NHS Trust shake-up - now for the nitty gritty

Bexhill and Rother Primary Care NHS Trust formally took over the running of Bexhill Hospital on April 1.

Meanwhile East Sussex Hospitals NHS Trust has been created by the merger of Hastings and Rother and Eastbourne NHS Trusts to look after acute services

From his office at Bexhill Hospital, PCT chief executive Rick Stern is looking forward to a time of exciting developments which he believes will be marked by a greater degree of dialogue between the various divisions of the NHS, with social services and other statutory bodies and with Rother council.

The beginnings of this partnership working may already been seen. Of a total staff of 400, the PCT has about 30 administrative staff.

But not all are wholly employed by the PCT. Some, such as human resources officers, are shared with the county health care trust.

The PCT is looking forward to playing a leading role in developments such as intermediate care.

This will put the emphasise on avoiding admissions to acute hospitals where possible, with GPs and other health workers playing an increasing role in caring for patients in their own homes.

Other eagerly-planned developments include a local deep-vein thrombosis project. The aim will be for GPs to be able to get suspected sufferers seen the same day in hospital.

But first must come a major re-think of what acute services are offered where - the clinical services review.

Rick Stern says the key question is: "How do we really change clinical services to reflect how the NHS is going to run in 10 years time?"

The review could take a year to 18 months. He says it is important for the review to be a partnership between the public and the professionals.

"This is a major piece of work. We have agree that this PCT will provide a home for the people who will carry out this review."

The chief executive says the mood within the PCT is one of "energy and commitment" to the new structure.

He says: "It is important that people think 'this is our plan.' It is important that everyone feels that they can make a difference. Whether people feel the same about the merger of the acute hospital trusts I don't know.

"But resources are an important factor."

He says Chancellor Gordon Brown's Budget gives an excellent basis for planning an improved NHS.

A commitment to a 7.4 per cent a year increase in funding over the next five years gives a clear lead.

While factors such as possible drug price increases or junior doctors' pay may blunt this slightly, it is still a "phenomenal" increase in investment in the NHS.

"The average over the last 20-25 years in the NHS has been 3.1 per cent so this government is getting pretty serious about the NHS and also the series of reforms that have to go alongside it."

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CLOSER working with the local authority is a key aim of Bexhill and Rother NHS Trust.

Trust chief executive Rick Stern says of relations with Rother council: "I think we are beginning to make progress between the two of us to find better ways of working together.

"It is such an opportunity to have a co-terminus health and local government.

"We need shared views and shared initiatives to take this forward.

"Rother cabinet has made two important decision. One involves Battle Health Centre and there should be a statement about that at the end of the week.

"They also agreed to give some land in Egerton Park, Bexhill to the PCT for the Sure Start scheme. There is a significant amount of capital available from the Government to develop a resource on the old swimming pool site.

"There is already a key alliance between Sure Start and parents' groups and having the support of Rother is a great help.

"Over the next few months there will be a lot happening around intermediate care.

"I sincerely hope that there will be new partnerships with social services and Rother council and possibly Rother Homes. The Community Rehabilitation team is up and running and playing an important part. The new medical assessment unit will be crucial as well."