The Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital, The Queen Elizabeth Hospital King’s Lynn and the James Paget University Hospital have now published the full case for establishing a group model across the three acute hospitals in Norfolk.
The aim is to streamline decision-making and focus delivery of care locally in order to enhance the hospital experience and outcomes for patients across Norfolk and Waveney. Some of the benefits of the group model include making the most effective use of workforce capacity, enhancing research, training, and innovation and ensuring a coordinated approach to the development of the two new hospitals in Kings’ Lynn and Gorleston.
How will it work?
Approval has been given by NHS England and an Interim Group Chair will be appointed later this month, with other management posts being appointed in April. A six-month phased implementation of the group model will then begin. Each hospital will have a single Chair and a single Chief Executive and a single set of Executive and Non-Executive Directors. They will also each have an Executive Managing Director who will be a full member of the Group Board. The group will be called the Norfolk and Waveney University Hospitals Group, with each of the hospitals continuing to operate under their own names.
Statement
In a joint statement the Chairs of all three hospitals said: “The hospitals will be able to share resources more effectively helping to tackle the large-scale challenges they face with a single unified approach. At the same time, locally focused delivery of healthcare will continue to meet the specific needs of communities.
“A group model will help ensure there is a reduction in unwarranted variation of healthcare for patients across the county and improve patient care and outcomes. Having both a single decision-making process across the three hospitals combined with strong site leadership will help optimise efficiency.”
Tracey Bleakley, Chief Executive of NHS Norfolk and Waveney ICB, said: “The case for change shows that closer working between our three hospital trusts will help us to achieve the things that matter most to patients, such as tackling waiting lists and ensuring people can be treated quickly in an emergency. The change will also improve efficiency and deliver better value for money, which is vital at a time when there is real pressure on NHS finances. Importantly, it will deliver these improvements while also recognising the different needs of the communities the hospitals each serve.”
