East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust (ESHT) has managed to come out of special measures for finance, staff heard this week.
Already out of special measures for quality in 2018, the Trust, which includes the Conquest Hospital at St Leonards and the local hospital at the top of the hill in Rye, has now exited all the special measures.
At the Pride of ESHT staff awards ceremony on Thursday July 11, the already buzzing and excited audience had the news confirmed by Dr Adrian Bull, Chief Executive. It was wonderful news, and the contribution of the staff was fully acknowledged by Dr Bull and later in the event by the Trust Chairman, Mr Steve Phoenix. He also mentioned the role played by the non-executive Trust Board members and particularly the chairman of the finance committee, Mr Barry Nealon, who is also chairman of the charitable Trust that owns the Rye, Winchelsea and District Memorial Hospital.
The event itself is held annually, has sponsorship from Friends organisations and private companies and rewards excellent practice at the Conquest and its satellite Hospitals and services. There were about 480 entries, either individuals or as services including community ones, in a specific category and three people or services were chosen for each one, with the winner (name in gold envelope!) in each category announced at the event. The Friends of the Hospital at Rye had sponsored one for ‘Unsung Heroes, Health Care Assistants’.
Each category is judged by an invited panel of peers, which included one of the ward sisters at Rye’s hospital, and is hard won against such competition. It is a fun, happy and well-run event at the de la Warr pavilion in Bexhill and does wonders for staff morale and motivation across our local NHS. Congratulations to all the winners and runners-up and to the organisers as well. It was a wonderful evening all round. Good NHS news!
Image Credits: Gillian Roder .