About Us

Steering group terms of reference

These are:

To assess the needs of the critically ill with regards to adequacy of service provision, in relation to capacity and demand across the whole Network and to assist with the planning of those services.
To ensure a consistent standard of care and equity of access to critical care services.
To agree common standards and devise guidelines regarding admission and discharge of patients.
To agree common standards regarding safe transfer of patients between hospitals and, whenever possible, to accommodate non-clinical transfers within the Network Trusts. Also, to foster active cooperation with the Herts and Beds Ambulance Service to improve the service as a whole.
To support all hospitals within the Network in workforce development and teaching and training of staff.
To undertake service improvement projects and care bundles across all hospitals within the Network.
To act as a forum for discussion, mutual advice and dissemination of information for critical care units in the Network.
To advise the commissioning and purchasing bodies on appropriate standards and models of critical care, according to current and future DoH guidance, to maintain current provision, fund new developments and identify potential cost pressures.
To support the promotion and development of information technology. Link with local NPfIT clusters, sharing information required for that programme.
To develop the Network as one health care delivery system in partnership with the purchasers.
To establish links so the Network can understand and influence developments in the wider local health community that may affect or be affected by critical care services, e.g. Investing in Your Health.
To work alongside other collaboratives/Networks, supporting and sharing relevant information.

Membership:

Representing each Trust – Bedford, Luton & Dunstable, East & North Herts, and West Herts – a Lead Clinician, a Lead Nurse, an Administrator/Manager

Strategic Health Authority Representatives for Performance and Modernisation

Beds & Herts Ambulance Trust Representative

Primary Care Trust Representatives – Commissioning Lead, Director of Public Health, PEC Chair Representative

Network Coordinator

Network Medical Leads

Network Nurse Leads

Allied Health Professional Lead

Healthcare Scientists Lead

Independent Sector Representatives for BUPA Bushey, BUPA Harpenden and Capio Pinehill

Workforce Development Directorate Representative

Invited Attendees:

Patient & Carer Representative

Information Technology Representative

Chairmanship:

Nick Carver, Chief Executive, East & North Herts NHS Trust

Accountability:

Chief Executive Forum pending review

Frequency of Meetings:

2 Monthly.

Review Terms of Reference:

These Terms of Reference will be reviewed in September 2005.