Mid and South Essex Success Regime trusts agree arrangements in principle for group model

The hospital trusts in the Mid and South Essex Success Regime have agreed the appointment of a chair and lead chief executive for the team that will ensure collaboration and improvements to patient care across the three hospitals.

The three hospital trust chairs have agreed outline arrangements for a hospital group. Further details are still being developed and will be subject to formal approval by the three trust boards and national regulators.

Collaboration between the three hospitals aims to improve staffing levels in some specialties, reduce duplication and costs and improve outcomes for patients. This is part of a wider plan to put the health system back into financial balance by 2018/19 and deliver the best joined up and personalised care for local people.

The three trusts involved (Basildon and Thurrock University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Mid Essex Hospital Services NHS Trust and Southend University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust) have so far agreed that there will be a joint committee to oversee and support collaboration between the hospitals, including the development of options for service redesign.

Sheila Salmon, chair of Mid Essex Hospital Services NHS Trust will chair the joint committee. Alan Tobias, chair of Southend University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust will take up the role of vice chair. Clare Panniker, chief executive of Basildon and Thurrock University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, will lead the change programme for the acute hospital trusts and will be the lead chief executive.

The main role of the joint committee is to drive forward collaboration and assure the Success Regime change programme for acute hospital services. It will not replace the current statutory governance arrangements for the three trusts.

Nigel Beverley, chair of Basildon and Thurrock University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, and Alan Tobias chair of Southend University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, said:

“We are embarking upon the biggest change programme ever undertaken by any of the hospitals. The joint committee will provide the necessary strong steer and assurance for such a complex challenge. We are delighted that Sheila has agreed to chair the group and that Clare will be the executive lead. Both Sheila and Clare have extensive leadership experience in transformation and turnaround and share a real passion for improving care for patients.”

Professor Sir David Fish, managing director of UCLPartners, and interim chair of the Mid and South Essex Success Regime said:

“This announcement shows the determination of those working in the Mid and South Essex Success Regime to provide a high quality and sustainable health system for patients and the local population.  The local leaders have taken the initiative, worked in partnership and have focused their conversations and decisions around what’s best for the population as a whole, rather than their own institutions.  It’s a testament to everyone’s hard work and energy that such progress has been made in this short period of time.”

For further background on the Mid and South Essex Success Regime, please visit the Castle Point and Rochford NHS CCG website.