July 2026 Board Meeting

July 2026 Board summary

Patient Story

Gloucestershire Young Carers attended the Board and shared a powerful video featuring four young carers, highlighting the important role they play and the need to involve them in decisions that affect them. There are an estimated 7,000 young carers across Gloucestershire.

The Trust has been working in partnership with Gloucestershire Young Carers to improve their experience of healthcare services and has co-designed a practical guide with young carers based on their lived experiences. Young Carers Booklet.

Chair’s update

• Deborah Evans thanked Gloucestershire Young Carers for their moving presentation and the partnership they have with the Trust, and the real difference it is making.
• The Chair reflected on the recent Volunteers Long Service Awards, celebrating an incredible 460 years of combined volunteer service, including one volunteer who has supported the Trust for 35 years. The event showcased the dedication and generosity of local people, including inspiring stories such as Ade, who volunteers on the wards while studying for a Master’s degree after moving to Gloucestershire from Nigeria. The Chair also thanked the Trust Charity for its support in making the event possible.
• Further work continues to strengthen relationships across the Bristol, North Somerset, South Gloucestershire and Gloucestershire ICB with meetings with key NHS leaders and the first Chairs’ meeting, helping build stronger collaboration across the South West region.
• Deborah also welcomed back to Jaki Meekings-Davis our chair of Finance and Resources.

Chief Executive’s update

• Kevin McNamara updated Board on the recent Amos Report and next steps for the Trust. Many of the themes highlighted in the report are not new to our services and reflect issues already identified through CQC inspections, independent reviews and feedback from women, families and staff, and which form part of the Maternity Improvement Plan we are delivering, including the NHS England 10-point plan.
• Kevin also reflected on the recent CQC prosecution following the death of a patient in 2022. https://www.gloshospitals.nhs.uk/about-us/news-media/press-releases-statements/water-safety-cqc-prosecution/. He reaffirmed the Trust's deepest condolences and recognised profound impact this tragic death has had on the family.
• There was also an important discussion following the national Lord Mann Review on racism in the NHS, reinforcing the need for stronger leadership accountability, improved reporting and a culture where racism is actively challenged to improve staff and patient experience.

Integrated performance report

Performance

• The recent Clinical Vision of Flow had seen some significant improvements across the Trust and July marked the two year milestone when corridor care across inpatient wards had stopped - an important achievement.
• The recent heatwaves had impacted on services, affecting theatres, diagnostics and inpatient areas, and led to significant attendances across both hospitals.
• Ambulance handover delays improved with offloads around 20mins, reflecting sustained work to improve patient flow. However, overall performance dipped slightly, with four‑hour performance at 63.7% in May (down from 64.9% in April) following three months of improvement.
• Performance against the 12‑hour standard also reduced marginally, highlighting the ongoing pressure on urgent care services.
• Elective recovery continues, with further reductions in the number of patients waiting over 65 weeks, representing steady progress overall. The number of patients waiting over 45 weeks remains above earlier levels, at around 100 higher than March, largely reflecting increased demand in Trauma and Orthopaedics in part due to issues relating to sterile services (CSSD) and some impact from the resident doctor industrial action.

Quality and safety

• Patient experience remains positive overall, with the Friends and Family Test scores continuing to perform above average. Improvements have been seen across outpatients, maternity and emergency care, although variation remains between sites, with a noticeable difference in experience between Cheltenham and Gloucester Emergency Departments. Postnatal ward experience also remains an area of focus.
• Feedback and concerns continue to be managed responsively, with closure rates sustained above target at 86% (against a 75% target), including 293 cases closed within five working days out of 339 in the month. However, the number of concerns raised remains high, with 392 cases in May, the highest level seen in over two years.
• Patient safety indicators continue to show improvement, with falls reducing to 6 per 1,000 bed days and no falls resulting in injury during May, reflecting sustained focus on harm reduction across teams.

People

• Recruitment and retention continue to improve, particularly in nursing and frontline roles, helping to stabilise teams and reduce reliance on temporary staffing. However, it was noted that sickness absence has risen slightly, in part due to the heatwave.
• Staff wellbeing and inclusion remain key priorities, with continued focus on supporting flexible working, engagement and a positive working culture.

Finance

• The Trust’s financial position at the end of month two shows a £4.78 million deficit, which is slightly better than planned (by £78,000). This reflects a combination of factors, including higher‑than‑expected funding support and some savings in staffing.
• Some of this positive position is offset by pressures, including the financial impact of industrial action earlier in the year and increased costs in areas such as medications.

Health and Safety

• The Board reviewed the Annual Health & Safety Report 2025–26, which provides assurance on statutory compliance, governance effectiveness, and delivery of the Health & Safety Plan.
• Key issues highlighted for Board attention included fire safety, ventilation and ageing infrastructure, violence and aggression and estates resilience.
• The Board also endorsed the forward improvement priorities for 2026–27, including progressing fire enforcement actions, strengthening ventilation resilience, and improving workplace inspection and risk‑assessment quality.

Other papers

The Trust Board also received reports on the following topics, in line with the Trust’s Five‑Year Strategy:

• Each year, the Trust publishes an Engagement and Involvement Annual Review, highlighting the work we have done together with communities and the impact is has made on how we deliver care.
• The Board received the annual Quality Account which sets out the priorities aligned to our strategy and to what matters most to patients and staff, ensuring that quality improvement is grounded in outcomes, experience and safety.
• The Board also received the Freedom to Speak Up (FTSU) Annual Report, led by our Freedom to Speak Up Guardian. It outlines how the organisation is supporting staff to raise concerns and what has been learned as a result.

Governor reflections

Governors reflected on the powerful and moving patient story shared by Gloucestershire Young Carers, recognising its impact and expressing admiration for the responsibility, resilience and humility shown by so many young people.

They also highlighted the importance of the Freedom to Speak Up (FTSU) Annual Report, noting that behind every statistic is a member of staff with a personal story. Governors recognised how vital this work is in supporting colleagues, particularly at times when they may be facing difficult or challenging circumstances.