Issue - meetings

Members received an update on Stroke Reconfiguration in Med-Mersey.  The Board welcomed Elaine Day – Stroke Programme Lead, Northwest Coast Strategic Clinical Network, who presented the item. 

It was noted that nationally there were 40% consultants posts vacant and recruitment was an issue, especially in the North region.  Also local, regional and national recruitment drives had not been successful.

Members were advised of one of the latest treatments available for stroke patients was ‘Mechanical Thrombectomy’.  This was only used when the clot busting drug had failed to remove the clot.  Presently all stroke patients requiring this treatment (a very small number 3 – 5 %) were being transferred to St Helens and Knowsely Trust (SHKT).  It was reported that in order to ensure that SHKT stroke service was able to carry on its gold standard stroke service, a number of considerations needed addressing, as stated in paragraph 3.5 of the report.

The report continued to provide information on:

·       the numbers of patients and type of stroke suffered;

·       the patient and public engagement sessions;

·       the stroke survey feedback from the engagement sessions;

·       Early Supported Discharge (ESD) deficiencies; and

·       Phase 2 of the reconfiguration.

Further to Members’ queries an explanation of the administration of the clot busting drug was provided and further detail given about the procedure if it did not work.  Members discussed the standard and facilities available at Broadgreen and Whiston Hospitals in this field of work.  The advantages of a telemedicine service were also discussed and it was hoped that this would be used across England in time.

The Chair queried the public engagement exercise as opposed to a formal consultation including the surrounding local authorities.  In response the Board was advised that other local authorities had been asked to comment but did not respond.  The Chair advised colleagues that as this constituted a substantial variation then the change should be subject to formal consultation as part of the Board’s scrutiny function.  However, it was highlighted that in circumstances where the relevant NHS body or health service commissioner believed that a decision had to be taken without allowing time for consultation because of a risk to safety or welfare of patients or staff, then formal consultation did not need to take place.  In this instance the relevant NHS body or health service commissioner must formally notify the local authority that consultation would not take place and the reason for this.

NHS Halton CCG was requested to inform the Authority if this was the case, as per the national guidance. 

RESOLVED: That the report be noted.