Quality, Safety and Experience
The Trust is committed to delivering high quality and safe care in a safe environment to all our service users. Our staff take their responsibilities for your safety very seriously and the Trust is always seeking to improve your experience.
We are committed to making the safety of our patients and the quality of their care our highest priority. To do this, we promote and support patient safety in many ways. Click on the headings below to find out more about what initiatives have been put in place to ensure our patients receive the highest possible standards of quality and safe care and treatment.
Since 1 April 2016, the Trust has been working with the newly formed NHS Improvement. NHS Improvement is responsible for overseeing foundation trusts and NHS trusts, as well as independent providers that provide NHS-funded care. They support the Trust to provide patients with consistently safe, high quality, compassionate care within local health systems that are financially sustainable.
From 1 April 2016, NHS Improvement is the operational name for an organisation that brings together various organisations, include Monitor and national Reporting and Learning System, both of which were concerned with patient safety.
For more information on NHS Improvement visit the Improvement Hub Website.
- Privacy, dignity and comfort
We recognise that dignity in care is one of the most important issues for patients who come to WWL for care and treatment and we are committed to maintaining patient privacy and dignity.
When we are unwell, we want safe, effective, care and to know that healthcare staff are doing all they can to protect our privacy and dignity.
As a Trust we expect our staff to respect patients' rights to privacy and dignity. We continue to work hard to ensure that we have a culture which values privacy and dignity.
- Privacy refers to freedom from intrusion and relates to all information and practice that is personal or sensitive in nature to an individual
- Dignity is being worthy of respectWe want our patients to feel that they matter – that their values, beliefs and personal relationships will be respected. This applies to all our patients, regardless of their age, gender, ethnicity, social or cultural backgrounds, or their psychological or physical requirements.
- Safe staffing
All Trusts with inpatient beds are required to publish their staffing fill rates (actual versus planned) in hours on the NHS Choices website. The data on staffing fill rates for nurses, midwives and care staff will be presented on the NHS Choices website and patients and the public will be able to see how hospitals are performing on this indicator in an easy and accessible way. The data sits alongside a range of other safety indicators. More information about safety indicators is available by following the individual hospital links below to the NHS Choices website:
Royal Albert Edward Infirmary
Leigh Infirmary
Wrightington HospitalTrust Board Reporting
It is an expectation set out in the National Quality Board (NQB) guidance which was published in November 2013 (http://www.england.nhs.uk/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/nqb-how-to-guid.pdf) that Boards take full responsibility for the quality of care provided to patients, and, as a key determinant of quality, take full responsibility for nursing, midwifery and care staffing capacity and capability.Reports to the Trust Board must meet the requirements set out in the NQB guidance, with particular reference to page 12 regarding monthly publishing. The guidance states that the Board will be advised of those wards where staffing capacity and capability frequently falls short of what is planned, the reasons why, any impact on quality and the actions taken to address gaps in staffing.
Reports Published in this Section
The following reports will be made available via this page:Full Unify data collection for public viewing of all ward staffing fill rates for the Trust (Unify is the system for sharing and reporting NHS and social care performance information to the Department of Health)
The monthly Exception Report relating to planned versus actual staffing variances.Download the Safe Staffing Level Reports:
Staffing Level Reports 2024
Safe Staffing Level Report January 2024
Safe Staffing Level Report February 2024
Safe Staffing Level Report March 2024
Safe Staffing Level Report April 2024
Safe Staffing Level Report May 2024
Safe Staffing Level Report June 2024
Safe Staffing Level Report July 2024
Safe Staffing Level Report August 2024
Safe Staffing Level Report September 2024
Safe Staffing Level Report October 2024
Safe Staffing Level Report November 2024
Staffing Level Reports 2023
Safe Staffing Level Report January 2023
Safe Staffing Level Report February 2023
Safe Staffing Level Report March 2023
Safe Staffing Level Report April 2023
Safe Staffing Level Report June 2023
Safe Staffing Level Report August 2023
Safe Staffing Level Report September 2023
Safe Staffing Level Report October 2023
Safe Staffing Level Report November 2023
Safe Staffing Level Report December 2023
Staffing Level Reports 2022
Safe Staffing Level Report January 2022
Safe Staffing Level Report February 2022
Safe Staffing Level Report March 2022
Safe Staffing Level Report April 2022
Safe Staffing Level Report May 2022
Safe Staffing Level Report June 2022
Safe Staffing Level Report July 2022
Safe Staffing Level Report August 2022
Safe Staffing Level Report September 2022
Safe Staffing Level Report October 2022
Safe Staffing Level Report November 2022
Safe Staffing Level Report December 2022
Staffing Level Reports 2021Safe Staffing Level Report January 2021
Safe Staffing Level Report February 2021
Safe Staffing Level Report March 2021
Safe Staffing Level Report April 2021
Safe Staffing Level Report May 2021
Safe staffing Level Report June 2021
Safe Staffing Level Report July 2021
Safe Staffing Level Report August 2021
Safe Staffing Level Report September 2021
Safe Staffing Level Report October 2021
Safe Staffing Level Report November 2021
Safe Staffing Level Report December 2021Staffing Level Reports 2020
Safe Staffing Level Report January 2020
Safe Staffing Level Report February 2020
Safe Staffing Level Report March 2020
Safe Staffing Level Report April 2020
Safe Staffing Level Report May 2020
Safe Staffing Level Report June 2020
Safe Staffing Level Report July 2020
Safe Staffing Level Report August 2020
Safe Staffing Level Report September 2020
Safe Staffing Level Report October 2020
Safe Staffing Level Report November 2020
Safe Staffing Level Report December 2020 - Mortality review framework
In March 2017 the National Quality Board published National Guidance on Learning from Deaths, a framework for NHS Trusts and NHS Foundation Trusts on identifying, reporting, investigating and learning from deaths in care. All Trusts are required to have a Mortality Review Framework or Policy in place which can be publically accessed. The Trust has had a Mortality Review Framework in place since November 2015 which has been recently revised to reflect the new guidance.
