Weston General Hospital, Weston-super-Mare

This hospital is part of Weston Area Health NHS Trust

General hospital information

  • Number of beds: 325
  • % of single rooms: 16%
  • Total parking spaces: 316
  • Average parking fee per hour: £1.50

Address & description

Weston General Hospital,
Grange Road, Uphill, Weston-super-Mare, England, BS23 4TQ
Tel: Work 01934 636363
Weston General Hospital

This is a 397 bed hospital with around 2,000 staff. The Hospital has the resources to provide most of the acute care needed by our community, including intensive and coronary care services.

A 24 hour Accident and Emergency service is operated throughout the year. There are over 47,000 attendances each year.

An integrated service in general medicine and care of the elderly has matured in the last three years within Weston Area Health Trust. The team of consultants is enthusiastic and forward thinking.

In addition to an acute in-patient (across 11 wards) and out-patient medical service, specialist diabetic and non-invasive cardiology services are provided.

An 18 bed Midwifery led unit provides low risk obstetric care. Three consultants oversee the service and this unit works in partnership with St Michael's Hospital, Bristol, for higher risk cases.

The Trust provides a Paediatric Assessment Unit, in conjunction with local PCTs. In addition to excellent facilities at the Seashore Centre, a variety of specialist clinics are provided for children, especially for those with sensory defects. A second Community Paediatrician post has been created to support a North Somerset wide service development.

As part of the Avon wide Cancer Network, the Trust provides a range of cancer services. Those services already accredited include, Breast, Colorectal, Lung, Gynaecology, Palliative Care, Urology and Dermatology.

Our 10 station daycase chemotherapy unit provides an increasingly wide range of services including outreach, which enables more complex services to be provided closer to our inpatients homes.

During the last 12 months, the Trust has continued to significantly improve services and the patient experience. recent achievements and initiatives include:

  • HCC 'good' rating for the healthcare standards.
  • Reduced lengths of stay.
  • Significant reductions in the number of MRSA and C-Diff infections.
  • Doubling in the size of our endoscopy suite enabling waiting times to be reduced and providing a calming environment for patients undergoing these procedures.
  • Trust Board commitments and sign up to the National Patient Safety Initiative.

