Luton& Dunstable Hospital, The, Luton

General hospital information

  • Number of beds: 615
  • % of single rooms: 21%
  • Total parking spaces: 347
  • Average parking fee per hour: £2.50

Address & description

Luton& Dunstable Hospital, The,
Dunstable Road, Luton, England, LU4 0DZ
Tel: Work 0845 1270127
Luton& Dunstable Hospital, The

As the first NHS Foundation Trust in Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire and Buckinghamshire, our top priority is patient safety and to look after our patients in a caring, safe environment. 2004 saw the L&D became the first hospital in England to be selected by the Health Foundation for our work on improving patient safety - an area in which we continue to lead.

In 2009 we were awarded £150,000 for being "Best in Class" in tackling infection, having halved our MRSA and C.diff infections during the previous year. As from April 2009 a new MRSA screening programme has been introduced to ensure that this trend continues. In addition, we are committed to meeting the NHS 18 week patient care pathway. 2009 has also seen the L&D voted as the "8th Best NHS Employer in the UK" (source:Health Service JournalandNurses Week), attracting top staff and clinicians. During the 70th anniversary year of the hospital's foundation (founded in 1939) various celebrations are taking place. In October 2009, the Trust were awarded 'Excellent' for Quality of Services and 'Excellent' for Use of Resources by the Care Quality Commission. This result was the best in the East of England and demonstrates the Trust's commitment to quality and patient safety.

We are situated at Junction 11 of the M1 and have 400 parking spaces, including 50 for Blue Badge holders. The catchment population is approxinately 350,000 people. The L&D has developed some specialist services including cancer, obesity, neurophysiology and oral maxillofacial (jaw) surgery and has the responsibility for treating the most premature babies across the whole of Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire. We also have one of the country’s largest breast screening centres and provide a limb fitting service for Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire.

The Trust consistently performs to high standards and, for the last seven years, has remained in financial balance. In August 2006 we became a NHS Foundation Trust. The Trust employs over 3,000 staff and has an annual spend (in 2008/09) of £189 million. Luton and Bedfordshire Primary Care Trusts are our two main commissioners.

* this profile text was provided by Luton and Dunstable Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

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Services at Luton& Dunstable Hospital, The

General Services Information

Hospital Questions

  • How many single rooms are available to NHS patients at this hospital: 127
  • Of these how many have an ensuite toilet: 78
  • Of these how many have an ensuite toilet and shower or bath: 60
  • Does this hospital operate an accident and emergency unit: Yes
  • How many specialist palliative care beds are available at this hospital: 0
  • Does this hospital have a named private unit/service: Yes
  • What is the name of the private unit/service: Cobham Clinic
  • How many beds are available within the private unit/service: 18 comments13 adults, 3 maternity and 2 paeds
  • How many single rooms are available within the private unit/service: 18
  • Of these, how many have an ensuite toilet: 16
  • Of these, how many have an ensuite toilet and shower or bath: 15
  • Direct telephone number for the private unit: (01582) 497433

Trust Questions

  • Does the Trust treat private patients: Yes

Patient Safety

Trust Questions

  • Is there a system for recording operations that resulted in a foreign body being left post surgery: Yes
  • What is the reporting system for a foreign body being left post surgery: Incident Reporting/SI Escalation
  • Is there a system for recording operations that were cancelled due to missing notes: Yes
  • What is the reporting system for operations that were cancelled due to missing notes: Incident Reporting/ SI Escalation
  • Is there a system for recording operations that resulted in wrong site surgery taking place: Yes
  • What is the reporting system for operations that resulted in wrong site surgery taking place: Incident Reporting/ SI Escalation
  • During the period 01 April 2010 - 31 March 2011, how many operations resulted in a foreign body being left post surgery: 0
  • During the period 01 April 2010 - 31 March 2011, how many operations were cancelled due to missing notes: 0
  • During the period 01 April 2010 - 31 March 2011, how many operations resulted in wrong site surgery taking place: 0
  • How many incident investigations using a full Root Cause Analysis did were carried out in 2010/11: 200 commentsAll Serious Incidents/Pressure Ulcers / SOVA's/Falls and Maternity SI and Medium incidents have appropriate RCA
  • What percentage of patient safety incidents resulting in severe harm or death had a full RCA initiated/completed: 100%
  • What percentage of acute inpatients have a track and trigger warning system in place for the duration of the admission: 100%
  • What percentage of patients are risk assessed for venous thromboembolism on admission: 91-99%
  • Compliant with all relevant NPSA safety alerts issues in 2010/11 (you can find a full list of alerts issued at http://www.nrls.npsa.nhs.uk/resources/?p=3). : No
  • Alerts where not expected to be compliant by 1st December 2011 and when expected to be compliant. : NHS Number - due to technical aspects of some clinical systems Medicines Reconcilliation - due to final completion of one action point
  • Does the Trust have a policy for providing educational programmes on using and interpreting clinical indicators: Yes
  • Does the Trust have a designated member of staff who supports teams in locating and analysing safety and quality data? (support): Yes
  • Is safety and quality data available on a central platform and actively disseminated to users: Yes

