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DHSSPS Key Targets
PRIORITIES FOR ACTION 2007- 2008
Principal Targets and Priorities for the DHSSPS
The DHSSPS have laid out their key
standards and targets for the year in their Priorites
for Action document which will be subject to monitoring
throughout the coming year. The key targets are as
follows:
| 1 |
Improving
health and well-being
Smoking prevalence: by March 2008, smoking
prevalence by Board area should be reduced by
7% across Northern Ireland to 24%.
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| 2 |
Safer,
better quality services
Health care associated infection: by May 2007,
Trusts must submit to the Department, for approval
and monitoring, Infection Reduction Plans that
include Trust-specific targets for prevention
and control of health care associated infection.
Progress in meeting these targets must be robustly
monitored and reported monthly by the Infection
Prevention and Control lead to the Trust Board.
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| 3 |
Reductions
in Hospital Waiting Times
i |
Elective care (consultant-led):
by March 2008, no patient should wait longer
than 13 weeks for a first outpatient appointment,
13 weeks for a diagnostic test, and 21 weeks
for inpatient or day case treatment. |
ii |
Elective care (AHP): by May 2007, with
a view to improving access to AHP services,
Boards and Trusts must submit to the Department,
for approval and monitoring, proposed targets
and associated reform plans for March 2008
and beyond. |
iii |
Cancer: by March 2008, at least 98% of
patients diagnosed with cancer should commence
treatment within 31 days of the decision
to treat, and at least 75% of patients urgently
referred with a suspected cancer should
begin their first definitive treatment within
62 days (increasing to 95% by March 2009).
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| 4 |
Significant
Improvements in Emergency Care
i |
A&E: from April 2007,
no patient should wait longer than 12 hours
in A&E and, by March 2008, 95% of patients
who attend A&E should be either treated
and discharged home, or admitted within
four hours of their arrival in the department. |
ii |
Fractures: by March 2008, at least 75%
of patients should, where clinically appropriate,
wait no longer than 48 hours for inpatient
fracture treatment (increasing to 98% by
March 2009). |
iii |
Ambulance services: for 2007-08, the Northern
Ireland Ambulance Service should respond
to an average of 65% of Category A (life-threatening)
calls within eight minutes, with performance
improving to 70% for the month of March
2008. |
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| 5 |
Fully
Integrated Care and Support in the Community
i |
Timely discharge: from April
2007, 50% of complex discharges from an
acute setting should take place within 72
hours of the patient’s being declared
medically fit, rising to 100% by March 2008.
From April 2007, all other discharges should
take place within 12 hours, reducing to
six hours by March 2008. |
ii |
Primary care access: from April 2007,
Boards should ensure that all patients have
48-hour access to a GP or other appropriate
practice-based primary care practitioner.
In cases where the patient has an acute
condition (including exacerbation of an
existing condition), access must be within
24 hours. |
iii |
Elderly: by March 2008, older people with
continuing care needs should wait no longer
than eight weeks for assessment to be completed
and should have the main components of their
care needs met within a further 12 weeks. |
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| 6 |
Improvements
in Children’s Services
Children: by March 2008, an additional 175
foster carers (as compared to the March 2006
total) should be in place across Northern Ireland.
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| 7 |
Better
Mental Health and Learning Disability Services
i |
Mental health: by July 2007,
with a view to improving regional access
to mental health services on foot of the
Bamford Review, Boards and Trusts should
submit to the Department, for approval and
monitoring, proposed targets and associated
reform plans for improving the response
to, and support for, people with mental
health problems presenting at primary care
level. |
ii |
Learning Disability: by March 2008, Boards
and Trusts should have resettled 40 people
currently being cared for in learning disability
hospitals to appropriate places in the community.
In addition, Boards and Trusts should ensure
that, from April 2007, all patients admitted
for assessment and treatment are discharged
when treatment is complete, according to
the care plan created for each new patient
on admission. |
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| 8 |
Effective
financial control and improved efficiency
Finance: the Department and all HPSS organisations
should live within the resources allocated and
achieve financial balance.
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| 9 |
Reforming
the Workforce
Productivity: by May 2007, Trusts must submit
to the Department, for approval and monitoring,
productivity improvement plans to meet the requirements
set out in the Department's guidance on HPSS
productivity.
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targets should they have?
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