Agenda item

The Board received a presentation from Mel Pickup, Chief Executive, Warrington and Halton HNS Foundation Trust which:-

 

§                     Outlined the following developments that had taken place in   2011/12:-

 

-     A new political landscape – The Health Social Care Bill - The NHS Architecture had been reconfigured, the demise of the PCT’s – advent of Clinical Commissioning Groups, PCT Clusters and SHA Clusters;

 

-     The economic pressures – a £13m improvement programme;

 

-     Business as usual – high quality, safe healthcare, targets and regulatory compliance;

 

-     Clinical and service developments – Elective work moves to Halton, the Vascular Services Review; Urgent Care Centre, the Repatriation of Cardiac Interventions and the accreditation of Endoscopy Services;

 

§                     Set out future developments in Warrington and Halton in 2012/13 as follows:-

 

-     A continuing emphasis on quality and safety as outlined in   the quality report;

 

-     Preparing for the economic challenges ahead – doing things differently;

 

-     Change programmes coming into place – rostering, remodelling of admin functions for greater efficiency;

 

-     A continued investment in new and improved services;

 

-     Working with GP commissioners; and

 

·        Highlighted the following key issues:-

 

-     The vascular services review outcome;

 

-     Musculoskeletal services development’

 

-     Halton campus development and the ISTC building;

 

-     Improvements to car parking, catering and other patient services; and

 

-     The development of community based outpatient services; and

 

·        Set out the following conclusions:-

 

-     The changes were some of the most challenging times in NHS history;

 

-     A magnitude of financial savings would be required and would force difficult choices to be made;

 

-     There would be no compromise on service quality and safety;

 

-     Partner bodies were equally challenged – The Health Summit and Health and Wellbeing Board; and

 

-     Collaboration would need to take place with other health care providers.

 

         The Chairman of the Board reported that they did not agree with the proposals for the vascular review and that there should be three centres of excellence not two.  In addition, she reported that a joint Overview and Scrutiny Board had been established with Warrington and St Helens to consider the proposals and the first meeting would take place at 2 pm on 23 January 2012 in Warrington Town Hall,  She indicated Manchester was establishing three centres and had a similar population.  They and other areas had used a different criteria (75 not 100) and the same criteria should have been used.

 

The following comments arose from the discussion:-

 

·        It was noted that endoscopy services would operate from the Warrington site as the Halton site did not meet the criteria.  However, it was also noted that work on an elected basis, where clinically possible would be undertaken at Halton Hospital as it was a much better environment for the patient;

 

·        It was suggested that Halton Hospital could have been utilised more during the refurbishment of Warrington Hospital to minimise the disruption to patients;

 

·        Clarity was sought on future services at Halton Hospital.  In response, it was reported that Halton wards had more space, but in the current economic climate, any additional new build would not be viable.  However, with the increasing pressures on the Warrington site, consideration was being given to transferring as many services to Halton as possible, providing it was safe to do so.  This was being led by clinicians and it was hoped that more medical patients would be treated at Halton Hospital;

 

·        Clarity was sought on how more use could be made of Halton Hospital and it be a made a more viable option and what the Members could do to support this process.  It was also suggested that the target for waiting lists were being reduced as if a patient failed to attend, they would be taken off the waiting list and would have to start the referral process again via their GP.  In response, it was reported that the target for waiting lists was being achieved and the time for people had to wait had significantly reduced in comparison to a few years ago.  It was reported that the hospital were also working closely with GP Commissioners to enable them to be the preferred health provider;

 

·        It was noted that if an operation was not funded by the NHS as it did not meet the criteria, the patient could choose to pay for it and the NHS would do the operation.  It was also noted that the patient would not be offered private facilities and would therefore be charged at a lower tariff than in the private sector.  In addition, it was noted that the patient would be treated as an NHS patient but charged a tariff.

 

RESOLVED: That

 

(1)                     the presentation and comments raised be noted; and

 

(2)          Mel Pickup be thanked for her attendance and informative presentation.