The chair of Brighton & Hove's Health and Wellbeing Board, Councillor Daniel Yates, has expressed his support for the changes already taking place at the Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals Trust to address the problems highlighted in this week’s CQC report.
The city’s Health and Wellbeing Board brings together senior members of Brighton & Hove City Council and the local NHS.
Councillor Yates said: “Our adult social care and public health teams work closely with all branches of the local NHS to deliver and improve services for residents.
“In no way would I wish to downplay the seriousness of the CQC report’s findings. It is very worrying to hear of failures of care and lack of proper oversight at the Trust and this reflects residents’ concerns over recent years.
“However, I know many residents strongly value and support the work of all the staff at the Hospital and we will work alongside our colleagues to support the Trust out of special measures.
"I am also very aware that the inspection the CQC report is based on took place only two days after their new chief executive started work in early April, and I would like to recognise the important and positive changes that have already taken place at BSUHT since the inspection.
“New board members have been appointed, and a new senior management structure put in place. They’ve improved their systems for prioritising people who need A&E treatment, and are working hard on improving the quality of the A&E services they deliver.
“All the city’s health and social care services are working together to integrate health and social care systems. This will see the council and the local NHS working together wherever possible to ensure we deliver the best possible services with the money available.
“We all have a stake in ensuring that our residents receive the best possible services. The way forward is collaboration. We don’t and should never see ourselves as working in isolation.”