Memorandum from South Tees Hospitals NHS
Trust
Further to your email of 30 April 2007 I attach
the following comments regarding the experiences of Northallerton
Hospital, part of South Tees Acute Hospitals NHS Trust, in working
with the Ministry of Defence Hospital Unit (MDHU) Northallerton.
I believe the MDHU has made a positive contribution
to the Friarage Hospital, Northallerton in delivering healthcare
to military and civilian patients and supporting the training
and development of military staff for operational deployment.
Military staff are integrated into many clinical areas at the
Friarage Hospital, Northallerton and increasingly working in complex
clinical settings on the James Cook University Hospital (Middlesbrough
site).
Military personnel are fully integrated into
a combined workforce in the main wards and Departments on the
Friarage Hospital site and deliver high quality services as a
single team. Effective relationships are maintained at all levels
to ensure that the objectives of delivering high quality clinical
care and supporting training for military clinical staff, to provide
medical support for deployed operations, are consistently delivered.
At ward and Department level the military staff
members of the whole squads that contribute to the NVSP are part
of a single team integrated into all ward activities. Senior staff
contribute to weekly Clinical Management meetings ensuring involvement
in operational activities throughout the hospital.
The Commanding Officer, Medical Director, Senior
Nurse and Business Manager regularly meet with the Hospital Manager
and Clinical Divisional Managers to review and oversee all aspects
of service delivery.
Military patients are treated in specialty based
wards by the combined team of military and civilian personnel
Arrangements for admission and administration are coordinated
by the military MPAC Unit with effective communication linking
the clinical staff on the ward areas to military based pastoral
support through dedicated Welfare Support Officers.
The majority of patients treated on the Friarage
Hospital site are elective patients from the local catchment area
and military Fast Track patients from a number of Regional Rehabilitation
Units (RRU's).
Contract arrangements for the treatment of military
personnel are formally reviewed on a quarterly basis with DMETA
where formal issues are identified, discussed and resolved. The
majority of issues are discussed and resolved informally outside
of the contract meetings by local military and civilian managers.
In response to the specific areas covered by
the Defence Select Committee enquiry, we make the following comments:
(1) Healthcare for Seivice Personnel,
both at home and overseas, and arrangements for those returning
fro overseas postings.
The Trust predominantly receives military personnel
for treatment from the local area and designated RRU's, through
the orthopaedic Fast Track service. The Trust would welcome an
increased role in medical care for Service Personnel returning
from deployed operations who reside within the Catterick Garrison
area.
(2) Medical support for operations,
including the treatment of injured personnel from immediate treatment
in the theatre of operations to after-care in the UK and the faculties
provided for them.
The Trust and senior military management are
committed to providing appropriate training for military clinical
staff, both on the Friarage Hospital site, Northallerton and increasingly
making use of complex clinical situations such as major trauma
on the James Cook University Hospital (Middlesbrough) site. South
Tees Trust has a whole offers excellent opportunities for flexible
learning and rounded training provision allowing the key operational
competencies to be developed and maintained for operational service
personnel.
(3) How medical services for the Armed
Forces are delivered and in particular how the Ministry of Defence
engages with the National Health Service to provide healthcare.
The MoD has already entered into some arrangements with NHS providers,
and extending these partnerships is one option for the future.
The South Tees Hospitals Trust is keen to maintain
an effective relationship with the MDHLJ supporting an increasing
local military population through the expanding Catterick Garrison.
Current arrangements work well and continue to improve as operational
issues are identified and resolved by both parties in partnership.
Collaborative working with local and national military agencies
is seen as key and the Trust is committed to joint working in
the current and future planning and delivery of services.
10 May 2007
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