Hospital embraces kaizen
A HOSPITAL in Crewe is planning to sharpen up its services by employing the “lean” philosophy pioneered by Japanese manufacturers.
Lean, or kaizen, is based on the notion of continuous improvement and is common in business after being embraced by Japanese firms such as Toyota.
Now Mid Cheshire NHS Foundation Trust, which manages Leighton Hospital in Crewe and the Victoria Infirmary in Northwich, is looking for a consultant that will help it to operate the lean way.
It wants to appoint an adviser for 12 months who will introduce a lean methodology approach to service delivery and management, “with the aim of achieving efficiency savings whilst enabling the trust to improve the quality of care received by patients”.
Head of communications Annie Harvey insisted the move would not lead to staff cuts. Instead, it is about “discovering how we can best use the resources we’ve got”.
Work has already started in Crewe where a consultant has been considering how to improve services at the ante-natal clinic, the glaucoma clinic and on the wards.
Ms Harvey added: “We’re looking at the continuity of care and the consistency with which we treat patients. There may be cost improvements but it’s more about the patient experience.”
In 2007-08 the trust, which handles a £126m annual budget, finsished the year with a £5.5m surplus. After paying a dividend to the NHS it was left with £2.2m, up from £60,000 the previous year.
Its biggest cost during the year was staff at £93.2m, up 8% on the previous year.
The consultancy contract will run for 12 months from April. The deadline for bids is November 26.
