Regular performance indicators

Performance indicators help NHS trusts measure the safety, quality, speed and effectiveness of the care we give to our patients.

Below you can find our regular reports on key performance indicators, such as waiting times, hospital associated infections, emergency readmission rates and complaint response times.

The most up-to-date information will be published every month after the Trust Board meeting. The data reflects up to and including two months (three months for some indicators) before the meeting.

MRSA bacteraemia

MRSA (bacteraemia) is a healthcare associated infection. The Department of Health sets maximum numbers of cases that hospitals must not exceed each year.

Our MRSA bacteraemia figures are published weekly on this page.

The maximum number of cases for 2011-12: 5
This target has been set by: Department of Health
The number of cases the Trust had in 2010-11: 11

Clostridium difficile infections

Clostridium difficile is also a healthcare associated infection. The Department of Health sets maximum numbers of cases of Clostridium difficile we must not exceed each year.

Our Clostridium difficile infection figures are published weekly on this page.

The maximum number of cases for 2011-12: 67
This target has been set by: Trust contract
The number of cases the Trust had in 2010-11: 88

MSSA infections

MSSA stands for Methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus. It is also a healthcare associated infection. The Department of Health sets maximum numbers of cases that we must not exceed each year.

Our MSSA infection figures are published weekly on this page.

The maximum number of cases for 2011-12: 13
This target has been set by: the Trust
The number of cases the Trust had in 2010-11: 12

E. coli infections

Eschericia coli (E. coli) is a gut bacteria that is the main cause for urinary tract infections as well as causing other infections such as blood stream infections.

Our E. coli infection figures are published monthly on this page.

Emergency access 

The national target, set by the Department of Health, requires that 95% of patients attending an accident and emergency (A&E) departments must be seen, treated, admitted or discharged in under four hours.

A range of accident and emergency (A&E) performance indicators, including emergency access, are published monthly on this page.

Emergency access target for 2011-12: 95%
This target has been set by: Department of Health
The Trust's emergency access performance for 2010-11: 97.1%

Emergency readmission rate

In order to evaluate and analyse whether patients are receiving the right care, hospitals measure 'emergency readmission rates'. This refers to patients being readmitted to hospital within 30 days of being discharged. The readmission can be for the same or for a different condition. 

Whilst this may not always be avoidable, a low emergency readmission rate indicates that patients are receiving the care they require, and being discharged appropriately.

Emergency readmission rate, 2011-12 (to date): 7.9%
Maximum emergency readmission rate for 2011-12: 5.8%
This target has been set by: the Trust, based on previous performance.
The Trust’s emergency readmission rate for 2010-11: 7.8%

Hospital standardised mortality ratio

The hospital standardised mortality ratio (HSMR) is an indicator of whether the death rate at a hospital is higher or lower than you would expect. It looks at the majority of activity in a hospital where risk of death is significant, and compares how many people would be expected to die with the actual rate of death.

HSMR, 2011-12 (to date): 84.3%
HSMR target for 2011-12: less than 100%
This target has been set by: the Trust, based on national averages.
The Trust’s HSMR performance for 2010-11: 77%

18 weeks from referral to treatment (95th percentile)

In the early 1990s, waits of more than six months for a first outpatient appointment were not uncommon, and tens of thousands of people waited more than two years for an operation.

Since December 2008, the Trust aims that the total pathway time from referral to a Trust consultant to treatment is 18 weeks or less, unless patients choose to delay treatment or there is a clinical reason why they should wait longer.

Wherever possible, you will wait less than this, with the average wait being around eight weeks. Any hospital appointments, tests, scans or other procedures that you may need before being treated will all happen within this time limit.

The approach to monitoring referral to treatment wait times has changed from monitoring the percentage of patients whose referral to treatment time was less than 18 weeks to monitoring the 95th percentile time waited for completed admitted and non-admitted as well as incomplete referral to treatment pathways.

The Trust's 95th percentile time waited of admitted patients for 2011-12 (to date): 19.6 weeks
The target for the 95th percentile time waited of admitted patients for 2011-12: 23 weeks 
This target has been set by: Department of Health

The Trust's 95th percentile time waited of non-admitted patients for 2011-12 (to date): 16.7 weeks
The target for the 95th percentile time waited of non-admitted patients for 2011-12: 18.3 weeks 
This target has been set by: Department of Health

Two month between GP referral and treatment for cancer referrals

The "two months" referral to treatment system was introduced so that cancer patients would receive treatment as soon as possible, but no more than two months after an urgent GP referral.

There are national guidelines for GPs to use to make a decision about whether it is appropriate to refer patients for an appointment within two weeks; and the Trust has a responsibility to start the treatment of at least 85% of cancer patients within that time.

The percentage of 'two months treatment' patients treated within two months for 2011-12 (to date): 89.5%
The minimum percentage of 'two months treatment' patients for 2011-12: 85%
This target has been set by: Department of Health
The Trust's result for 'two months treatment' in 2010-11: 91%

Complaint response time

NHS organisations have a responsibility to investigate any complaints promptly and respond as appropriate. The Trust aims to respond to complaints within an agreed timeframe from the date of receipt.

The monthly figure below shows in how many cases we achieve. To find out more, including reasons why some complaints take longer to investigate and respond to, read our complaints procedure.

The Trust's complaint response performance for 2011-12 (to date): 81.5%
The Trust's complaint response target for 2011-12: 100%
This target has been set by: the Trust.
The Trust's complaint response performance for 2010-11: 62%

Outpatients not attending their appointment

As a Trust, we see approximately 700,000 patients a year and ask that people who can't make their appointments get in touch and let us know beforehand. Missed outpatient appointments cost us more than £3 million last year, which amounts to approximately £126 for every missed appointment. They are also disruptive to our services and create an inconvenience for patients who have a later appointment as they could have been seen in an earlier time slot.

A texting service has been launched by the Trust in 2010 to help make sure people attend their hospital appointments. The service sends a text to patients a week before their appointment, reminding them that it is due to take place.

We have also launched a new telephone service which calls patients - reminding them of their appointment and confirming their attendance. The telephone calls are made using automated telephone calls and calls made by staff at a UK-based call centre.