Virus defines the priorities for new hospitals chief
The new CEO of the Bath Hospitals has spoken out against long ambulance waiting times and makes her priorities clear in regards to tackling Covid-19.
Cara Charles-banks had her first day as chief executive of the RUH on September 1 and has since then been getting to know the staff and the system.
Cara was previously chief executive of Salisbury NHS Foundation Trust.
She takes over at the RUH from James Scott, who retired at the end of May after nearly 13 years as CEO.
She said: “I’m really delighted to have joined the RUH, obviously I have been in the wider system being at Salisbury. I was appointed in February so it’s felt a long time coming.”
After tackling the Novichok incident at Salisbury hospital Cara now has the challenge of battling Covid-19 within Bath.
And at the end of August there were reports of ambulances being forced to wait outside the RUH for up to four hours to drop off patients.
She said: “For us coming into Covid, one of the key critical changes that we have made over the past few weeks is that we had a number of beds closed due to social distancing and what we have been able to do is open most of those.
“When I arrived we had over 100 beds closed due to social distancing and we have now come up with a programme that means that number has been reduced to only 16.
“We are using screens that have been agreed nationally that we’re able to use that enables us to create more beds in the organisation. For me, that’s quite crucial going into Covid.
“We will be encouraging people to only use the hospital if it’s absolutely necessary.”
Waiting times and lack of beds aren’t the only problems Covid has caused at the hospital, with staff wellbeing being an important issue for Cara.
She said: “They came out of winter which is always a busy time for us and then straight into Covid in March which has meant that for many staff they have been working at very high levels of stress and at full throttle for most of this year.”
Her main focus for the RUH is to make sure communication is strong between her and the staff as well as between other local services to ensure the best approach to Covid-19.
“Covid has provided us with one of the biggest transformation opportunities that the NHS has ever seen.
“One of the real focuses for me is how we engage with the staff and people in the community and that was something I certainly did very successfully when I was at Salisbury.
“We have really invested in a programme called Improving Together which is designed to help staff transform services but more importantly take us from a good organisation to an outstanding organisation.
“A real priority for me is getting to understand what people want from their chief executive and what would they like to see done differently…”
“The RUH is highly valued and regarded in the community and I intend to build on its position as a respected and progressive organisation.”
Covid has provided us with one of the biggest transformation opportunities that the NHS has ever seen. Cara Charles-banks