Our Patients Matter: Our strategy for excellence in care

Our Patients Matter strategy sets out our commitment to providing safe, compassionate, and joined-up care at County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust. This strategy is not just a plan; it's a pledge to our patients, staff, and communities to deliver care that is Right First Time, Every Time.

At the heart of our strategy is our mission to be recognised for delivering the safest, most compassionate, and integrated care possible. This mission and working to provide care that is consistently high-quality and patient-centred - guides everything we do. Every member of our Trust plays a crucial role in making this mission a reality, ensuring that our services meet the needs of the diverse populations we serve.

The "Patients Matter" strategy outlines both our short-term objectives and long-term ambitions. These goals are developed through extensive engagement with our staff, Board of Governors, and stakeholders, ensuring that our strategy remains aligned with the needs of our communities and the evolving landscape of healthcare.

Our strategic goals include:

  • Enhancing patient safety: We are committed to reducing and preventing patient falls, minimising harm from sepsis and acute kidney injury (AKI), and improving the safety culture across all our services.
  • Expanding access to care: By optimising our resources, we aim to ensure that care is accessible, efficient, and responsive to patient needs.
  • Supporting our workforce: We strive to be the employer of choice, fostering a culture of engagement and continuous improvement among our colleagues. 
  • Financial responsibility: Ensuring that every pound counts, we are focused on managing our resources effectively to sustain and enhance service provision

To ensure that we are meeting our strategic objectives, the Trust undertakes a rigorous annual planning process. This involves setting clear priorities at every level—from individual objectives aligned with team goals to the overall strategic direction set by the Trust Board.

We also have a robust system in place for monitoring progress. There are monthly meetings to assess the status of our key delivery plans, manage dependencies, and mitigate risks. Additionally, the Board Assurance Framework (BAF) provides ongoing oversight of our strategic objectives, ensuring that we stay on track to achieve our goals.