The Trust has started work on a new Clinical Strategy. A Clinical Strategy is a plan which explains what our services are going to be like in the next three, five and 10 years. This means we need to think about how we are going to deliver care for patients and importantly, how we are going to design and improve services to meet the needs of the people of Medway and Swale, which change all the time.
When designing our plan, we need to recognise best practice standards and what the NHS Long Term Plan asks us to do. We can also look at what we have learned from the way we responded to the Covid-19 pandemic. We will also consider how we address local health inequalities.*
But we also need your help. Chief Medical Officer Alison Davis said: “This is an exciting time for the Trust as we look to transform our services for the future. We’d like to be among the best hospitals in the country, but we know we need to strengthen some services if we are going to get there.
“That’s why we want to hear opinions from anyone who has used our hospital’s services in the past 18 months, or if you have a family member or friend who has done so. You are best placed to tell us what we do well and what we could do better, as you have experienced or seen our care closely. Your feedback is very important to us if we are going to come up with a strategy that works and ensures patients receive excellent care, every time.
“So I would ask you to please fill in the questionnaire below and give us honest answers. It shouldn’t take very long. What you tell us will help shape what the hospital looks like for up to the next 10 years, so I think that’s time well spent. Thank you to all who contribute.”
Our Clinical Strategy will be firmly embedded in the Patient First improvement system which confirms our commitment to ensuring that patient care and experience are our top priority.
*Health inequalities are avoidable differences in health between different groups of people. These widespread differences are the result of unfair systems that negatively affect people’s living conditions, access to healthcare, and overall health status. Further information about local health inequalities is available here: Medway and Swale HaCP profile.