* this profile text was provided by Weston Area Health NHS Trust

Select a procedure

Patient Safety at Weston General Hospital

Does the Trust have a publicly named person at Board level responsible for patient safety: Yes
What position do they hold with the organisation: Chief Executive
Does the Trust Board have a monthly standing item on patient safety: No commentsplanned for Sept 09 onwards
Does the Trust Board have definitions for healthcare associated infections data: Yes
Does the Trust Board have definitions for implementation of safety alerts and other safety critical information received HCAI data: Yes
Does the Trust Board have definitions for incident investigations carried out and changes resulting from these: Yes
Does the Trust Board have definitions for never events: Yes
Does the Trust Board have definitions for numbers and type of patient safety incidents: Yes
Does the Trust Board have definitions for serious untoward incidents: Yes
Does the Trust Board routinely receive reporting at Board meetings on the implementation of safety alerts and other safety critical information received HCAI data: as appropriate
Does the Trust Board routinely receive reporting at Board meetings on incident investigations carried out and changes resulting from these: as appropriate
Does the Trust Board routinely receive reporting at Board meetings on never events: as appropriate
Does the Trust Board routinely receive reporting at Board meetings on numbers and type of patient safety incidents: as appropriate commentsMonthly Board Report
Does the Trust Board routinely receive reporting at Board meetings on other safety items: as appropriate
Does the Trust Board routinely receive reporting at Board meetings on serious untoward incidents: as appropriate
If yes what are they: 0
Do the Trust have a policy for being open with patients and their families when things go wrong: Yes
IF yes, name of policy and date approved by the Board: incident reporting policy
What elements in the organisation support being open with patients and their families when things go wrong - ACCESS TO COUNSELLING: Yes
What elements in the organisation support being open with patients and their families when things go wrong - ACCESS TO DEBRIEFING: Yes
What elements in the organisation support being open with patients and their families when things go wrong - ACCESS TO TRAINING: Yes
What elements in the organisation support being open with patients and their families when things go wrong - BOARD UNDERSTANDING/SUPPORT: Yes
What elements in the organisation support being open with patients and their families when things go wrong - HUMAN RESOURCES UNDERSTANDING/SUPPORT: Yes
What elements in the organisation support being open with patients and their families when things go wrong - OTHER: No
What elements in the organisation support being open with patients and their families when things go wrong - SENIOR CLINICIAN UNDERSTANDING/SUPPORT: Yes
What percent of staff have been trained in using a being open policy: >60%
When an error occurs, does the Trust have clear criteria for deciding whether disciplinary action should be taken against an individual staff member: Yes
Does the Trust have a strategy for assuring the quality, completeness and follow-up of incident investigations: Yes commentsComplaints, Litigation and Incidents multi-disciplinary committee monitors
IF Yes, name of strategy and date approved by the Board (if approved): Policy for the management of incidents
Who is the person within the Trust responsible for ensuring NPSA alerts are implemented: Other
Other (please specify): Director of Strategic Development
How many incident investigations using a full Root Cause Analysis did the Trust carry out in 2008/9: 42
What percent of patient safety incidents resulting in severe harm or death had a full RCA initiated/completed?: 100%
What mechanisms does the Trust use to assess their level of compliance for these- ASKING STAFF: Yes
What mechanisms does the Trust use to assess their level of compliance for these- AUDIT OF IMPLEMENTATION: Yes
What mechanisms does the Trust use to assess their level of compliance for these- MONITORING OF INCIDENT DATA: Yes
What mechanisms does the Trust use to assess their level of compliance for these- OTHER (PLEASE SPECIFY): No
What mechanisms does the Trust use to assess their level of compliance for these- PATIENT FEEDBACK: Yes
What mechanisms does the Trust use to assess their level of compliance for these- PHARMACY DATA: Yes
What mechanisms does the Trust use to assess their level of compliance for these- PROCESS AND OUTCOME MEASURES DESIGNED SPECIALLY: Yes commentsReview at Complaints & Litigation Incident Committee
What mechanisms does the Trust use to assess their level of compliance for these- SAFETY WALKAROUNDS: Yes
What mechanisms does the Trust use to assess their level of compliance for these- TRACKING RELEVANT INVESTIGATIONS CARRIED OUT: Yes
Has the Trust identified a lead clinician to provide training of all staff involved in chest drain insertion: Yes
Has the Trust audited its procedures around chest drain insertion: Yes
What was the date of the last audit and main findings : July 2009
Has the Trust reviewed its local guidelines around sampling from arterial lines: Yes
