ANNUAL HEALTH CHECK

This system is based on measuring performance within a framework of national standards and targets set by Government. In 2005/2006, it focused on whether healthcare organisations were achieving the basics. In 2006/2007, this will continue but, in addition, the extent to which services are improving will be assessed. In particular, the Healthcare Commission will begin to develop the approach for assessing performance in relation to the developmental (or improvement) standards set by Government which are designed to drive up the quality of care that patients receive. Further details on the standards set for 2006/2007 are available at www.healthcarecommission.org.uk

The Commission is calling for improvements in diagnostic services provided by the NHS after wide variations in the quality of these services were found in acute hospital Trusts. The review of 153 acute Trusts in England found unacceptable waits for scans at some hospitals. Delays in diagnostic services such as X-rays and scans could hinder some Trusts in meeting the Government’s target of a maximum wait of 18 weeks from referral to treatment. The report, however, found improvements in the quality of services in many areas.

“Trusts need to do more talking to patients about their medicines and their potential side effects”, according to the Healthcare Commission’s chief executive Anna Walker. This warning follows the publication of the national review of the management of medicines in 153 acute Trusts in England. The Healthcare Commission is urging NHS hospitals to step up efforts to improve the prescribing and dispensing of medicines. The Commission is also asking Trusts to make sure patients feel empowered to discuss any concerns about their medication.

An audit by the Healthcare Commission has found that the NHS may not be complying with legislation aimed at promoting equality. Findings suggest that most Trusts have not met their responsibilities to publish information under the Race Relations (Amendment) Act 2000. Inspectors spent 30 minutes scanning each website of all 570 NHS Trusts, looking for information that legislation has required public bodies to publish since May 2002. In the half an hour, they could only find this information on the websites of seven NHS Trusts – around one per cent of the total. The audit is not a definitive test of compliance, but the findings do suggest a significant problem with the number of Trusts meeting statutory codes of practice.