Infection Control

Trust Questions

  • Does the Trust employ an antibiotic pharmacist: Yes
  • Does the Trust operate a pre-admission assessment clinic or equivalent system where patients are screened and results returned in advance of the day of admission: Yes
  • Elective patient groups screened at the pre-op assessment clinic: All elective surgical and medical
  • Are all oncology patients screened at the pre-op assessment clinic: YES
  • Are all chemotherapy patients screened at the pre-op assessment clinic: YES
  • Are all elective neurosurgery patients screened at the pre-op assessment clinic: Not Applicable
  • Are all patients with past history of MRSA screened at the pre-op assessment clinic: Yes
  • What method of MRSA screening is used when screening at admission: Culture based in 24-48hrs commentsPlus rapid PCR trial currently
  • On admission, does topical suppression take place immediately: No
  • Does the Trust have at least one accident and emergency unit: Yes
  • Are all patients admitted through A&E screened: Yes
  • Is screening done according to individual risk assessment: Yes
  • Does the Trust have a dedicated isolation ward: Yes
  • How many beds does it contain: 18
  • Does the Trust have an isolation policy: Yes
  • Where medically appropriate, are patients with C Diff isolated in single rooms as a matter of priority: Yes
  • Does the Trust have a policy to guide the use of metronidazole and vancomycin for C.difficile infected patients: Yes
  • Does the Trust routinely isolate all patients with diarrhoea: Yes

Stroke Medicine

Hospital Questions

  • Does the hsopital have a specialist stroke unit: Yes
  • What type of stroke unit does the hospital have: combined acute and rehabilitation stroke unit
  • Number of beds in the unit: 28

Trust Questions

  • Does the Trust have a specialist stroke unit or units: Yes
  • Is the Trust part of a stroke care network: Yes
  • Details: Bedfordshire & Hertfordshire Heart and Stroke Network
  • How many emergency admissions with a primary diagnosis of stroke (ICD10 codes I60 - I64) did the Trust receive in the financial year (period 01 April 2010 - 31 March 2011): 384 commentsexcludes ICD10 160 and 162
  • Of these, what was the number of patients given a Computerised Tomography (CT) scan within 24 hrs of admission: 312
  • Is thrombolysis for stroke patients provided 24 hours per day and 7 days a week : Yes
  • Are there any formal arrangements with neighbouring hospitals for the emergency transfer of stroke patients who would benefit from thrombolytic treatment: No

Trauma & Orthopaedics

Trust Questions

  • Does the Trust offer a trauma service: Yes
  • Does the Trust have a dedicated trauma list available 24 hours a day for the duration of the week, (Sunday to Sunday): Yes
  • Does the Trust offer an orthopaedics service: Yes
  • Do all the Trust's orthopaedic ward/team have a linked geriatric team with whom they have regular meetings at least once a week: No
  • Does the Trust run a pre-operative patient education session/class for patients to attend prior to Total Knee Replacement (TKR) and Total Hip Replacement (THR)? : No commentsUsed to until contraints of the location ceased the programme but will be re-initiated through the Enhanced Recovery Programme to be completed by the end of 2011
  • Does the Trust have a standardised anaesthetic protocol for Total Knee Replacement (TKR) and Total Hip Replacement (THR) patients: No commentsThis is to be included in the Enhanced Recovery Programme to be completed by the end of 2011
  • Not able to put a figure on the percentage of the Trusts total knee replacement (TKR) and total hip replacement (THR) patients walk within 24 hours of surgery: Yes
  • Does the Trust have a specialist orthopaedic physiotherapy service which is available 7 days a week: No commentsCurrently 6 days and will be 7 days following the Enhanced Recovery Programme
  • How many patients' discharge's delayed due to lack of physiotherapy services at weekends - estimated figure: 8 commentspercent of delays
  • Are patients for total knee replacement (TKR) and total hip replacement (THR) admitted prior to the day of surgery: No
  • Are patient records routinely recorded using a specific multi-disciplinary team THR/TKR pathway document: Yes
  • Is this data used to monitor compliance with the agreed pathway: Yes
  • Is criteria-based discharge used: Yes
  • Are patients routinely phoned in the first 48 hours after discharge to check on their progress: Yes commentsThrough a hospital at home service

