May 2026 Board Meeting

May 2026 Board summary

Staff Story

The Board meeting began with a staff story from Dr Ailsa McKinlay, Resident Doctor Peer Lead, who shared progress and challenges in delivering the NHS England 10‑point plan to improve resident doctors’ working lives.

The Board heard that there has been good progress in leadership, rostering and exception reporting. However, a number of everyday issues still need attention, including access to hot food overnight, car parking and bus timetables, suitable places to work and rest, secure storage for personal items, and clearer communication and information.

The discussion highlighted that many of these issues affect staff more widely, reinforcing the importance of listening to frontline experience and focusing on practical improvements that support wellbeing and safe patient care.

Chair’s update

• Deborah Evans thanked staff across the Trust for their continued professionalism and commitment to patient care during a challenging period.
• The Chair highlighted the Trust’s strong partnership with its governors, thanking them for their ongoing role in representing patient, public and staff voices and supporting improvements in patient experience.
• Since the last Board meeting, Board members have visited a range of services, including the Emergency Department, surgical services, medical wards and maternity. These visits provided valuable insight into frontline pressures, progress in quality improvement and the importance of visible leadership.
• The Chair noted positive regional feedback on the Trust’s progress with urgent care flow, waiting times and financial grip, recognising the collective efforts of staff across the organisation.

Chief Executive’s update

• Work continues to safely reinstate home births and reopen Cheltenham Birth Centre. Kevin McNamara underlined that there are no plans to close Stroud Maternity Hospital.
• Dialysis services at Gloucestershire Royal Hospital were rated “Good” by the CQC, providing independent assurance about the quality and safety of care.
• Planning permission has been submitted for the new Gloucestershire Cancer Centre, with £9.7m of the £17.5m fundraising target already raised.
• The Neonatal Unit achieved a UNICEF Baby Friendly Initiative Certificate of Commitment, recognising progress in supporting infant feeding.

Integrated performance report

Performance

• Urgent and emergency care remains under pressure. The four‑hour standard was 60.3% in January, with the twelve‑hour standard at 87.8%, reflecting winter demand.
• Ambulance handover times remained strong at an average of around 22 minutes, despite high activity.
• Planned care performance improved, with 45‑week waits reducing from 724 to 692 patients, performing strongly compared to regional peers.

Quality and safety

• Overall Friends and Family Test scores remained high at 92.3%, though emergency department scores fell from 77% to 73%, highlighting an area for improvement.
• Infection prevention performance remained strong, with C. difficile rates below trajectory.
• Five inpatient falls resulting in harm were reviewed through patient safety investigation processes, with learning actions in place.

People

• As reflected in the Nursing Safer Staffing report, staffing remains stable, with improved vacancy and turnover rates.
• Sickness absence remains a challenge, with mental health the leading cause, and is a key leadership focus.
• Appraisal compliance sits at 82%, below the 90% target, with work under way to address barriers.

Finance

• At month 10, the Trust was £0.1m favourable to plan, achieving a break‑even position supported by additional system funding.
• Delivery of recurrent savings remains challenging, with an in‑year shortfall of £5.9m and a recurrent gap of £11m, requiring continued focus.

Other papers

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

• Maternity services – Case for Change - The Board discussed the published Case for Change for Gloucestershire’s maternity services. This sets out why services need to evolve to meet changing patterns of need, including increasing clinical complexity, workforce pressures and persistent inequalities in outcomes and experience. The report provides the base for future engagement and co‑design with women, families, staff and partners, ensuring maternity services are safe, equitable, sustainable and responsive to the needs of today’s and future populations.
• Risk management and Board Assurance Framework - updated on the Trust’s principal risks and how they are being managed and overseen at Board level.

Governor reflections

Governors reflected on their recent visit to Stroud Maternity, where they met with staff and saw the facilities. The Governors welcomed the positive discussion at Board on work to safely reopen home births and Cheltenham Birth Centre, alongside engagement with communities through the Maternity Case for Change.

They also noted the King’s Speech the previous day and national proposals that could see the statutory governor role removed. Governors emphasised the importance of ensuring that the voices of patients and communities continue to shape NHS services, locally and nationally, reflecting lived experience and what matters most to people.