Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

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Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust is an NHS Foundation Trust that provides health services in North Lancashire, England. It runs Blackpool Victoria Hospital, a large acute hospital, and two smaller community hospitals, Clifton Hospital and Fleetwood Hospital. It also runs the National Artificial Eye Service, Blenheim House Child Development Centre, and community health services for North Lancashire.

History and structure
- The Trust became a Foundation Trust in 2007 as Blackpool, Fylde and Wyre Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.
- In 2017 it created a subsidiary, BFW Management Ltd (trading as Atlas), transferring about 150 estates and facilities staff; by 2019 the subsidiary employed over 200 staff. The aim was to gain VAT refunds and save on pay costs by using non-NHS contracts.

Leadership
- In 2021 Trish Armstrong-Child became chief executive.

Performance and issues
- In 2013 the Trust was named by Dr Foster Intelligence as having higher than expected mortality.
- Financials: 2012-13 deficit of £0.5 million; 2013-14 deficit of £12.4 million, with £15.3 million spent on temporary staff.
- The Trust helped develop a diabetes care plan for young people in 2015.
- It was named by the Health Service Journal as one of the top hundred NHS trusts to work for in 2015, with 4.33% sickness absence and around 62% of staff recommending it as a place to treat and to work.
- Emergency care performance declined in the following years: February 2016 showed the worst performance in England for the four-hour ED target (63% against 95%); March 2018 remained the worst performer (48.3% seen within 4 hours, 62 waiting more than 12 hours); December 2019 was the second-worst in England (44.2% seen within 4 hours).

Patient records and maternity care
- There have been concerns about medical notes and information sharing raised by coroners and the Care Quality Commission (CQC).
- The Trust uses an electronic patient record in the emergency department (IMS MAXIMS) and planned to roll it out more widely when funding allowed.
- In 2022 the maternity department received a warning notice from the CQC due to severe staffing problems and delays, with women waiting up to five days for labour induction.

Public health procurement
- In 2017 the Trust and Lancashire Care NHS Foundation Trust challenged a Lancashire County Council procurement for 0–19 public health services. A High Court ruling set aside the award to Virgin Care because the process wasn’t correct, and the same contract was later awarded again under independent oversight.