This framework outlines the requirements for mortality case record review and investigation at Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh NHS Foundation Trust. This framework includes the following:How processes respond to the death of an individual with a learning disability, a neonatal or child death and a stillbirth or maternal death;
The Trust’s approach to undertaking case record reviews;
Categories and selection of deaths in scope for case record review.
To view a copy of the policy click here. - Coroner's Regulation 28 Reports
Coroner’s Regulation 28 Reports (Prevention of Future Death Reports – PFD)
In certain circumstances a person’s death is reported to HM Coroner to determine whether an Inquest must be held. An Inquest is an investigation into a person’s death to establish, who they were, when they died, where they died and how they came about their death. If any information is revealed as part of the Coroner’s investigation or during the course of the evidence heard at the Inquest, which gives rise to “a concern that circumstances creating a risk of other deaths will occur, or will continue to exist in the future;” and if the Coroner is of the opinion that action needs to be taken, under Paragraph 7 of Schedule 5 of the Coroner and Justice Act 2009, the Coroner has a duty to issue a report to a person, organisation, local authority or government department or agency.
The Coroner’s Regulation 28 Report will set out the concerns and request that action should be taken. The person, body or organisation in receipt of this report then has 56 days to provide the Coroner with their response, to include details of the actions taken and to reassure the Coroner that their concerns have been addressed to prevent future deaths. WWL, as a public organisation, has received Regulation 28 Reports. The Trust takes these reports very seriously and ensures that a response is provided to the Coroner within the required timeframe.
All Regulation 28 Reports and the responses are sent to the Chief Coroner. In most cases the Chief Coroner will publish the reports and responses on the judiciary.gov.uk website. Please find a link to the relevant section of the website here. - Quality Governance
What is Quality Governance?
Quality Governance provides a framework for organisations and individuals to ensure the delivery of safe, effective and high quality healthcare. Its purpose is to help organisations, like hospitals, and their staff, monitor and improve standards of care.
The Trust is regulated by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) and we work closely with them to ensure our services provide people with safe, effective, compassionate and high-quality care, underpinned by continuous quality improvement. The key lines of enquiry undertaken by the CQC and monitored by the Trust as part of its compliance reviews are:-
- Safe – patients protected from abuse and avoidable harm
- Effective – care and treatment achieves good outcomes and promotes good quality of life and is evidence based, where possible
- Caring – patients involved and treated with compassion, kindness, dignity and respect
- Responsive – services organised to meet patients’ needs
- Well-led – leadership, management and governance assure the delivery of high-quality patient-centred care, supports learning and innovation and promotes an open and fair culture
The CQC monitor, inspect and regulate services to make sure they meet fundamental standards of quality and safety and the CQC publish what they find, including performance ratings to help people choose care. Since 1 April 2015, the Fundamental Standards define the basic standards of safety and quality that should always be met, and introduce criminal penalties for failing to meet some of them. For the Trust's latest inspection reports see the Care Quality Commission (CQC) page.
Within the Trust, there are several corporate functions which report directly into the Governance and Assurance Team overseeing quality governance:- Patient Relations; Patient Safety; Health and Safety; Patient Clinical Audit and Effectiveness (including NICE); Policy Approval and Ratification; Quality Improvement; Legal Services.
Collectively these teams work together to ensure our patients receive safe, effective and caring treatment under the umbrella of a Quality Strategy.
Throughout 2012 and 2013 a series of reports were published following findings of reviews undertaken in response to serious lapses in care resulting in significant harm to patients and reputational damage to individual hospitals and NHS Trusts (Francis, Berwick and Keogh). The reports raised significant concerns relating to the voice of the patient and carers, organisational cultures, patient safety and care and compassion and highlighted the requirement for fundamental change in the oversight, scrutiny and accountability across providers and regulators of care.
