At the meeting of Ashford Branch Labour Party on Tuesday, November 6, members debated the performance of Ashford/St Peter's Trust in both the star-ratings report and the Commission for Health Improvement (CHI) report, both of which have received recent publicity.

The CHI studied the Ashford/St Peter's service for six months.

They took evidence from local GPs, the health authority, Regional Office, local community health councils, patients and members of the public and staff.

They followed this up with an in-depth, week-long visit to the two hospitals.

Members expressed their pleasure at the excellent rating which the Trust received in the CHI report.

This was concerned with clinical outcomes, a matter of crucial importance to patients.

Out of the 15 standard 'questions' raised by the CHI, Ashford/St Peter's received a highly satisfactory grade in no less than 13 of its 'answers'.

The two issues which were not so graded were food quality and cleanliness on the St Peter's site. These matters are now being addressed.

The CHI closely inspected seven areas of performance in respect of serious, life-threatening medical conditions.

Here, our hospitals really shone, and were formally congratulated by the CHI.

In all seven areas of service, the Trust performed better than average both against comparable Trusts, and also against all hospitals in England as a whole.

Patients can be assured that they are in good hands at Ashford/St Peter's.

Stars had been withheld from the Trust because its budget, due to unforeseen patient demand, had been slightly overspent and because the number of frail elderly people whose discharge had been delayed was unacceptably high.

With up to 76 beds so occupied, waiting times for acute admissions were increased.

While members were disappointed at the Trust's zero star-rating, they were heartened to find that Labour's Secretary of State for Health had taken immediate remedial action.

£33,000 has been added to the Trust's budget, £2.5 million put across Surrey to solve the delayed discharge problem, and £14 million to a Starter Homes initiative which will help the Trust's staff recruitment and retention difficulties.

Ashford Branch Labour Party congratulates the staff of Ashford/St Peter's Trust in their magnificent achievement in the CHI report, and looks forward to a successful outcome to the Trust's efforts to improve its star-rating in the future.

Joyce M Trace

Chairwoman

Ashford Branch Labour Party