Has the Trust audited its procedures around arterial infusion lines: Yes
What was the date of the last audit and main findings : July 2009
If the Trust is not yet fully compliant with any of the eight alerts listed by Dr Foster, what is believed to be the reason: NOT APPLICABLE TO THIS ORGANISATION: Yes
If the Trust is not yet fully compliant with any of the eight alerts listed by Dr Foster, what is believed to be the reason: OTHER (PLEASE SPECIFY): Yes
If the Trust is not yet fully compliant with any of the eight alerts listed by Dr Foster, why do you think the Trust is not yet fully compliant MULTI STILL TO CARRY OUT AUDIT: Yes
If the Trust is not yet fully compliant with any of the eight alerts listed by Dr Foster, what is believed to be the reason: STILL TO GET BOARD AGREEMENT: Yes
If the Trust is not yet fully compliant with any of the eight alerts listed by Dr Foster, what is believed to be the reason: STILL TO GET CLINICIAN AGREEMENT: Yes
Other: 0
If the Trust is not yet fully compliant with any of the eight NPSA alerts, when does it expect to be compliant with these: In the next 12 months
Does the Trust currently meet regularly with commissioners to discuss patient safety issues?: Yes commentsMonthly quality meeting at which patient safety is standing agenda item
Does the Trust regularly discuss HCAI data with commissioners: Yes
Does the Trust regularly discuss the implementation of safety alerts and other safety critical information with commissioners: Yes
Does the Trust regularly discuss incident investigations carried out and changes resulting from these with commissioners: Yes
Does the Trust regularly discuss never events with commissioners: Yes
Does the Trust regularly discuss the numbers and types of patient safety incidents with commissioners: Yes
Does the Trust regularly discuss other areas of safety with commissioners: No
Does the Trust regulalry discuss serious untoward incidents with commissioners: Yes
Do commissioners work with the Trust to improve safety in the organisation: Yes commentsThrough Monthly quality meeting at which patient safety is standing agenda item
Do commissioners work with the Trust on providing assurance: Yes
Do commissioners work with the Trust on setting priorities: Yes
Do commissioners provide any other work with the Trust: No
Do commissioners work with the Trust on performance management: Yes
Do commissioners with with the Trust on sharing learning from external bodies and research: Yes
Do ommissioners work with the Trust on sharing learning from other events: Yes
Do commissioners work with the Trust to share learning from other organisations: Yes
Do commissioners work with the Trust on support with handling major incidents: No
What percent of acute inpatients have a track and trigger warning system in place for the duration of the admission: 100% commentsMEWS
Does the Trust audit all cardiac arrests that occur outside the Intensive Care Unit: No commentsWork in place to redesign audit processes to improve compliance
What percent of patients are risk assessed for venous thromboembolism on admission: 100% commentsCurrently only orthopaedic and surgical wards - being implemented
Does the Trust have a system for recording operations that resulted in a foreign body being left post surgery : Yes
Does the Trust have a system for recording operations that resulted in wrong site surgery taking place: Yes
Does the Trust have a system for recording operations that were cancelled due to missing notes: Yes
What is the Trust's reporting system for operations that resulted in a foreign body being left in post surgery: Incident Report Form
What is the Trust's reporting system for operations that resulted in wrong site surgery taking place: Incident Report Form
What is the Trust's reporting system for operations that were cancelled due to missing notes: Incident Report Form
During the period 01 April 2008 - 31 March 20009, how many operations resulted in a foreign body being left post surgery : 0
During the period 01 April 2008 - 31 March 20009, how many operations resulted in wrong site surgery taking place: 0
During the period 01 April 2008 - 31 March 20009, how many operations were cancelled due to missing notes: 0
What percentage of eligible AMI patients received ACEI or ARB for LVSD: 277
What percentage of eligible AMI patients received adult smoking cessation advice/counselling: 100
What percentage of eligible AMI patients received aspirin at arrival: 45.91
What percentage of eligible AMI patients received aspirin prescribed at discharge: 284
What percetange of eligible AMI patients received beta blocker at discharge: 273
What percentage of eligible pneumonia patients received adult smoking cessation advice/counselling: 82.18
What percentage of eligible pneumonia patients had blood culture performed within 24 hours prior to or 24 hours after hospital arrival: 73.00
What percentage of eligible pneumonia patients received an influenza vaccination: 10 commentsLong Stay Elderly Patients
What percentage of eligible pneumonia patients received an initial antibiotic within 6 hours of hospital arrival: 100
What percentage of eligible pneumonia patients received the pneumococcal vaccination: 100.00

