ANNUAL REVIEW master Final3a - St Vincent's University Hospital

St. Vincent’s Healthcare Group Limited - Annual Review 2007
Report from the Director of Operations
Estates Strategy
The Estate Strategy Group was established in November 2007. This group has developed a structured and
transparent process for future campus developments, ensuring where possible that the development is
carried out in a planned, effective, efficient and progressive manner.
Frank Smyth is the driving force behind this group and provides a monthly update on all projects. There is a
considerable amount of building development underway to develop our services, improve our infrastructure
and support patient care. Frank covers this more in his section of the annual review in terms of how projects
are identified, proposed, evaluated and taken forward.
A number of major capital projects have been completed in 2007 and further ones launched. The ADCC is
now fully operational and is an impressive achievement, delivering 21st Century facilities for our patients and
staff.
Work has commenced on the New Private Hospital and should be complete in the first quarter of 2010.
The new Day Care Ward is on track for delivery in June 2008 and we now have planning permission for a
new 120 bed ward Block.
2008 will be an exciting year for SVUH and a further example of our progressive approach to healthcare
delivery.
Services Initiatives
Specialty Specific Admissions
In order to improve utilisation of the St Vincent’s University Hospital bed base, provide consultant delivered
integrated care to patients, enhance access to hospital services for primary care providers, create
streamlined care pathways for local patients and reduce both attendance and waiting times in the
Emergency Department (E.D.), we have developed a Speciality Specific Admissions policy. Developed by the
Medical Executive Committee, this approach is now been rolled out across SVUH.
In order to allow specialty specific admissions and a consultant provided service, work practices in the
hospital are and have changed to follow the model outlined by Hanly (Hanly Report; DOCH 2003). It is
particularly relevant that this proposal should stem from St Vincent’s University Hospital, as this was one of
the core hospitals studied by Hanly and colleagues.
Considerable progress has been made in establishing a protected bed base, which promotes effective clinical
management and helps reduce length of stay. Coupled with a fundamental review of our discharge planning
process, we are starting to see some benefits to this approach. We are also reviewing interfaces with Primary
Care to provide whole system services. Respiratory, Neurology and Care of the Elderly multidisciplinary
project teams have been established and have made significant progress in reengineering services in the
short term and outlining a long-term vision for the service.
This will continue to be a key part of our approach for 2008, with rollout across all specialties and a
fundamental review of our catchment areas and bed base.
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