Agenda and minutes

            The Minutes of the meeting held on 29 September 2020 were signed as a correct record.

The Board welcomed Lee Bloomfield from North West Boroughs Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust (FT), who provided an update in respect to North West Borough’s Healthcare NHS FT’s response to Covid-19 and the subsequent restoration and recovery of clinical services for the local population of Halton.

The report gave an overview of the current Trust and local Borough service delivery, patient activity including referral rates, activity levels, waiting list sizes and how and where care was being delivered.  It also detailed the process the Trust had undertaken to restore services in the short term and detailed the process for the medium and long term.

It was noted that the report was produced using a snapshot approach, focussing on two points – weeks commencing 2 March 2020 and 10 August 2020.

On behalf of the Board the Chair thanked the presenter and queried the position with regards to Child and Adults Mental Health Services.  This information would be made available to the Board following the meeting.

RESOLVED:  That the presentation be received and comments made noted.

The Board considered a report from the Clinical Chief Officer NHS Halton CCG and the Director of Strategy, Warrington and Halton Teaching Hospitals (WHTH) NHS Foundation Trust (FT) on the creation of a ‘Health Hub’, delivering some outpatient hospital services from Runcorn Shopping City.

It was reported that a partnership between WHTH NHS FT, Halton Borough Council and the Liverpool City Region (LCR) had developed a plan to utilise unused retail space in Runcorn Shopping City to deliver a number of clinical services.  The report outlined the context, the progress made to date and described the next steps with regard to undertaking a patient, public and staff pre-engagement and consultation exercise to consider the proposal and detail within these plans.  Appended to the report was the ‘Draft Consultation FAQ’s – Runcorn Shopping City’.

Following the presentation the Healthwatch Co-optee Member to the Board offered their assistance with the promotion of the pre-engagement work and the 8-week consultation through their networks, as well the opportunity to carry out engagement using their online Zoom sessions.  One Member suggested that the Council’s Customer Intelligence Unit may be able to assist with the survey as they had experience of conducting these in the past. 

RESOLVED:  That the Health Policy and Performance Board receives the proposal outlining the proposed actions to proceed with engagement and consultation relating to the proposed service expansion and/or relocation of services at Runcorn Shopping City as outlined.

The Board considered a report which provided an overview of progress to date of the plans for new hospital developments in Warrington and Halton, and sought support to continue to progress the plans for Halton Hospital site redevelopment and to ensure the provision of hospital services in a modern fit for purpose estate.

Members welcomed Lucy Gardener, from Warrington and Halton Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, who presented the update.

The Board was advised that following the Warrington and Halton Teaching Hospitals NHSFT’s publication of its Estate and Facilities Strategy 2019-2024, the need for modernisation and reconfiguration on both the Warrington and Halton sites was reiterated.  This included the provision of a new hospital for Warrington and the completion of the development of a hospital and wellbeing campus on the Halton site.

It was reported that the Strategic Outline Cases (SOCs) had been developed for both and reviewed by NHSE with positive feedback received.  Further, the SOCs had been approved by the Warrington and Halton Teaching Hospitals NHSFT’s Board and by Warrington and Halton CCGs.  In order to further progress the planning for the new hospitals to the next stage, Executive Board was asked to give their support to the programme and support in progressing to the next state of business case development, this was agreed at the last meeting of the Executive Board in November.

 Following Members queries, it was confirmed that the new extension to Halton Hospital would be completed before the demolition of buildings where services were currently being delivered.  So there would be no loss of services from the Halton site, including the Brooker Centre.  More information would be provided in the full business case once this was available.

One Member requested sight of the Strategic Outline Cases.  It was noted that once final NHSE approval had been given, they would be shared with the Board.

RESOLVED:  That the Board notes the report.

The Board received a report and accompanying presentation from the Director of Public Health and Protection, which updated them on the Public Health response to Covid-19 Coronavirus. 

The presentation included the most recent data; the latest update on the Halton Outbreak Support Team and the testing approach in the community, including mass testing.

Members welcomed the news that Halton’s infection rate was now below the North West average and hospitals had seen a reduction in the numbers of beds occupied by Covid-19 patients.

RESOLVED:  That the report be noted.

The Board considered a report from the Chief Commissioner – NHS Halton CCG, appraising them of the Winter Planning 2020 requirements and the Mid Mersey system Winter Plan submissions.

The Mid Mersey Winter Planning document was attached to the report and the Board was advised that the two local system Winter plans had been derived from local system partnerships of St Helens and Knowsley, and Warrington and Halton and were attached to the report as appendices one and two respectively.

It was noted that the two local plans had been aggregated to form a Mid Mersey introduction into the system response to Winter.  The local systems would need to continuously assist local delivery for any new challenges for the winter planning task ahead.

RESOLVED:  That the Board

1)    acknowledge the Winter planning requirements; and

2)    supports the two local system winter plans and the Mid Mersey submission.

The Board received the Performance Management Reports for quarter 2 of 2020-21.

Members were advised that the report introduced, through the submission of a structured thematic performance report, the progress of key performance indicators, milestones and targets relating to Health in quarter 2 of 2020-21.  This included a description of factors, which were affecting the service.

The Board was requested to consider the progress and performance information and raise any questions or points for clarification; and highlight any areas of interest or concern for reporting at future meetings of the Board. 

It was reported that the emergence of the Coronavirus had disrupted reporting with some areas being suspended and some being reported differently.  Officers advised that since publication of the agenda, the financial information had become available and would be circulated to Members following the meeting.

The Chair suggested that the commentary in the report should include reference to the good work that was being done by all staff at this unprecedented time, as they deserved recognition for their dedication and hard work.

RESOLVED:  That the Performance Management Reports for quarter 2 be received.