A STRUGGLING hospital accident and emergency department is to get a £30 million revamp to help improve services for patients.

The announcement is revealed by Marianne Griffiths today as she prepares to take on the chief executive role at Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals NHS Trust from April 1.

The trust is currently in special measures after being branded inadequate by the Care Quality Commission last year.

Among the concerns raised by inspectors were the long waits, delays and bed shortages in the department.

Ms Griffiths, who will continue in her current role as chief executive of Western Sussex Hospitals NHS Trust, vowed to get Brighton out of special measures in two years time.

She also wants to improve its rating to good in three years.

Senior board members and managers from Western Sussex will be working at the trust along Ms Griffiths.

Western Sussex, which has an outstanding rating, agreed to “buddy up” with Brighton and Sussex last year and the system will stay in place for a minimum of three years.

The move has sparked some concerns it will lead to a full merger between the two trusts but bosses insist this is a temporary plan.

NHS Improvement has agreed to allow up £30 million to be spent on redesigning the A&E unit into an emergency floor similar to one at Worthing Hospital.

The work will improve the physical layout of the department as well as bring in extra beds, which the team hopes will bring down waiting times and improve safety and care.

Ms Griffiths said: “The challenges faced by staff at Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals have been well documented and there are no easy solutions to them.

“However, I have been hugely impressed by the welcome and openness extended to us by everyone we have met in Brighton and Haywards Heath so far and I have seen enough examples of excellent care to feel that together we can bring about the improvements everyone wants to see.

“We’ve known from the outset that helping our neighbour is the right thing to do but we have spent a lot of time over the last four months making sure it is an achievable thing to do, not just in terms of helping Brighton and Sussex improve but doing so while continuing to build on the progress we have made at Western Sussex too.”

Brighton’s current chief accountable officer Evelyn Barker will move into a new role as the organisation’s managing director.

She said: “Marianne and her team have been very clear the improvements made by Western Sussex Hospitals over the last few years have been achieved by giving frontline staff the freedom to make the changes they know will make the biggest difference to patient care, and they are committed to creating a similar environment here.”

NHS Improvement managing director for the south region Anne Eden said: “This new arrangement is the culmination of much hard work by the leadership teams of both trusts, who have been determined to do the right thing for local patients.

“I am confident the trust has the best possible support to make the necessary improvements.”

CHIEF EXECUTIVE DETERMINED TO WIN BACK STAFF AND PUBLIC CONFIDENCE

MARIANNE Griffiths knows she has a tough job on her hands.

Staff at Brighton and Sussex University Hospitals have had a turbulent five years, with several changes at the top, an inadequate rating from the Care Quality Commission and well documented problems with A&E delays, long waiting lists and bed shortages.

Previous issues around bullying and with morale at an all-time low, the next three years are going to be a challenge.

Ms Griffiths said: “I think the most important thing is staff are craving stability.

“We are going to be here as a team, from day one, for a minimum of three years and we’ll see what happens beyond that.

“We’ve been as a team very warmly received and I think because we have some things to bring.

“Funding to the tune of £30 million for a new emergency floor will be absolutely fantastic and for the department in particular.

“I think there are significant challenges here as we know as we have got special measures for both quality and finances.

“For patient, community and staff morale it is really important we get out of that.

“Finances are not a quick turnaround as we’re looking at an overspend of £60 million and it is going to take at least three years to turn that around fully.

“We have managed to secure a financial deal with NHS Improvement for the next two years so it doesn’t ask for efficiencies to be made that are too ridiculous and I think we can deliver that so I’m very confident.”

The design of A&E at the Royal Sussex means there is no easy way of moving around for patients and staff and a new emergency floor is aimed at making the job significantly easier.

It is hoped the changes will be completed over a nine-month period.

Ms Griffiths said it was vital to get staff involved and on board with what is planned.

In the past there have been issues between workers and senior managers, including allegations of bullying made by black and ethnic minority staff.

Ms Griffiths said: “Our approach is that there needs to be a clean slate.

“Don’t dwell too much in the past as it’s not going to get you anywhere.

“So we’re coming in with a fresh start and a new approach.

“Out of all the targets we have set, the most important for me is getting out of special measures for quality.

“The boost that will give to staff and the community and gain confidence in their hospital is enormous and worth the effort to get it out.”

Our approach is that there needs to be a clean slate.. Don’t dwell too much in the past. It’s not going to get you anywhere. So we’re coming in with a fresh start and a new approach.

HOW THE NEW SET-UP WILL WORK BETWEEN THE TRUSTS

THE agreement for the leadership team from Western Sussex to provide support to Brighton and Sussex was drawn up in principle by the trusts and NHS Improvement in October.

The trusts remain separate organisations with the executive team from Western Sussex providing leadership to both.

Other members coming over include finance director Katie Geoghegan, medical director George Findlay and chief operating officer Pete Landstrom.

Managing directors will be based at both trusts to oversee the day-to-day running of each organisation, leaving senior executives free to focus on the improvements needed to turn Brighton and Sussex around.

Ms Griffiths said deputies currently in place at Western Sussex would also be stepping up to ensure the trust continued keeping to its outstanding status.

Staff at Brighton and Sussex will be asked to play a major role in the plans, as part of a Patient First Programme which has been successfully used in Western Sussex.

This is a long-term approach to transforming hospital services and involves helping front-line staff to make improvements themselves.

This is done by providing the training, the tools and the freedom to work out where the opportunities are, and the skills and support to make change happen and to make it sustainable.

Staff response to the move so far appears to be positive and Ms Griffiths has already met union representatives.

One member of staff told The Argus: “A change is really needed as things could not go on as they were.

“There have been some concerns about this being a take-over and it will eventually lead to a merger further down the line.

“However I think the general feeling is that something needed to be done and people are up for that.

“We will see how things go.”