QA Hospital says A&E Delivery Board is all about common purpose

Portsmouth Hospitals NHS Trust runs the Cosham site and Dr Rob Haigh, the executive director for the emergency care pathway, hopes the board can ease pressure on the emergency department.

This week, The News is looking into the organisations that make up the A&E Delivery Board, including Southern Health NHS Foundation Trust, Portsmouth City Council and the three clinical commissioning groups in the area.

The focus for the group is to work closer together and more efficiently to enhance healthcare in Portsmouth.

It is hoped that will then improve the A&E at QA Hospital.

Dr Haigh sits on the board. He said: ‘The board gives a range of health organisations the opportunity to work together on the basis of a very specific agenda. It’s about managing the overall health system and seeing where the problems are.

‘Health needs to become very important, particularly in times of high intensity and pressure. Winter is an example of that.’

Dr Haigh said the trust has already started making changes to help deal with the pressures of winter.

It has set up a 72-hour short-stay unit for people attending A&E but who do not need to stay in hospital for long periods of time. It is assessing in-patients when they are medically fit so when care packages are ready, they can be discharged.

Dr Haigh added it is important all health groups in the area continue to have a common purpose.

‘This board is an opportunity to make sure that our patients get the best care whether they are in hospital or at home. It is a very good frame.

‘Everyone is sharing a common purpose and there is no self-interest.’

The A&E Delivery Board has replaced the Systems Resilience Group and clinicians from a range of trusts will look at care provided in the area.