Some of the ‘huge’ challenges currently facing the NHS at large, including County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust, and the determined efforts to find answers to them were outlined to members of Newton Aycliffe Rotary Club last week by Trust Chairman Professor Paul Keane OBE who lives in Woodham.

In a no-punches-pulled presentation, he detailed some of the initiatives taken to offset the effects of cuts which have required an efficiency of £37 million from the Trust’s £500 million annual budget and described efforts to lessen the impact of fewer resources on patients and services at the 83 sites for which the Trust is responsible. He praised the dedication, compassion and commitment of the Trust’s 8000 staff. Finance, said Prof. Keane, was a ‘huge, huge problem’ when there was increasing demand to meet the needs of the elderly, support those with dementia, provide services to keep children active and mobile, tackle child obesity and ease pressure on Accident and Emergency departments at a time when there was a shortage of 250 qualified nurses and medical staff.

Planning for the future, said Prof. Keane, had already seen the provision of a simulation centre to help train doctors and the introduction of new technology on wards to help nursing staff reduce the amount of time spent on administration.  Plans were also in hand to create a centre of excellence for orthopaedic surgery at Bishop Auckland, new theatres at Darlington, a new Accident and Emergency department at Durham and the implementation of mobile technology for community staff. “There has to be change. We cannot continue as we are”, said Prof Keane. “Resources are limited and we need to work together with all our partners in health and social care so that collectively we can continue to enhance our services for the public.”

 

IN PHOTO: Paul Keane (left) with Rotary Club President Nora Scott and Rtn Syd Howarth