Hospital plans to keep calm and carry on

Date posted: 18-04-2012

Basildon and Orsett Hospitals are the first in the country to be awarded a kite mark from the British Standards Institution (BSI) for their Trust-wide plans for “Business as usual” during a crisis.

Continuing to provide patient care in all eventualities is an essential duty of any hospital. This might include disruption to staff levels and supplies during severe weather, a flu epidemic, flood, fire or a loss of power, telephone or IT systems. Delivering services for patients during a crisis relies on meticulous advance planning for what is termed “business continuity.”

The accreditation awarded to Basildon and Thurrock University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is one of the most highly regarded symbols of quality and integrity. The Trust achieved this standard after a rigorous 18-month programme of auditing by the BSI, with spot checks and emergency exercises.

Mandy Brokenshow, Emergency Planning Liaison Officer, explains: “Everyone at the Trust – doctors, nurses, managers and support staff – takes their responsibilities for coping in an emergency very seriously. We have invested considerable time and money to ensure that we can continue to provide patient care and services in disruptive situations.”

Achieving the BSI standard means that the Trust can now help advise other NHS organisations on how to gain the same accreditation, which could benefit not just local patients but those further afield.

Auditors from the BSI will return to make checks on the Trust‟s business continuity plans every year, and conduct another full audit in 2015.

Hannah Coffey, Director of Operations at the Trust, said: “Receiving this seal of approval from BSI for our business continuity plans is a great honour, and shows that we are in a strong position to provide quality care and treatment for local residents in difficult and unexpected circumstances

Popularity: 1% [?]