Services at Weston General Hospital

Cancer Services

Trust Questions

  • Does the trust provide a service for colorectal cancer: Yes explanatory textYou can see if this NHS Trust provides a service for colorectal cancer (cancer of the large intestine), which is the third commonest cancer in the UK.
  • Does the colorectal cancer MDT treat 60 or more new cases each financial year: Yes
  • Does each named surgical member of the colorectal cancer MDT perform 20 or more operations with curative intent each financial year: Yes explanatory textIt is recommended that a surgeon in a colorectal MDT should carry out a minimum of 20 colorectal resections, where the intention is to remove all the cancer that is present, in any given calendar year. There is some evidence that the more operations a surgeon does, the better the outcomes are for patients.
  • How many patients were referred to the trust with early prostate cancer (not locally advanced or metastatic) in the financial year: 57
  • Of those patients were referred to the trust with early prostate cancer referred to the trust with early prostate cancer how many received brachytherapy: 0 commentsNo designated palliative care beds
  • Of those patients were referred to the trust with early prostate cancer referred to the trust with early prostate cancer how many received hormonal therapy: 1
  • Of those patients were referred to the trust with early prostate cancer referred to the trust with early prostate cancer how many received readical prostatectomy: 8 commentsWeston diagnosed patients - surgery at North Bristol Trust
  • Of those patients were referred to the trust with early prostate cancer referred to the trust with early prostate cancer how many received radiotherapy: 29 commentsWeston diagnosed patients - radiotherapy at Bristol Haematology & oncology Centre (BHOC)
  • Of those patients were referred to the trust with early prostate cancer referred to the trust with early prostate cancer how many received surveillance: 19
  • How many palliative beds does the trust have: 0 commentsPatients referred from Medical & Surgical Consultants , beds are acquired

Cardiac Services

Trust Questions

  • Do all the Trust’s patients have access to specialist heart failure nurses: Yes explanatory textSpecialist heart failure nurses can assess patients with heart failure, provide patients with information on managing their condition, provide patients with emotional support, and provide some counselling services. They can monitor treatment and act as a point of contact for the patient and their family.
  • Does the Trust perform primary angioplasty: No

Critical Care

Hospital Questions

  • What Level of critical care is provided at the hospital: Level 3 explanatory textYou will be able to find out what level of critical care is available at the hospital you searched for. Level 0: Care is available for patients whose needs can be met through normal ward care in hospital, Level 1: Care is available for patients at risk of their condition deteriorating, or those recently relocated from higher levels of care, whose needs can be met on an acute ward with some support from the critical care team, Level 2: Care is available for patients requiring more detailed observation or intervention, including support for a single failing organ system such as the lungs, post-operative care, as well as care for those patients 'stepping down' from higher levels of care, Level 3: Care is available for patients requiring advanced respiratory support or monitoring and patients requiring support for two or more organ systems. This level includes all complex patients requiring support for multi-organ failure.
  • Where a hospital offers Level 3 services is a consultant-led team allocated to occupied Level 3 beds: Yes
  • Where such a team exists, does the consultant leading the team have a GMC registered specialty or sub-specialty in: respiratory/ intensive care medicine: No
  • Where a hospital offers Level 3 services, how many sessions a week is a consultant dedicated to cover of Level 3 beds: 10
  • Is the medical registrar required to undertake a nightly ward round for all occupied Level 3 beds: N/A
  • Do those hospitals that do provide Level 3 have an anaesthetist / intensivist on site and available 24 hours per day: Yes

Diagnostics

Hospital Questions

  • How many fixed on-site Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scanners are located on site at the hospital?: 0 explanatory textYou can find out how many MRI scanners the hospital you searched for has available to diagnose conditions, such as cancer or brain injury. commentsOnly a visiting scanner 3 days a week
  • Does the hospital have a MRI scanner available 24 hours a day, including at weekends, with radiographers and radiologists available?: No explanatory textPatients admitted as emergency cases will benefit from having an MRI scanner and staff available 24 hours a day to operate the scanner and interpret the scans. Rapid access to MRI scans allows doctors to quickly assess conditions such as a stroke or internal injuries after a car crash.
  • How many fixed on-site Computerised Tomography (CT) scanners are located on site at the hospital?: 1 explanatory textYou can find out how many CT scanners the hospital you searched for has on site available to assess the condition of internal organs such as the brain, heart or lungs.
  • Does the hospital have a CT scanner available 24 hours a day, including at weekends, with radiographers and radiologists available?: Yes explanatory textPatients admitted as emergency cases will benefit from having a CT scanner and staff available 24 hours a day to operate the scanner and interpret the scans. CT scans allow doctors to assess levels of damage or disease to internal organs. commentsWorking hours 9 to 5 and then on call

