Chief executive update

September 2025

Welcome again to this monthly update for all our stakeholders.

As I write, there’s a distinctly autumnal feel - the weather having turned cooler, children returning to school and students heading back to university. There’s a definite sense that summer is over and that we're in a ‘new term’ mode.

For us in BCHC, as autumn approaches it is time to gear up to ensure we are ready for winter. This includes seeing through the actions we said we would take in our Urgent and Emergency Care and Winter Plan – doing all we can to help keep people well at home, avoid admissions, and support people’s discharge and rehabilitation after acute care. Our trust-wide flu vaccination campaign – to be launched soon -  will also be an important part of these preparations.

Alongside gearing up for winter, we have designated this month "Safety September”, focussing on what we do well and where we could improve. This approach is linked to our Essential Care Framework and the re-launch of safety huddles in our teams, starting with our learning disability and dental divisions, but covering all our services over time.

Our latest quality and performance report shows a largely stable position especially on our measures of quality and safety of care. In terms of our financial position, whilst there is more to do, it is encouraging to report that our position in July and August has improved in line with our recovery plan and we remain firmly focussed on what we need to do to continue that trajectory.

We continue our work to understand and shape the approach to the “neighbourhood health” vision and are assessing the organisational implications set out in the 10 Year Health Plan - the opportunity to build a strong relationship with GPs to support improved primary and community care will be an important one for us.

OfSTED and the Care Quality Commission (CQC) have now published their report on services for children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) in Birmingham, acknowledging that while families are benefiting from a more positive experience, support remains inconsistent. In relation to BCHC services for children and families, the report recognises that progress has been made in reducing waiting times for children’s therapy services and in working with schools to support children with SEND.

It stresses, however, the continuing need for improvement in waiting times for Autism and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) assessment and better use of the Dynamic Support Register to prevent escalation of difficulties and to provide input to Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs). 

Finally, as it’s autumn, it is awards time of year. And it has been great to see teams from across BCHC getting recognition – our work developing integrated care has been shortlisted for two HSJ Awards. our infection prevention and control team has been shortlisted in the national IPC awards for their work with care homes, we were  recognised in national estates and facilities awards; and our peer support teams supporting the Oliver McGowan training have been recognised in learning disability and autism awards. Congratulations to all those colleagues – it is great to see so many different teams getting deserved recognition.

As ever, a lot going on and a lot to do! Feel free to get in touch if there’s anything you’d like to raise with me.

Best wishes,

Richard

richard.kirby@nhs.net