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Sustainability and Transformation Plan (STP)
In order to do this effectively, England has been divided into 44 geographical footprints. The health and care services within each of these footprints are working together to create a Sustainability and Transformation Plan (STP) which will show how local services will evolve and become sustainable over the next five years.
You can download a map of the 44 STP footprints here.
STPs footprints are not statutory bodies, but collective discussion forums which aim to bring together health and care leaders to support the delivery of improved health and care based on the needs of local populations. They do not replace existing local bodies, or change local accountabilities.
Gloucestershire Health and Care NHS Foundation Trust provides services in both Gloucestershire and Herefordshire. Therefore, we come under two STP footprints (Gloucestershire and Herefordshire & Worcestershire) and are involved with creating and delivering two separate sustainability and transformation plans.
Find out more about the plans below:
Counter Fraud
Who are we?
The Gloucestershire Local Counter Fraud Service (LCFS) provides a counter fraud service for Gloucestershire Health and Care NHS Foundation Trust, Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and NHS Gloucestershire Clinical Commissioning Group.
We are part of a national network of specialist investigators and our aim is to prevent fraud from happening and to deal with allegations that it has taken place – by NHS employees, contractors, suppliers, or members of the public.
What is fraud?
Fraud is when someone does something dishonestly in order to make a gain for themselves or someone else or cause a loss to another. According to the Fraud Act 2006 it is not necessary to prove a person has been deceived. The focus is on the individual’s dishonest behaviour and intent – and just trying to do it, even if not successful, makes the act complete.
Contact us
Call 0300 422 2726 if you suspect fraud.
More information
Types of Fraud
Fraud manifests itself in the NHS in a variety of ways. Fraud is said to cost the NHS an estimated £5 billion every year. It is important that we are all aware of the types of fraud that are committed and are not afraid to report fraudulent behaviour.
Patient Fraud
Patient fraud includes wrongful claiming of exemption from fees or travel expenses, alteration of prescriptions, and using aliases to obtain controlled drugs.
Professionals
Fraud by NHS professionals includes claiming for treatment or services not provided, undertaking private work in NHS time and using Trust equipment and materials for private work
Managers and Staff
This type of fraud involves the submission of a false CV or references; false or inflated time sheets or expenses; working elsewhere whilst on sickness absence from the Trust; abuse of Trust equipment; misappropriation of funds; claims for non-existent employees; and for goods and services that are for personal use.
Contractors and Suppliers
Contractor and supplier fraud includes charging for items of a higher quality or greater quantity than those supplied; using an inappropriate tendering processes; false or duplicate invoices; and price fixing.
Immigration Matters
Individuals who work, or attempt to work for NHS organisations supplying false documentation ranging from false passports, visas and national insurance numbers to secure employment.
What should I do if I suspect fraud?
If you are suspicious or have concerns:
DO tell your LCFS immediately by email or telephone – your confidentiality will be respected. We never disclose the name of an informant
DO keep or copy any document that arouses your suspicions
DO NOT confront the individual with your suspicions
DO NOT try to investigate your suspicions yourself
IF YOU ARE A MEMBER OF STAFF you can tell your line manager, but you are not required to – you can come directly to LCFS
Contact your Local Counter Fraud Service (LCFS)
All employees play a vital role in helping reduce losses throughout the NHS. We all therefore have a responsibility to protect the NHS from fraud and bribery at any level. If you have any concerns in regard to fraud or bribery at this Trust, or would more information or an awareness session for your team, please contact us.
Report fraud by contacting a member of the team below:
Telephone 0300 422 2742
Email rose.williams2@nhs.net
NHS Counter Fraud Authority
Alternatively, you can contact NHS Counter Fraud Authority. It is a simple means of reporting genuine suspicions of NHS fraud. All calls are dealt with by experienced, trained staff. Callers may remain anonymous if they wish. Freephone 0800 028 4060 (Monday to Friday 8am to 6pm). You can also report fraud using the NHS Counter Fraud Authority online reporting form.
NHS Constitution
The NHS is there for us from the moment we are born. It takes care of us and our family members when we need it most. The NHS was founded on a common set of principles and values, and the NHS Constitution establishes the principles and values of the NHS in England.
It sets out rights to which patients, public and staff are entitled, and pledges that the NHS is committed to achieving. It also sets out responsibilities, which the public, patients and staff owe to one another to ensure that the NHS operates fairly and effectively.
These rights cover how patients access health services, the quality of care you’ll receive, the treatments and programmes available to you, confidentiality, information and your right to complain if things go wrong. In return, the NHS expects you to take responsibility of your own health and use the NHS with respect. This includes:
- registering with a GP practice
- following courses of treatment you’ve agreed to
- always treating NHS staff and other patients with respect
- keeping GP and hospital appointments – or if you have to cancel, doing so in good time
- giving feedback – both positive and negative – about treatment you’ve received
No government can change the Constitution without the full involvement of staff, patients and the public. The Constitution is a promise that the NHS will always be there for you.
Download and read the Trust Constitution.
You can download the full NHS Constitution, as well as the Handbook to the Constitution and an Easy Read version of the NHS Constitution.
You can also listen to an audio version of the constitution.
Your rights to choice in the NHS
Everyone who is cared for by the NHS in England has legal rights that cover:
- rights about access to health services
- rights about quality of care and environment, such as the provision of same-sex hospital accommodation
- rights about treatments and drugs
- rights about consent and confidentiality
- rights about patient choice
- rights about your own involvement in your healthcare – for example, through schemes such as personal health budgets
- rights to complaints and redress
The NHS Constitutions sets out all of the above in detail. You can view these rights in detail on the GOV.UK website.
