THE organisation responsible for commissioning and planning health services in Brighton and Hove has been branded inadequate

NHS England gave the city’s clinical commissioning group the lowest possible rating in its annual overall assessment of its performance.

The CCG was also found to be inadequate over performance, planning and leadership but good on finances and delegation.

Problems with performance are linked to the issues faced by Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals NHS Trust, which has been struggling with long waits in its accident and emergency departments.

It has also struggled to hit government set targets for making sure patients referred for treatment by their GP are seen within 18 weeks.

A large part of the problem is down to the high number of bed blocking patients on the wards who are ready to be discharged but there is no bed available for them in the community or a package of care has not been arranged for them in their own homes.

The CCG is responsible for making sure enough beds and community services are available to help ease pressure on the hospitals.

CCG chief clinical officer Christa Beesley said: “We are disappointed to receive this assurance rating from NHS England although we fully appreciate that the long waits being faced by patients for treatment in some specialties, including A&E, at our local acute hospital trust means that we cannot meet the NHS standards that our patients should expect.

“While waits have built up in many parts of the NHS over the last year, this is a particularly bad situation locally for patients and the staff involved in their treatment, and one which we are keen to improve.

“The CCG is continuing to work closely with the trust’s management team and clinicians to support recovery plans; as well as with social care, GP and community services to reduce avoidable hospital admissions and safely support patients home without delay when they no longer need a hospital bed.

“We have also taken the lead on work with neighbouring CCGs to offer non-emergency treatment at alternative hospitals for patients facing long waits for appointments within some of the trust’s clinical specialities.”