At last night’s annual members’ meeting the chief executive and chairman of the Royal Free London (RFL) spoke about the successes of the past year and the challenges ahead.

More than 100 members of the trust, patients and staff attended the meeting, which was held at the Royal Free Hospital last night. 

Chairman Dominic Dodd talked about progress, challenges and the future direction of the trust. In particular, he told the audience about improvements made in patient safety.

Dominic said the trust has, in the past year, had better than average mortality rates, which means that the trust continues to provide safe care for patients.

He also spoke about infection control at the trust. “Across all three of our hospital, in the past year there have been no cases of MRSA,” said Dominic. “That’s a huge achievement and it’s down to a team effort. But, in particular, well done to the infection control team, led by Yvonne Carter.”

David Sloman, the chief executive, spoke about how the trust aims to improve care in a challenging NHS environment.

“We are going to focus on quality as a route to providing better value for tax payers’ money,” he said. “We are going to support our staff even more; we are going to invest more – over the next year there will unprecedented levels of investment at this trust.”

Deborah Sanders, directing of nursing, spoke about the trust’s continuing recruitment drive and how the RFL is aiming to attract the best new nursing staff from across the country.

Frances Blunden, the deputy lead governor, spoke at the meeting about the work of the governors - how they hold the board to account and engage with trust members and the public.

David, Dominic and other members of the executive team answered questions from audience members on a range of topics, including how the trust can continue to provide good value for taxpayers’ money and how we are continuing to encourage staff to report concerns about the delivery of care.

See the presentation from last night's event.

See a gallery of photos from the event.

Ends

Image: Chief executive David Sloman speaking at the annual members meeting.

Notes to editors

Media contacts: mary.mcconnell2@nhs.net or call 020 7472 6665

About the Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust

The Royal Free began as a pioneering organisation and continues to play a leading role in the care of patients. Our mission is to provide world class expertise and local care. In the 21st century, the Royal Free London continues to lead improvements in healthcare.

The Royal Free London attracts patients from across the country and beyond to its specialist services in liver and kidney transplantation, haemophilia, renal care, HIV, infectious diseases, plastic surgery, immunology, Parkinson's disease, vascular surgery, cardiology, amyloidosis and scleroderma and we are a member of the academic health science partnership UCLPartners.

In July 2014 Barnet Hospital and Chase Farm Hospital became part of the Royal Free London. Read 'A bigger trust, a better future'.