Your right to choice is also set out in the NHS Choice Framework, which explains when you have a legal right to choice about treatment and care in the NHS. The legal right to choice doesn’t apply to all healthcare services; however, where you do not have a legal right to choice, you should at least be offered some choices, depending on what’s available locally. Download the NHS Choice Framework from the GOV.UK website.
Equality, Diversity and Inclusion
Our Trust is committed to delivering fully inclusive services for the community we serve. We are also fully committed to ensuring our staff work in an environment that is free from discrimination. Equality and diversity is central to our values and the provision of our services.
As part of the NHS we are a public sector organisation with a statutory duty to ensure equality, diversity and human rights are embedded in everything we do, as required by the Equality Act 2010, the Human Rights Act 1998 and the NHS Constitution.
Accessible Information Standard
If you have any questions about this, either speak to one of our staff or email ghccomms@ghc.nhs.uk.
Equality Act 2010
- eliminate unlawful discrimination, harassment and victimisation and other conduct prohibited by The Equality Act 2010
- advance equality of opportunity between people from different groups
- foster good relations between people from different groups. This involves tackling prejudice and promoting understanding between people from different groups
The Equality Act 2010 outlaws acts of discrimination against the following nine protected characteristics:
- Age
- Disability
- Sex
- Gender reassignment
- Marriage and civil partnership
- Pregnancy and maternity
- Race
- Religion or belief
- Sexual orientation
Gender Pay Gap
- This Gender Pay Gap Report was discussed and approved by our Trust Board on in March 2022
The Human Rights Act 1998
Trust Statement on Modern Slavery
Modern slavery is the recruitment, movement, harbouring or receiving of children, women or men through the use of force, coercion, abuse of vulnerability, deception or other means for the purpose of exploitation. Individuals may be trafficked into, out of or within the UK, and they may be trafficked for a number of reasons including sexual exploitation, forced labour, domestic servitude and organ harvesting.
The Trust (GHCNHSFT) fully supports the Government’s objectives to eradicate modern slavery and human trafficking and recognises the significant role the NHS has to play. We are strongly committed to ensuring our supply chains and operational activities are free from ethical and labour standards abuses.
Slavery and Human Trafficking Statement for Financial Year 2020/21
During the last financial year, the Trust took, and continues to take, the following steps to ensure that slavery and human trafficking is not taking place:
- We confirm the identities of all new employees and their right to work in the United Kingdom
- All staff are appointed subject to references, health checks, immigration checks and identity checks. This ensures that we can be confident, before staff commence duties, that they have a legal right to work within our Trust
- We have a set of values and behaviours that staff are expected to comply with, and all candidates are expected to demonstrate these attributes as part of the selection process
- By adopting the national pay, terms and conditions of service, we have the assurance that all staff will be treated fairly and will comply with the latest legislation. This includes the assurance that staff received, at least, the national minimum wage from 1 April 2015
- We have various employment policies and procedures in place designed to provide guidance and advice to staff and managers but also to comply with employment legislation
- Our equality and diversity, grievance, respect and dignity at work for staff policies additionally give a platform for our employees to raise concerns about poor working practices
- Our policies and practices promote and support diversity and inclusion both as an employer and service provider; we recognise and acknowledge that diversity and inclusion are key corporate social responsibilities and a Diversity Network for all staff has been in place since our Trust inception in October 2019.
- Our mandatory safeguarding training includes modern slavery as a topic; all clinical staff receive training as part of our Trust bespoke level 2 safeguarding adult e-learning training and also level 3 safeguarding adult training
- Our Trust “Safeguarding Adult at Risk Policy”, and the countywide multi-agency safeguarding policy, to which our Trust is a partner signatory, also includes modern slavery and we have produced communications materials to raise awareness amongst staff and anyone working on or otherwise attending our sites
- Our Freedom to Speak: Raising Concerns (Whistleblowing) Policy gives a platform for employees to raise concerns for further investigation, and our Freedom To Speak Up Guardian and Safeguarding teams actively ensure they are accessible to staff
- The Procurement Team work on the principle of zero tolerance of modern slavery in our supply chain. Our standard terms and conditions require suppliers to comply with relevant legislation and tender evaluations include Social Economic factors. A large proportion of the goods and services procured are sourced through Government supply frameworks and contracts also require suppliers to comply with relevant legislation
- We continue to work with our suppliers directly and via partners, such as NHS Supply Chain, to support initiatives related to modern slavery.
Review of Effectiveness
The Trust will continue to take further steps to identify, assess and monitor potential risk areas in terms of modern slavery and human trafficking, particularly within supply chains. We aim to:
- Raise awareness and support our staff to understand and respond to modern slavery and human trafficking, and the impact that each and every individual working at our Trust can have in keeping present and potential future victims of modern slavery and human trafficking safe
- Ensure that all staff continue to have access to training on modern slavery and human trafficking which will provide the latest information and the skills to deal with it
- Embed Social Value best practice into commercial processes which will achieve improved Social Value awareness and compliance across all our commercial activities
- Impact assess all new or reviewed policies for diversity and inclusion compliance
This statement is made pursuant to section 54(1) of the Modern Slavery Act 2015 and constitutes our slavery and human trafficking statement for the financial year ended 31 March 2021.
Workforce Disability and Race Equality Standards
We are pleased to publish our 2021/22 Workforce Disability Equality Standard and Workforce Race Equality Standard Action Plans.
- WDES and WRES 2022-23 Action Plan
- WDES and WRES 2021-22 Action Plan
- A Model Employer – Increasing black, Asian and minority ethnic representation at senior levels
Further information about WRES is available here> and more on WDES is available here>
Patient Cost Information
Information on travel costs can be found here.
We support clinical research. Our ‘Count Me In’ programme gives all service users the opportunity to be involved in research unless you tell us otherwise. Find out more about research here.
