ICS Assists an NHS Hospital Following Healthcare Commission Report


In 2009 a Healthcare Commission report revealed higher than expected deaths at a Hospital in the Midlands. The Trust found itself at the centre of House of Commons debates, and a major inquiry. Patient care, staffing levels, facilities, equipment, procedures and systems were all to be overhauled.

A transformation programme was produced in response to the Healthcare Commission recommendations, and subsequent reports. The Trust's interim Chief Executive at the time, suggested many of the improvements were basic measures already taken for granted at most Hospitals. “Staffing is the most obvious thing people will focus on and we want to get our staffing levels right. We will then look at it again to make sure it is still right."

Independent Clinical Services’ (ICS) relationship with the Trust began in mid 2008. The Trust were aware they had an acute staffing crisis and were struggling to cover shifts across several wards and departments. They had exhausted their flexible staffing options, which consisted of overtime, Bank staff and PASA approved suppliers.

They identified ICS as a viable and professional alternative to their usual flexible staffing options, and to satisfy various compliancy regulations, several solutions were discussed. ICS began by supplying nurses for single adhoc shifts to demonstrate the quality, not only of the nurses, but also the service available to them. The Trust identified specific clinical areas regularly left short staffed and ‘block booked’ ICS nurses to cover these. The nurses ICS supplied ensured that the Hospital was able to maintain their operational and clinical objectives, and when the report was published they already had in place a supplier that could help meet their needs.

Following the report in March and the subsequent transformation programme the Trust outlined its intention to recruit 40 extra nurses. While the prospective new nurses were being recruited and inducted, the Trust increased their use with ICS for up to 20 full time equivalents on a weekly basis. This gave the capacity to satisfy the recommendations in the programme, continuing to maintain operational and clinical standards. Once their nurses were available to the Trust, they reduced the number of staff required from their flexible staffing providers. ICS continues to supply staff for specialist areas and specific projects.

Going forward the Trust now has the confidence that if a staffing crisis arises in the future, they have a supplier who has a proven track record and capacity to safely meet their expectations.