Paediatrics

Hospital Questions

  • Does the hospital have a paediatrics service: Yes

Trust Questions

  • Is the Trust's elective paediatric surgery carried out only by designated surgeons with at least six months training in a specialist unit: Yes
  • Do the Trust's anaesthetists with responsibility for paediatric anaesthesia participate in at least one paediatric list per week: Yes
  • Is a paediatrician on site (SpR or higher) 24 hours per day, 7 days per week: Yes commentsSeparate Paediatric and Neonatal 24 hr Rotas
  • Are at least two registered children's nurses on duty 24hours per day in each children's ward: Yes
  • Is there a designated facility on site for parents or guardians to stay overnight: Yes commentsBy the bedside and parents lounge on paediatric unit

Palliative Care

Trust Questions

  • Does the Trust provide a palliative care service: Yes
  • How is specialist palliative care delivered at the hospital: Adult inpatient specialist palliative care unit
  • Does the hospital's specialist palliative team includes: A consultant in palliative medicine,A palliative care nurse,Other (please specify) commentsclinicians have access to a wider team such as Welfare Benefits Officers, and Psychology Services.
  • Is the Trust's specialist palliative care team available 24 hrs a day seven days a week: No commentsThe Hospital CNS team cover Monday to Friday 8.30am to 5.30pm. There is a 24 hr advice line available to patients and healthcare professionals based at the local Hospice. For weekend 9-5 there is a palliative care nurse who is based at the Hospice, but visits patients in hospital or at home as needed.
  • Are facilities provided to support relatives and carers who wish to stay with a patient in hospital: Yes
  • Does the Trust routinely survey and evaluate the views of patients and bereaved relatives and carers regarding the delivery of care on the end of life programme: No commentsalthough there are plans to do this.

