COMMISSION FOR HEALTH IMPROVEMENT (CHI)
Wirral Hospital Trust was involved in a Commission for Health Improvement Clinical Governance Review between December 2001 and July 2002. Based upon the inspection in April 2002, a report was published in July 2002 detailing the findings of this inspection and an action plan was produced by the Trust in order to address the areas where CHI recommended improvement. A copy of the report and action plan is available on the Commission for Health Improvement website at www.chi.nhs.uk or from the Publication Scheme Co-ordinator*.

NHS PERFORMANCE RATINGS
The Trust obtained a 3 star rating in the 2003 national performance ratings carried out by CHI. More information about how the Trust performed can be obtained from the CHI website at www.chi.nhs.uk.

NATIONAL PATIENT SURVEY PROGRAMME
Wirral Hospital takes part in the CHI National Patient Survey Programme. The programme is designed to provide feedback from patients to assist in improvements in service. Findings from patient surveys contribute to the performance ratings for the Trust. The Trust has participated in the Acute Inpatient Survey (2002), Acute Trusts: Emergency Department Patient Survey (2003) and Acute Trusts: Outpatient Survey (2003). The results of these surveys, completed by patients of Wirral Hospital, can be obtained from the CHI website at www.chi.nhs.uk/eng/surveys.

AUDIT COMMISSION
Wirral Hospital participates in investigations carried out by the Audit Commission. While these reports do not mention the Trust specifically, some of the information that is gathered about the Trust may then be used to compile reports about healthcare services. If you are interested in reading more about the Audit Commission you can visit their website at www.audit-commission.gov.uk.

OMBUDSMAN
The Health Service Ombudsman offers an entirely independent service investigating complaints made about the NHS. In the first instance patients or relatives who are unhappy with any services provided by the Trust should raise their concerns with the Hospital - see Class 11. Where the complainant is dissatisfied with the response they can ask the Ombudsman to look into their concerns. For further information and anonymised copies of findings about the Trust please see www.ombudsman.org.uk

IMPROVING WORKING LIVES
The Trust achieved Improving Working Lives Practice Status following an inspection in March 2003 and a report on the findings of the inspection has been produced. A copy of this report can be obtained by contacting the Publication Scheme Co-ordinator* and more information about Improving Working Lives can be found in Class 12 or on the website at www.doh.gov.uk/iwl/

CHARTER MARK
Charter Mark is a prestigious award from the Cabinet Office which shows excellent quality of service. To gain the award an organisation is required to meet specific standards (providing evidence as required) and be assessed. Once the standards have been met the organisation then has the right to display the prestigious logo. The Directorate of Operational Management was successful in being awarded Charter Mark Status in 2001. The Charter Mark website can be found at www.chartermark.gov.uk.

INVESTORS IN PEOPLE (IIP)
Investors in People is a national standard which sets a level of good practice for the training and development of staff and the improvement of performance through people. Organisations are assessed against four key principles which they must provide evidence of before becoming accredited. Within Wirral Hospital, the standard is assessed at a Directorate level and currently a number of the Directorates meet the IIP standards, these are Facilities Management, Operational Management, Directorate of Medicine for the Elderly, Radiology, Women's Services, Laboratory Medicine, Pharmacy, Children's Services and the Finance Department.

DR FOSTER
Dr Foster is an independent agency that produces guides to health services in the public and private sectors. Dr Foster works with academic partners, healthcare experts and healthcare providers to produce a series of guides and benchmark analyses. Dr Foster works with the Department of Health but is independent. The Trust makes information available to Dr Foster to be used in the production of information about healthcare services. There is information available about our services on the Dr Foster website at www.drfoster.co.uk.