Trust Questions

  • Do any of the trust's sites have MRI scanners?: Yes commentsonly a visiting scanner 3 days a week
  • For the financial year 2008/2009 what was the trust's average waiting time between a routine request for an MRI scan being received and the scan being done? : 5
  • Do any of the trust's sites have CT scanners?: Yes comments1
  • For financial year (April 01 2008 to March 31 2009), what was the trust's average waiting time (weekdays, excluding bank holidays) between a routine request for a CT scan being received and the scan being done: 28 explanatory textA routine request for a CT scan is for cases that follow the usual patient pathway (from the GP or consultant onwards), which do not denote seriousness. Long waits for routine CT scans can inconvenience and worry patients.
  • For financial year (April 01 2008 to March 31 2009) what was the trust’s average waiting time (weekdays, excluding bank holidays) between a routine request for a non-obstetric utra-sound being received and the scan being done: 28 explanatory textA routine request for a non-obstetric ultrasound scan is for cases that follow the usual patient pathway (from the GP or consultant onwards), which do not denote seriousness. An ultrasound scan is used to investigate internal organs such as the heart, liver, kidneys and blood vessels. Long waits for ultrasound scans can cause inconvenience and worry.
  • For financial year (April 01 2008 to March 31 2009) what was the trust’s average waiting time (weekdays, excluding bank holidays) between a routine request for a radionuclide (Isotope) scan being received and the scan being given: 0 explanatory textA routine request for a radionuclide scan is for cases that are less urgent and where the diagnosis is likely to be less serious. A radionuclide scan is used to investigate medical conditions, such as: infection or injury to bones, kidney disease, cancer, blood clots in the lungs, and poor blood flow to the heart. Long waits for radionuclide scans can cause inconvenience and worry.
  • For financial year (April 01 2008 to March 31 2009) what was the trust’s average waiting time (weekdays, excluding bank holidays) between a routine request for a fluroscopy being received and the test being done: 10
  • For financial year (April 01 2008 to March 31 2009) what was the trust’s average waiting time (weekdays, excluding bank holidays) between a routine request for an x-ray (radiograph - no fluoro-scopy) being received and the test being done: 7 commentsGPs only given appointments - all others open access from clinic

General Service Information

Hospital Questions

  • How many single rooms are available to NHS patients: 54 commentsNOT counting Waterside Quantock, Maternity, EAU plus wards
  • Of these single rooms, how many have an ensuite toilet: 10 comments4 x Cheddar, 2 x Kewstoke, 2 x EAU, 2 x Ashcombe
  • Of these single rooms with ensuite toilet, how many have a shower or bath: 10 comments4 x Cheddar, 2 x Kewstoke, 2 x EAU, 2 x Ashcombe
  • Does the hopital have an A&E department: Yes
  • How many specilialist palliative care beds does the hospital have: 0 commentsNot Designated
  • Does the hospital treat private patients: Yes comments1
  • Please indicate the sites that have a named private unit/service: Yes
  • What is the name of the private unit/ service: Waterside Suite
  • How many beds are available within the private unit/ service: 11
  • How many single rooms are available within the private unit/ service: 11
  • Of these single rooms, how many have an ensuite toilet: 11
  • Of these single rooms with ensuite toilet, how many have a shower or bath: 11
  • What is the direct telephone number for the private unit: : 01934 427900

Trust Questions

  • Does the Trust use the World Health Organisation safer surgery checklist: Yes
  • Does the Trust collect systematic patient feedback (not including suggestion boxes and ad hoc comments): Yes
  • How frequently is the patient feedback collected: Daily
  • Does the Trust board regularly review the patient feedback: Yes commentsMonthly
  • Does the Trust board receive regular monthly reports on clinical outcomes: Yes
  • Do the monthly reports include measurements on length of stay: Yes
  • Do the monthly reports include measurements on mortality: Yes
  • Do the monthly reports include measurements on other areas of clinical outcomes: Yes
  • Do the monthly reports include measurements on mreadmissions: Yes
  • What are the other areas of clinical outcomes measured: Infection control; cancelled operations;cancer targets
  • Does the trust have a policy that ensures discharge letters are sent to GPs on death?: Yes