In response to these reports, the Trust has undertaken annual reviews of the recommendations and has sought over time to implement changes to address gaps in assurance arising from the self- assessments undertaken. The reviews are scrutinised by both our Quality and Safety Committee and Trust Board.
For more information on the CQC go to www.cqc.org.uk
For more information on NICE go to www.nice.org.uk
For more information on the Health and Safety Executive go to www.hse.gov.uk
- WWL and the Armed Forces Covenant
Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh NHS Teaching Hospitals Foundation Trust (WWL) is delighted to become part of Veteran Aware Hospitals; as we strive to be an exemplar of the best care for veterans and the wider Armed Forces Community in the NHS.
Please let a member of staff know if you or your spouse/partner, has ever served in the UK armed forces so that we can best support your care needs.
Being flagged as a veteran in your NHS medical notes will help to ensure that you are able to access specific armed forces’ health services, such as those for mental health, physical injury, sight & hearing loss, limb amputation and mobility aids.
It also means that where you have an illness or medical condition that has been caused due to your time in service or occurred whilst you were in the military, you may be entitled to special consideration such as a shorter hospital waiting list and reasonable adjustment to help you access health services.
Improving care for veterans across the NHS
WWL is a member of the Veterans Covenant Hospital Alliance (VCHA). The VCHA is a network of over 106 NHS providers that have volunteered to share and drive the implementation of best practice in NHS to care for people who serve or have served in the UK Armed Forces and their families, in line with the Armed Forces Covenant.
General Lord Dannatt, former Chief of the General Staff, has taken up the role of Patron of the VCHA. Professor Tim Briggs, Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon at the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital and author of the Chavasse Report, which highlighted areas where society could do more for those injured during and as a result of active service, is Co-Chair of the VCHA.
What patients should expect at the WWL
We support the health commitments of the Armed Forces Covenant, which is a promise by the nation ensuring that those who serve or who have served in the UK Armed Forces, and their families, are not subject to any disadvantage due to their service (compared to local people).
We are committed to ensuring the Armed Forces Covenant is applied and that special consideration will be given where appropriate.
Our hospital works with a range of extra services that are available to the Armed Forces Community and we will make you aware of and refer you to any of these that could benefit you.How can you get a job in the NHS?
The NHS can benefit significantly from the skills and experience veterans and reservists bring from your military training and service.
WWL has received a Gold award certificate under the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme for confirming its continuing support for members of the Armed Forces. The trust also offer members of the Armed Forces Community a guaranteed interview scheme when the essential job criteria is met (this does not guarantee a job offer).
The scheme encourages employers to demonstrate support for the Armed Forces community and the Armed Forces Covenant and inspire others to do the same. As a Gold award holder, WWL promotes itself as Armed Forces friendly, supporting those who serve or have served the country. The Trust actively promotes the contribution of Reservists and offers them the flexibility to take time out of their civilian role for training and deployment.
Find out more about careers for veterans and reservists in the NHS at www.militarystepintohealth.nhs.uk - Staffing Levels
Having the correct staffing levels and skill mix is vital to ensuring we deliver quality patient care and patient safety. We are committed to a quality workforce to deliver the care we want for our patients. Every ward has an agreed skill mix / number of staff per shift that reflects the varying workload of the areas and will be agreed in conjunction with the Matron. All wards and departments have white boards which are maintained and updated daily. Staffing levels are displayed.
- Patient Safety
The Trust is committed to delivering high quality and safe care in a safe environment to all our service users. Our staff take their responsibilities for your safety very seriously and the Trust is always seeking to improve your experience.
We are committed to making the safety of our patients and the quality of their care our highest priority. To do this, we promote and support patient safety in many ways. Click on the headings below to find out more about what initiatives have been put in place to ensure our patients receive the highest possible standards of quality and safe care and treatment:
- Duty of Candor
This area provides guidance and information for both Inpatients and Outpatients as well as visitors and members of the general public.
We hope it will provide you with all the information you require if you are coming to hospital or are visiting somebody at the Trust.From within this section you can find out about a wide variety of patient services including our Patient Information Leaflets as well as learning how to feedback and comment on our services.
You can also cancel or rearrange your appointment, find out about our Patient Relations team and get maps and directions to all of our sites.
If there is anything you feel should be added to these pages then please send an email to Prenquiries@wwl.nhs.uk
The Duty of Candour
The Duty of Candour is a statutory (legal) duty to be open and honest with patients (or ‘service users’), or their families, when something goes wrong that appears to have caused or could lead to significant harm in the future. It applies to all health and social care organisations registered with the regulator, the Care Quality Commission (CQC) in England. This leaflet explains what to expect if such an incident occurs and what to do if you think duty of candour has not been complied with.