A new Government initiative to give patients more choice where they receive hospital treatment has been introduced. Reporter CHRIS JOHNSON speaks to Queen Mary's Hospital chief executive Kate Grimes on why she backs the scheme ...

QUEEN Mary's has had a tough time of late. Just last September it was at the centre of an MRSA scare following a BBC investigation.

It is also a well publicised fact the Sidcup hospital has run into debt after spending £10m more than its annual £94m budget.

And now the next challenge has reared its head.

This is in the form of a new Department of Health scheme called Choice for Patients.

The new initiative will give patients the choice of at least four hospitals, clinics or treatment centres in their area when their GP refers them for specialist treatment.

Three months into her chief executive role, Ms Grimes admits the worst-case scenario for the hospital is patients choosing to go elsewhere for their specialist treatment.

If this were to happen, it would not only cause financial difficulties but may also impact on the emergency care offered.

Ms Grimes said: "Just a small shift in patient flows could create further difficulties for us financially.

"If patients go elsewhere for their planned care, such as for specialist surgery, it means we are getting less money from the Government as we would be treating fewer patients.

"But even if this were to happen, I could not reduce staff numbers to counter a drop in patient numbers because we still need enough staff to provide 24/7 emergency care in A&E.

"It is vital we retain a good, reliable A&E service for the local population."

As hospitals around the country prepare to tempt patients to their services, Ms Grimes is fully aware of the uphill struggle unpopular hospitals may face.

Public perception is also a key factor in wooing patients to the service.

Ms Grimes added: "I suspect the population still thinks there is a problem at Queen Mary's with MRSA.

"Something we will want to impress on people is we have successfully reduced the MRSA rate.

"The figures for MRSA were three times as high in the last three months of 2004 compared with the last three months of last year."

The health boss believes marketing among hospitals is a potentially "dangerous road" and a precious waste of public money and NHS resources.

However, keeping one's head above water in a competitive market is also a key priority for Ms Grimes.

She said: "If one hospital instigates an advertising war, then others are sure to follow.

"It would be difficult to sit back quietly if other hospitals are launching advertising campaigns all around you."

Ms Grimes' vision to improve the service at Queen Mary's is more of a grassroots approach, involving talking with the community.

She said: "The Choice for Patients scheme may mean more of our resources are focused on talking to patients and the community to find out what kind of service they want.

"This can only be a good thing as it will ensure we are more focused on providing what patients want."

  • All 33 Bexley GP practices have confirmed their commitment to discuss with patients the available options for their health needs.

Information to assist patient choice is shown in the Choosing Your Hospital leaflet available at all practices and on the website nhs.uk

QUEEN MARY'S FACTS

  • Patient numbers per year: 42,000 in-patients; 164,700 out-patients; 72,200 Accident and Emergency patients
  • Bed numbers: Around 400
  • Doctors: 284
  • Nurses: 641 qualified plus 243 trainees
  • Annual budget: £94m
  • Rate of spending for financial year 2005/06: £104m
  • Debt: £10m