Minutes:
The Board
considered a report of the Strategic Director, Communities which presented Members with details of
the proposals for change and expansion of the Clatterbridge
Cancer Centre Services, the rationale for these changes and the
implications. The following
representatives from Clatterbridge Hospital attended
the meeting to present the proposals: Fiona Jones - Project Director, Dr. Nicky
Thorp - Assistant Medical Director, Emer Scott - Associate Director of
Strategic Communications. Ms Jacqueline Robinson, NHS
Cheshire & Merseyside Commissioning Support Unit.
The
Board was advised that formal notification had been received from NHS England
(NHSE) Cheshire, Warrington and Wirral Area Team Specialised Commissioning, as
the accountable commissioners, and Clatterbridge
Cancer Centre (CCC) NHS Foundation Trust, as the providers of cancer care for
the people in Halton, of the proposed changes to the services provided by CCC.
The details of the proposals, the background and consultation plan were
attached at Appendix 1-6 of the report.
It was
reported that the Board would need to consider the proposals and agree that
they constituted a significant variation to the services provided to the
residents of Halton. If this was agreed then the proposals would be subject to
joint scrutiny as determined by the protocol for establishment of joint health
scrutiny arrangements for Cheshire and Merseyside. The protocol had been agreed by full Council
in April 2014. Following the agreed protocol, it was likely that the lead
Authority would be Liverpool or Wirral.
The
following comments arose from the discussion:-
·
The
Board raised concern at the transport issue and the cost of car parking for
residents indicating that Halton was a deprived area and there would be a
substantial cost for the residents. It
was also reported that to get to The Royal in Liverpool, Halton residents would
have to take three buses, which resulted in a long journey and a significant
cost to the resident. Concern was also
raised that numerous services were being placed in The Royal Hospital,
Liverpool and the footfall would significantly increase. In response, it was
reported that car parking on the Liverpool and Clatterbridge
sites would be free. It was also
reported that discussions would take place with Merseytravel
to enhance the bus services. In
addition, it was reported that the proposals would give patients greater
options and some of those patients would be treated more locally than at the
present time. An assurance was given
that Members would receive more detailed information on transport via the
patient journeys that will be developed in the future;
·
Clarity
was sought on waiting times and whether they would be affected or
improved. In response, it was reported
that the waiting times at Clatterbridge were very
good. However, patients only attended
the services provided by Clatterbridge further down
the patients pathway as they had already been
diagnosed or had surgery. However, it
was reported that the increased capacity would make treatments more accessible;
·
It
was suggested that Fazakerley would have been the
ideal location for such services as it was easily accessible and was not
affected by traffic congestion;
·
The
Board noted the plans for consultation on the proposals i.e. 47 road shows (14
in Halton), 103 charities and shops would be involved, Healthwatch
had been working closely with the Trust on this matter and a number of
libraries, Community Centres and GP surgeries would also be involved;
·
It
was agreed that the pre consultation report
be circulated to all Members of the Board; and
·
The
importance of the Trust working with the private sector companies and
pharmaceutical companies to undertake drug research was noted. It was also noted that the development of new
drugs was very expensive and required a significant number of patients to be
involved, very often without achieving a successful outcome as the drug had
been too toxic or not effective. It was
reported that it was hoped that the proposals would put Clatterbridge
on the map. It was noted that drug development
required oncology working together with access to professionalism and intensive
care and that was not currently available at the site. However, the proposals for the new site would
result in being able to take up early stage trials and to start to develop new
treatments.
RESOLVED: That
(1)
The report and comments raised be noted; and
(2)
The Board agree that these that these proposals constitute a significant variation to services provided
to the residents of Halton and as such agree to a joint scrutiny of the
proposals as outlined in paragraph 3.3 and 3.4 of the report.
Supporting documents: