In a pioneering effort to fix the NHS all of Englands NHS Trust have been placed in a league table.
Revealed on September 9, the tables rank all 130 acute hospital trusts, short-term treatment, usually in a hospital; 61 non-acute trusts, maintenance or long-term care and 10 Ambulance Trust
These league tables are not designed to provoke fear in the population but to allow the government to direct funding and help to those that need it while giving those that are performing greater autonomy.
Divided into four segments each will come with benefits to each of the trusts in them with the government planning to relate directors pay to the performance of their trust.
So, how did each of the trusts rank in the league tables?
There are four trusts that run Cumbria’s health service with University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust and North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust these two are in the Acute Hospital Trusts league table.
While Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust and Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust are on the non-acute table.
The Ambulance Trust are responsible for the emergency response, NHS 111 and patient transport, with North West Ambulance Service providing this for Cumbria.
North West Ambulance Service NHS Trust
The North West Ambulance Service came top of the 10 trust table for Ambulance Services.
University Hospitals of Morecambe Bay NHS Foundation Trust (UHMBT)
UHMBT came highest of the four trusts in 84th placing it in Segment Three.
The UHMBT were approached by The Herdwick for a comment and replied: “The Trust is not commenting on this.”
North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust (NCIC)
The NCIC came 130th out of the 134 acute hospital trusts making it one of the worst performing trusts in the country.
A spokesperson for NCIC said: “NCICs’ rating is disappointing, but reflects the real structural challenges we face as a rural, remote health system, and supports what the new NHS 10-Year Plan calls for in rethinking how care is delivered across the NHS.
“As a Trust, we’ve stabilised and are improving from where were four years ago. It is clear that we still have a lot to do.
“Now we need to go further and faster in the months and years ahead. The whole NCIC team share a determined focus on improving performance so that provide better care for our patients.
“We are also reimagining the way we deliver care in North Cumbria – reviewing our services so that they are sustainable and fit for the future.
“We’re proud of the fantastic work of our colleagues. We’re clear about what still needs to change. And we’re ambitious for what’s ahead.”
Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust
The CNTW Trust was ranked 45th on the table placing it in Segment Four.
The Trust runs the Carleton Clinic in Carlisle and Yewdale Ward at West Cumberland Hospital.
The CNTW were approached but declined to comment.
Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust
Placing joint 53rd the Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS is in Segment Four.
The MP Whitehaven and Workington Josh MacAlaister, whose constituency is home to the West Cumberland Hospital said: “The NHS league tables published this week make for grim reading here in West Cumbria.
“North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Trust is ranked 130th out of 134 trusts. That places it among the most challenged in the country – and that is simply not acceptable for the people of West Cumbria.
The Labour Government introduced the league tables to boost transparency and drive improvement and the trust now has the opportunity to reset and raise its performance.
“I’ll be working closely with other local MPs to hold the trust’s feet to the fire. The patients they serve deserve nothing less than sustained, tangible progress as we rebuild our NHS from the ground up.”
While Julie Minns the MP for Carlisle commented on the NCIC position.
She said: “The Trust’s position is extremely alarming. I cannot accept that this performance can be attributed to the challenges of serving a rural and remote population, particularly when other Trusts in similar areas have ranked considerably higher.
“I have written to the Board to demand an urgent meeting within the next week to understand the plan and timescale for improvement.
“Our NHS was left in a shocking state after years of chronic underfunding by the previous government.
“Since taking office, this Government has made tackling waiting times a top priority, investing £26 billion in the NHS and delivering millions of extra appointments so patients in our constituency receive the timely, high-quality care they deserve.”
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