissioned, designed and procured to meet the health needs of local communities, promotes well-being and reduce health inequalities.

EEAST has made improvements in designing pathways by using best evidence based care for the patients we serve. Examples of these pathways are direct referral for PPCI, Strokes, End of Life Care, Falls, COPD, diabetes and major trauma. This is proving to benefit the patient by ensuring they receive the most appropriate care for their condition. When undertaking pathway design equality impacts are undertaken (A4).
 
New projects that are moving forward are Electronic Patient Care Records (ePCR) which will mean that we are able to monitor real time data, including age, gender, race, pregnancy and medical conditions. The capturing of disability, religion and sexual orientation is being discussed.

The Trust evaluates national evidence to set care design (A5), the process is assured through a board sub committee (A10).

Specific initiatives include ensuring resuscitation is appropriate to the specific circumstances of the individual patient (A6, A7). Setting up a call back service for diabetic patients (a long term condition) (A15).

The evidence included shows reports taken from the ePCR and the information that can be gathered (A1). Evidence has also been included from the patient surveys that are undertaken capturing a range of protected characteristics (A12, A14).

EEAST have a clinical audit programme designed to capture how pathways are used (A2, A3, A7, A8, A9) seeking views across the service areas (A11).

EEAST are working towards gaining foundation status and we are collecting evidence from members to ensure we have good representation from the protected characteristics covered via the ePCR and Patient data (A13). The plan to fill the gap for Civil partnership will be added to the re-audit for sexual orientation next year and all future patient surveys will include all 9 characteristics. Patient Surveys are in next year’s clinical audit program which has been drafted and is going to Clinical Quality & Safety Group for sign off. In respect of collecting transgender information EEAST been asking patient representatives about how the Trust should approach this subject and have been invited by the Hertfordshire LINks group to join them in discussion with a transgender group called “Cortex” to gain a greater understanding of the issues that they face and how they would wish us to record their gender etc.
The Trust engages with service users via the quality account process, engaging with stakeholders to set priority areas for the year (A16). The priorities that are set function as a leader for the designing and commissioning of services and are a direct result of patient engagement (A14, A17, A18, A19).

Gaps currently are around the collection of data on Gender re assignment, Civil Partnership, sexual orientation and Maternity. 
 

Outcome 1.2

Individual patients health needs are assessed and resulting services provided, in appropriate and effective ways.

EEAST has been designing pathways which are focussed on providing the best possible care for the individual patient need. Examples of these pathways are direct referral for PPCI, Strokes, Falls, End of Life care COPD, diabetes and major trauma. This is proving to benefit the patient by ensuring they receive the most appropriate care for their condition.

New projects that are moving forward are Electronic patient care records which will mean that we are able to monitor real time data, including age, gender, disability, race and religion.

EEAST undertook a report following on from the ombudsman report on Care and Compassion, Treatment of older people which has shown positively the treatment received by EEAST staff, this is included as evidence on focussing on addressing issues related to age (B1).

Other innovations such as the falls register, and Atrial Fibrillation (AF) identification pilot are evidence that health needs are assessed and we have modified our services to ensure we capture these patients.

EEAST outlines within its clinical policies services that seek to address the individual needs of the patient (B2, B3, B6, B7).
The Trust developed a specific Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) scheme to ensure the individual needs of this patient group with a long term health condition were cared for (B5).
The Trust has committed to an End of Life Care (EoLC) strategy that focuses on providing individually tailored care for patients at the end of their lives (B4).

Also included is evidence around Extended Clinical Triage as not all patients who 999 require an emergency ambulance response. This shows that services are being modified to fit with what our service users require.

Gaps currently are around the collection of data on Gender re assignment, Marriage and Civil Partnership, sexual orientation and Maternity

Outcome 1.3

Changes across the services for individual patients are discussed with them, and transitions are made smoothly.

EEAST is currently seeking to become a Foundation Status Trust. This is a significant change in service and as part of this it has sought to engage with all type of members of the community to discuss the change (evidence C1 and C2).
 
The Trust regularly engages with the public seeking to ensure we regularly meet with those from all protected characteristic groups. Evidence C3 and C4 outline the recent Trust engagement.
 
Gaps currently are around the collection of data on Gender re assignment, Civil Partnership, sexual orientation and Maternity.

Outcome 1.4

The safety of patients is prioritised and assured, In particular patients are free from abuse, harassment, bullying violence from other patients and staff with redress being open and fair to all.

EEAST has named persons for Safeguarding and have a board champion to ensure that safeguarding is a high priority for all patients and staff. Policies are available around safeguarding and the role of EEAST (D4, D5, D6) seeking to ensure patients and staff from all groups are protected. Training around safeguarding and Human rights have been on Professional Updates for all staff both operational (patient facing) and non operational.

The complaints, comments, and compliments policy is included as evidence to show what will happen if a complaint or comment is received into the Trust (D7).

The Trust outlines within its clinical policies (D2) how patients should be treated.

Language line is an initiative that allows patients whose first language is not English to access services and report on care received (D1).

The Trust maintains patient confidentiality and seeks to provide an environment where reporting is confidential (D3).

Gaps currently are around the collection of data on gender re assignment, Civil Partnership, sexual orientation and maternity

Outcome 1.5

Public health, vaccination and screening programmes reach and benefit all local communities and groups.

EEAST do not formally offer screening programmes for communities but do offer vaccinations to volunteers and staff (E2). This protects the workforce and patients.

EEAST offers stroke awareness and blood pressure screening checks at events and in supermarkets available to all groups, data is currently collected on age and gender (E1).

Other services offered are public access defibs and training around basic life support and emergency aid.

EEAST produces leaflets and books aimed for children and schools  (E3).

EEAST have community first responder schemes which train and utilise volunteers in their local community to offer emergency aid whilst waiting for an Ambulance response (E4, E5).

Gaps currently are around the collection of data on Gender re assignment, Civil Partnership, Sexual Orientation and maternity