TARGETS are being missed for a redesign of rehabilitation services in hospitals across East Lancashire.

The redesign is aimed at finding ways to reduce patient’s stay in hospital and improving care closer to home.

According to a Strategic Development Plan drawn up by the East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust (ELHT), objectives have been missed on:

  • Redesign proposals being developed and agreed with commissioners
  • Establishing implementation of work streams
  • Social care beds decommissioned from current providers
  • Social care beds recommissioned at Pendle Community Hospital

Lynn Wissett, deputy chief executive at East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust, said a delay has occured because of “extensive stakeholder working”.

She said: “The Trust is currently going through a process of refining the clinical model with key stakeholders in light of best practice and contemporary clinical guidance.

“This will ensure that the best possible patient experience and outcome measures are achieved when the full range of Intermediate Care Services, including development of community based reablement and redesign of community hospital rehabilitation, are implemented.

“We are confident that all of our strategic plans will continue to be monitored and delivered in line with local and national priorities. As with any strategic plan, changes do occur as time passes.”

ELHT is also failing to meet four out of five targets over the development of a vascular centre at the Royal Blackburn Hospital, agreements on population splits and workforce arrangements.

Following a Vascular Review of the North West region, ELHT was identified as being able to provide specialist vascular care as one of three Vascular Centres in Lancashire and Cumbria.

Mrs Wissett said: The Implementation and development of the Trust as a Vascular Centre is undergoing further scrutiny external to the Trust, therefore the original timeframe has been extended, hence the red rating on our plan.”