Today, I started the planning process with a 20 strong Working Group for the Hospital Self Assessment, which will be conducted by a team from IHQ (London). First exercise what small group discussion on what we do well and what we need to improve. Here's a flavour....

WHAT WE DO WELL.....

• Work well under difficult conditions
• Spread little money and use staff wisely
• Support each other
• Maternal and Child Health Services
• Resource mobilisation - not entirely dependent on govt.
• Community response and capacity building
• Community ownership of hospital
• Financially disciplined
• Move with the issues e.g. Leprosy, HIV/AIDS
• Try to listen
• Transport - Reach far / remote place
• Really care for people in the Hospital
• Recognise the whole person
• Host people
• Staff motivation
• Committed in what we do
• Manage outbreaks e.g. cholera and dyssentry
• Innovative - we try
• Provision of Anti Retroviral Treatment (HIV/AIDS)
• Good medical care

WHAT WE NEED TO IMPROVE ON....

• Personal relationships
• Inter denominational boundaries
• integrating our community programmes
• life saving equipment
• mental health services
• strengthening community based structures - Care and Prevention Teams
• Power and Water supply
• Inter-departmental communication
• Finances
• Home based care
• Maintenance (need the Joint Board)
• Diet for patients
• communication facilities
• OPD Toilet facilities
• more nurses
• staff accomodation
• ambulance service
• handling emergencies - code blue
• Integrated Mission
• Buildings and Equipment
• Drug supplies

It was a very interesting process and three hours we looked at the "brutal facts" (Jim Collins speak). We also looked at our mission statement and whether it reflected what we do, what we believe and what we stand for. It was the start of a long process but I am encouraged. It was a good start.