Failing trust improves but more work to be done
BBCA previously failing NHS trust has become the most improved in its region, according to new figures.
The North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Trust (NCIC) was placed 130th out of 134 trusts in England and put into an intensive recovery scheme earlier this year after "deep-rooted challenges" were found.
The trust - which provides services to about 500,000 people - revealed it had risen 10 places to 120th with strengthened performance in planned care, diagnostics and referral to treatment pathways.
NCIC chief executive Trudie Davies said the trust was celebrating the progress but was "not backing away" from improvements needed in A&E and urgent treatment centres (UTC).
Davies said waiting times for elective care were "much improved", but added "we know we still have much more to do".
The trust said A&E and UTCs continued to experience around 11,000 attendances per month with long waits in the department.
It said a £4m investment in urgent and emergency care, and the opening of a new UTC at Carlisle, was expected to support further improvement.
"We are not backing away from the fact we've got improvements to make for patients that come to us in an emergency and that wait for too long in our A&E department or in our UTCs. "
'Have confidence'
Davies said it was "not just about numbers" but "about the quality of care we provide for our patients".
"A big message to our patients is please continue to have confidence in us, please continue to support us - we are very grateful for the feedback we get," she said.
She also said it was "good to see that the hard work of our staff is beginning to pay off in terms of performance".
Health and Social Care Secretary, James Murray, said patients "deserve honesty about how their NHS is performing".
He said the results "recognised the dedication of NHS staff, including those in north Cumbria, who have worked tirelessly to deliver excellent care for patients".