Infection Control

Trust Questions

  • Does the trust employ an antibiotic pharmacist: Yes explanatory textAn antibiotic pharmacist advises staff on how they can prescribe antibiotics in a way that will reduce the chances of bacterial resistance to antibiotics. The antibiotic pharmacists will ensure that an adequate dose of antibiotics is given and that the choice and length of time the drug should be taken are consistent with the hospital antibiotic policy.
  • Does the trust currently screen all elective admissions for MRSA: Yes commentsExcept exclusions listed by the Department of Health
  • 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
  • Does the Trust screen all chemotherapy patients at pre-op assessment clinic : Yes
  • Does the Trust screen all elective neurosurgery patients at pre-op assessment clinic: Not applicable
  • Does the Trust screen all hospital transfers at pre-op assessment clinic: Not applicable
  • Does the Trust screen all incoming transfers from nursing or care homes at pre-op assessment clinic: Yes
  • Does the Trust screen all oncology patients at pre-op assessment clinic: Yes
  • Does the Trust screen all patients with a past history of MRSA at pre-op assessment clinic: Yes
  • Which elective patients does the Trust screen at pre-op assessment clinic: All elective surgical
  • Do all patients identified as MRSA carriers through pre-assessment screening enter into a decolonisation routine in the 5 days immediately prior to the date of admission/operation: Yes
  • Does the Trust screen all chemotherapy patients for MRSA on admission: Yes
  • Does the Trust screen all elective neurosurgery patients for MRSA on admission: Yes
  • Does the Trust screen all hospital transfer patients for MRSA on admission: Yes commentsWe screen all emergency admissions
  • Does the Trust screen all incoming transfers from nursing or care homes for MRSA on admission: Yes
  • Does the Trust screen all oncology patients for MRSA on admission: Yes
  • Does the Trust screen all patients with a past history of MRSA for MRSA on admission: Yes
  • Which elective patients does the Trust screen for MRSA on admission: All elective surgical and medical commentsAll inpatients and Day cases (except eye surgery, endoscopy etc as recommended by the Department of Health)
  • What method of MRSA screening does the Trust use when screening at admission: Culture based in 48-72hours
  • On admission, does the Trust begin immediate topical suppression: Yes commentsFor patients with +ve screen
  • Does the trust have an accident and emergency unit: Yes
  • Does the Trust screen all emergency admissions for MRSA: Yes
  • Does the Trust screen: All patients admitted through A&E
  • What method of MRSA of screening does the Trust use when admitting patients through A&E: Culture based result in 24-48hours
  • Does the Trust begin all patients screened on a decolonisation routine until such time that their screening results are returned: No commentsonly confirmed positive patients
  • Does the Trust segregate (accommodate on separate wards) all elective orthopaedic patients from all emergency orthopaedic or any other patients: Yes commentsAlways in separate Bays however
  • Does the Trust have a ring-fenced elective ward that serves cardiothoracic surgery only: Not applicable
  • Does the Trust have a ring-fenced elective ward that serves neurosurgery only: Not applicable
  • Does the Trust have a ring-fenced elective ward that serves orthopaedic surgery only: Yes
  • Does the Trust have a ring-fenced elective ward that only serves another type of patients: Not applicable
  • Does the Trust have a ring-fenced elective ward servicing orthopaedic surgery, is joint replacement treated as a priority admission: Not applicable
  • Does the trust have a dedicated isolation ward: No commentsHowever, we create one if the need arises
  • Does the trust have an isolation policy: Yes explanatory textKeeping potentially infectious patients in separate wards or rooms will reduce the risk that a disease will spread to uninfected patients. An isolation policy will outline the precautions and control measures needed to reduce the spread of infectious diseases in the hospital. Infections can be spread by direct contact with staff, equipment or other patients/visitors. All hospitals should have an isolation policy. The number of available single rooms may determine whether all infectious patients can all be put in single rooms to reduce the risk of infection.
  • Please specify the isolation policy: Within Infection Control Policy
  • Where medically appropriate, are patients with C Diff isolated in single rooms as a matter of priority: Yes commentsDesignated beds are normally used and strict isolation always maintained
  • Does the Trust prescribe probiotics to any patient groups as a prophylactic measure to reduce C.difficile infections: Yes explanatory textProbiotics are live micro-organisms, such as yeast and bacteria, which are believed to restore the balance of bacteria in the gastrointestinal tract, which may reduce the risk of infection with Clostridium difficile. Clinical evidence supporting the usefulness of probiotics in the treatment of Clostridium difficile is inconclusive, however.
  • Does the Trust have a policy to guide the use of metronidazole and vancomycin for C.difficile infected patients: Yes commentsWe have a detailed management and treatment guideline