Maternity Care

Maternity Sites

  • Luton & Dunstable Hospital - Midwife Led
  • How many women gave birth in the unit during the year? (not including home births): 916
  • How many babies were born in the unit during the year? (not including home births): 916
  • How many women were booked for a home birth: 106
  • How many women had a home birth? (not including births at home by accident): 102
  • Number of antenatal rooms: 4
  • Total antenatal beds: 4
  • Number of assessment area rooms (for monitoring and / or induction): 0
  • Total assessment area beds: 0
  • Number of delivery rooms: 4
  • Total delivery beds: 4
  • Number of postnatal rooms: 4
  • Total postnatal beds: 4
  • Number of rooms in obstetric high dependency unit: 0
  • Total obstetric high dependency beds: 0 commentsAccess to Trust HDU and ITU beds
  • Number of single rooms used for both delivery and postnatal care (labour, delivery, recovery and postnatal, or LDRP, rooms): 4 commentsMLBU for whole journey of care
  • Amenity rooms; Are women able to book a single room in advance of their birth: Yes
  • If women can pay for a single room what is the average cost per night (GBP): 135 commentsper night
  • Does the maternity unit have a neonatal intensive care unit: Yes
  • Does the maternity unit have a neonatal high dependency unit: Yes
  • Does the maternity unit have a special care baby unit: Yes
  • Security measures - ankle bands for the baby: Yes
  • Security measures - cot alarms: Yes
  • Security measures - CCTV: Yes
  • Security measures - restricted access: Yes
  • Pain relief available - bath or shower: Provided by unit
  • Pain relief available - birthing pool: Provided by unit
  • Pain relief available - birth ball: Provided by unit
  • Pain relief available - Massage: Provided by women
  • Pain relief available - Aromatherapy: Provided by women
  • Pain relief available - TENS: Provided by women
  • Pain relief available - Epidural: Provided by unit
  • Pain relief available - Mobile epidural: Provided by unit
  • Pain relief available - Entonox (gas and air): Provided by unit
  • Pain relief available - Intramuscular injection: Provided by unit
  • Does the unit have midwives available to provide one-to-one care available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week: On site
  • Does the unit have midwives available for home births available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week: On site
  • Does the unit have midwives trained and experienced in water birth available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week: On site
  • Does the unit have a paediatrician available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week: On site
  • Does the unit have an obstetrician available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week: On site
  • Does the unit have an anaesthetist available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week: On site
  • Does the unit have a dedicated obstetric anaesthetist available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week: On site
  • Luton & Dunstable Hospital - Consultant Led
  • How many women gave birth in the unit during the year? (not including home births): 4109
  • How many babies were born in the unit during the year? (not including home births): 4189
  • How many women were booked for a home birth: 0
  • How many women had a home birth? (not including births at home by accident): 0
  • Number of antenatal rooms: 21 commentssingle and 4 or 5 bedded bays
  • Total antenatal beds: 51 commentsWards have antenatal and postnatal beds multi purpose beds not separated
  • Number of assessment area rooms (for monitoring and / or induction): 1 commentsthis is our day assessement unit inductions are admitted to the delivery suite annex
  • Total assessment area beds: 3
  • Number of delivery rooms: 11 commentsincluding MLBU + delivery suite annex area is extra
  • Total delivery beds: 22 commentsD suite + MLBU + Ds annex
  • Number of postnatal rooms: 21
  • Total postnatal beds: 51 commentsWards have antenatal and postnatal beds multi purpose beds not separated
  • Number of rooms in obstetric high dependency unit: 0
  • Total obstetric high dependency beds: 0 commentsAccess to Trust HDU and ITU beds
  • Number of single rooms used for both delivery and postnatal care (labour, delivery, recovery and postnatal, or LDRP, rooms): 0
  • Amenity rooms; Are women able to book a single room in advance of their birth: Yes
  • If women can pay for a single room what is the average cost per night (GBP): 135 commentsper night
  • Does the maternity unit have a neonatal intensive care unit: Yes
  • Does the maternity unit have a neonatal high dependency unit: Yes
  • Does the maternity unit have a special care baby unit: Yes
  • Security measures - ankle bands for the baby: Yes
  • Security measures - cot alarms: Yes
  • Security measures - CCTV: Yes
  • Security measures - restricted access: Yes
  • Pain relief available - bath or shower: Provided by unit
  • Pain relief available - birthing pool: Provided by unit
  • Pain relief available - birth ball: Provided by unit
  • Pain relief available - Massage: Provided by women
  • Pain relief available - Aromatherapy: Provided by women
  • Pain relief available - TENS: Provided by women
  • Pain relief available - Epidural: Provided by unit
  • Pain relief available - Mobile epidural: Provided by unit
  • Pain relief available - Entonox (gas and air): Provided by unit
  • Pain relief available - Intramuscular injection: Provided by unit
  • Total number of WTE midwives at the unit in your funded establishment, including vacant posts: 157.5 comments30/4/11
  • Total number of WTE midwives at the unit as staff in post, including agency and bank staff: 144.51 comments30/4/11
  • Does the unit have midwives available to provide one-to-one care available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week: On site
  • Does the unit have midwives available for home births available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week: On call
  • Does the unit have midwives trained and experienced in water birth available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week: On site
  • Does the unit have a paediatrician available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week: On site
  • Does the unit have an obstetrician available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week: On site
  • Does the unit have an anaesthetist available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week: On site
  • Does the unit have a dedicated obstetric anaesthetist available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week: On site

Trust Questions

  • Do all women have a choice about where they receive their antenatal appointments (i.e. at hospital or local health centre): Yes
  • Are NHS antenatal classes available (e.g. Parentcraft): Yes
  • Available during the daytime (until 5pm): Yes
  • Available in the evenings (after 5pm): Yes
  • Available at weekends (Saturday and/or Sunday): No
  • Available for women only groups: No
  • Available for other groups: Yes
  • Also available for: teenagers, Asian women
  • Are all women routinely offered ultrasound scans: Yes
  • Scan 1 available between: 12-15
  • Scan 2 available between: 20-25

Trust Statistics

Trust Questions

Consultants at Luton& Dunstable Hospital, The

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