Treatment targets met

NHS Oldham has hit national accident and emergency treatment targets.

Department of Health targets require 98 per cent of accident and emergency patients to be treated within four hours.

The Pennine Acute Trust (PAT), which runs the Royal Oldham Hospital, managed just over 96 per cent in the last few months.

NHS Oldham, which commissions services at the hospital, initiated a recovery plan with other health organisations in January.

This included daily bed management meetings, increasing the size of the Medical Assessment Unit and having a GP in A&E on a daily basis.

As a result, the 98 per cent target has been achieved in 17 out of the past 18 days.

Riaz Ahmad, chairman, said: “It’s been a huge challenge but seeing the amount of work that has been put in, staff have been working ever so hard.”

Other achievements include hitting its 18- week referral to treatment target and a dramatic improvement of immunisation rates for children.

However, the primary care trust is still struggling to hit targets for people quitting smoking and chlamydia screening.


Community aid

NHS Oldham plans to provide improved community-based services to tackle a series of conditions.

These include specialist diabetes care, a community-based service for chronic kidney complaints as well as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and improving access to psychological therapies.

Plans also include an enhanced sexual health service and the introduction a minor surgery service in community settings.