Ophthalmology

Trust Questions

  • Does the trust offer a cataract service: No explanatory textCataracts mainly affect older people and can adversely affect the quality of a person’s life. The procedure involves removing the lens that has developed a cataract and replacing the lens with an artificial one.

Paediatrics

Hospital Questions

  • Does this hospital provide paediatrics services: Yes commentsWe do not undertake Paediatric surgery
  • Is there a designated facility on site for parents or guardians to stay overnight: No commentsNot Applicable

Trust Questions

  • Does the Trust provide a paediatrics service: Yes commentsWe do not undertake Paediatric surgery
  • Is the Trust’s paediatric surgery carried out only by designated surgeons with at least six months training in a specialist unit: No commentsNot Applicable
  • Do the Trust’s anaesthetists with responsibility for paediatric anaesthesia participate in at least one paediatric list per week: No explanatory textFind out if a hospital you searched for has anaesthetists that participate in at least one paediatric operation a week. This means that the hospital’s anaesthetists are regularly involved in paediatric anaesthesia and ensures that children and adolescents receive safe anaesthesia during surgery, as well as effective pain control afterwards. commentsNot Applicable
  • Does the Trust have at least two registered children's nurses on duty 24 hours per day, 7 days a week in each children's ward: No commentsWe have a day unit 12hrs 5 days a week
  • Does the Trust have a paediatrician on site 24 hours per day, 7 days per week: No commentsNo inpatient Paediatric facility

Palliative Care

Hospital Questions

  • How is specialist palliative care delivered at the hospital: A multi-disciplinary specialist palliative care team
  • Does the hospital’s specialist palliative team include: A consultant in palliative medicine,A palliative care nurse
  • Are the hospital’s specialist palliative care team available 24 hrs a day seven days a week: Yes
  • Are facilities provided to support relatives and carers who wish to stay with a patient in hospital: Yes

Trust Questions

  • Has the Trust adopted an integrated care pathway approach for management of the last days of life: Yes
  • Is this based upon the Liverpool Care Pathway: Yes
  • Does the Trust employ a Liverpool Care Pathway facilitator or a designated person who specifically teaches ward staff on the use of the Liverpool Care Pathway or Integrated Care Pathways (ICP): Yes
  • During the financial year, April 01 2008 - March 31 2009, how many patients where managed on the Trust's end of life care pathway: 364
  • Of these, how many patients who had stated a preference to die at home where able to do so: 194
  • 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: Yes

Stroke Medicine

Hospital Questions

  • What type of stroke unit does the hospital have: Combined acute and rehabilitation stroke unit commentsCombined Acute and Rehabilitation Stroke Unit
  • Please specify the number of beds in the unit: 8 explanatory textFind out how many stroke beds the stroke unit at the hospital you searched for has. commentsWe have a separate Acute Ward with 8 beds and separate rehab with 8 beds

Trust Questions

  • Does the Trust have a specialist stroke unit or units: Yes explanatory textIf the hospital has a stroke unit, it can treat patients on site, rather than transfer them to another hospital.
  • How many emergency admissions with a primary diagnosis of stroke did the trust receive in the financial year: 242
  • Of these, how many patients were given a Computerised Tomography (CT) scan within 24 hrs of admission: 173 explanatory textA CT scan accurately locates the area of injury in the patient’s brain and how much damage has been done. It is now recommended that patients should be scanned, whenever possible, within 24 hours of a stroke. Thrombolysis can then be undertaken on some of these patients.

