2 October 2009
Patients, local residents, councillors, staff and volunteers were among more than 65 people who looked back over the Trust's "best year ever" at its annual public meeting on Tuesday (29 September).
"The message we wanted to get across was that we are moving forward and we've turned a corner," said John Davey, the Trust's Chair. "Last year we recorded our lowest number of MRSA (bacteraemia) ever and significantly cut our incidence of Clostridium Difficile.
"We met all of the government's key standards, which is a considerable achievement in itself. It means our patients are seen quickly in the safest possible environment. For example, over 98 per cent of patients who attended our A&E (accident and emergency) departments last year were treated, admitted and discharged within a maximum of four hours.
"On top of that, we ended the year with balanced books, we met both of our '18 week targets', which is the maximum length of time patients should wait for treatment after being referred by their GP and we also achieved all NHS standards for seeing and treating people who have suspected cancer .
"It really was a superb year for the Trust and the meeting allowed us to thank our staff and our volunteers for their amazing work."
The guests were given the opportunity to ask questions of the Chair, as well as the interim Chief Executive, Peter Coles, and other Executive Directors who run the organisation.
People asked several questions about the long term future of the Trust, particularly what is planned for the Epsom Hospital site.
Peter Coles added: "It was useful to be able to talk to people face-to-face and give them the facts: that we are making significant investment in our hospitals to make sure our services in the future are the very best you can get.
"We are planning to spend £190 million redeveloping St Helier Hospital, as well as up to £70 million at Epsom Hospital over the coming years."
But it wasn't all about standards and finances. People who attended the meeting were also given talks by doctors and patients, about what it's really like working at, or being treated at, the Trust's hospitals.
Paul Connolly is a patient of the Trust's renal department at St Helier Hospital and spoke at the meeting. He said: "I don't live that locally, so when I first heard that experts wanted to treat me in St Helier, I thought I was off to the Channel Islands!
"It's easy for people to knock the NHS, but this organisation has been absolutely fantastic to me. I've been a patient here for many years and they've always been there for me and always supported me."
Paul was joined by another patient, Caroll Hitt, in praising the Trust's hospitals publically. Caroll had a prostate operation at Epsom Hospital using the very latest in laser technology.
The symptoms of an enlarged prostate gland (otherwise known as benign prostatic hyperplasia) include difficulties urinating and a gradual loss of bladder control.
Caroll said: "You really can't imagine what it's like. Getting in the car for an hour's journey and panicking about whether you'll need to go to the toilet. I was like that for years and I didn't know how I could continue.
"Then the team at Epsom Hospital told me about the GreenLight Laser treatment, and I had it done. There was no pain, no discomfort, there wasn't even any pain afterwards. It's changed my life."
The Trust also officially launched its annual report for 2008-09 at the meeting. The document is free and gives an overview of the Trust's achievements over the last year and includes detailed information about its financial performance.
To obtain a copy of the report, please:
