Hello all,

In my final newsletter of the year, I want to celebrate all we have achieved in 2024 for our patients.

This year we launched a new acute frailty service and Frailty Same Day Emergency Care Unit, which has now seen around 200 patients – with 80% being discharged on the same day – which we know is better for recovery and wellbeing and avoids unnecessary hospital stays.

We have also continued to expand our community diagnostic services at Crawley Hospital – which has delivered over 100,000 tests and checks in its first 18 months. We became one of the first Trusts to introduce Call for Concern as part of Martha’s Rule to ensure the voices of our patients and their families are heard through their care with us, and were also the first trust to win a Maternity Stream of Sanctuary Award for the great care we offer to refugees in our area.

Our Digital team added to the award collection by winning a national innovation award at the annual Imprivata healthcare conference for their work on improving the pressure damage care pathway. Their work on improving the process of recording of patient vital signs digitally has also increased the time nurses have for other care.

In 2024 we also launched our new Nursing and Midwifery Strategy to better support our workforce in keeping patients at the heart of their practice, and with the help of SASH Charity and some really important local donors, we opened a newly refurbished Children’s Day Procedure Unit and a new summerhouse outside the Macmillan Cancer Centre at East Surrey Hospital. Both these projects have been a huge hit with our patients and their families.

Through strengthening our work with our partners, we have also supported the development of a new endoscopy network and move to system wide leadership of elective care, which will help ensure more equal waiting times for patients across Surrey.

These examples are just a snippet of what we have achieved this year for our patients and, given the challenges we have faced with more patients needing our care, tougher financial challenges and further periods of industrial action, I am incredibly proud of the hard work and determination our teams have shown. Never failing to step up for all those who need our help and ensure our patients receive safe, compassionate and high-quality care

This year we also said goodbye to our Chair of 12 years, Richard Shaw, and welcomed in our new Chair Dr Anita Donley.

As we look towards 2025 and what more we can do to build on the successes of 2024 and deliver for our patients, I want to say a final thank you to our partners and local community for their continued support. From our volunteers to the patient transport teams we work with, we couldn’t do what we do without you. Wishing you all a very Happy Christmas and New Year.

Best wishes, 

Angela Stevenson 
Chief Executive