Trauma & Orthopaedics

Trust Questions

  • Does the Trust offer a trauma and/or orthopaedics service: Yes commentsWeston General Hospital provides a full Trauma Service for the population of Weston and the surrounding areas. It recently came top in a Sunday Times survey for mortality and morbidity related to very common neck fractures of the femur (seen in elderly pa
  • Does the Trust offer a trauma service: Yes
  • Does the Trust offer a orthopaedics service: Yes
  • Does the Trust have nurse specialists in trauma and orthopaedics: Yes explanatory textA nurse specialist will have specialist knowledge, skills and experience, in trauma and orthopaedics. Such nurses may, for example, offer a telephone support service to address any concerns, or answer queries that patients may have while awaiting admission or following surgery
  • Does the Trust make an assessment on discharge of all orthopaedic patients: Yes explanatory textFind out if the trust assesses all orthopaedic patients prior to discharge: reviewing mobility; hospital and care home transfers; washing and dressing; meal preparation; and ability to manage domestic tasks. For example, to ensure safe discharge from hospital, patients may need adaptive equipment for the home, or further rehabilitation in a community facility or at home.
  • Do all the Trust's orthopaedic ward/team have a linked geriatric team with whom they have regular formal meetings at least once a week: Yes
  • Does the Trust have a dedicated trauma list available 24 hours a day for the duration of the week, (Sunday to Sunday): Yes explanatory textVictims of trauma may be best treated by a team dedicated to the treatment of the many different injuries that can be caused by trauma. The team generally consists of a lead consultant, a team of doctors, nurses, operating department assistants, radiographers and other support personnel who have no other commitment than to receive and treat trauma patients.
  • How many patients underwent elective total hip replacement surgery at the trust last financial year (April 01 2008 to March 31 2009): 207
  • Of these, how many required treatment with antibiotics during their admission for pneumonia: 0
  • Of these, how many required treatment with antibiotics during their admission for urinary tract infections: 3
  • Of these, how many required treatment with antibiotics during their admission for wound infections: 1
  • Do all the Trust’s elective orthopaedic operations take place in laminar air-flow theatres: Yes
  • Do all the Trust’s patients who undergo elective total hip replacement have a pre-operative assessment by non-surgical medical staff either prior to or after admission: Yes
  • Do all the Trust’s patients who undergo elective total hip replacement have a pre-operative outpatient anaesthetic assessment prior to admission: Yes
  • Are all the Trust’s patients who have had elective total hip replacement surgery assessed by an occupational therapist: Yes explanatory textAn occupational therapist will give instructions to the patient on how to undertake some of the basic activities of daily living after they have total hip replacement (THR) surgery.
  • Are aids provided by the Trust to such patients to assist them with motility and recovery: Yes explanatory textFind out if a hospital you searched for has an occupational therapist (OT) available to advise a patient what aids they need to help them in their recovery at home. Aids can include ramps, wheelchairs, raised toilet seats, raised baths, etc. Social services support many people and help them to maintain a high quality of life in their own homes. This may include the provision of aids and adaptations or care packages. Eligibility criteria and charging policies vary from one local authority to another, and the types of services that are available locally may also vary.
  • Ae these always provided prior to discharge: Yes
  • Do all the Trust’s surgeons use only the joint replacements recommended in NICE guidelines: Yes
  • Does the Trust provide all post-operative patients with devices to reduce their risks of developing a blood clot in line with NICE guidelines for elective hip surgery: Yes
  • Does the Trust provide all post-operative patients with devices to reduce their risks of developing a blood clot in line with NICE guidelines for surgery for hip fracture and elective knee surgery: Yes