Agenda item

The Board received a presentation from Mr D Kitchin and

Ms J Treharne, North West Ambulance Service, NHS Trust on the Annual Review of the service.

 

The presentation:-

 

·             Gave details of the services provided and which covered Cheshire and Merseyside, Greater Manchester and Lancashire;

 

·             Outlined that the service covered the North West footprint  of 33 CCGs, 1,420 GP practices and 29 acute trusts; 1.3 million 999 calls were received each year; there had been 950,000 patient episodes; it represented a population of 7m people, with a growth of 3% by 2017; approximately 5,000 staff were employed with an annual income of £260 million; there were three emergency control rooms (virtual call taking) and 1.2 million PTS journeys has been undertaken in Cheshire, Lancashire, Merseyside and Cumbria;

 

·             Set out the Performance Standards for 999 calls; Halton CCG Red Activity by week 2013/14 vs 2014/15; Healthcare professional activity by the hour; HCP Admissions – NHS Halton CCG for 2014/15 and 2015/16;

 

·             Detailed the top five calls that were received;

 

·             Detailed the Halton Performance; the demand for various categories of calls;

 

·             Outlined the Year end Performance 2014/15 and 2015/16;

 

·             Highlighted Warrington and Whiston’s Hospital Arrival Screen Information;

 

·             Explained how work was undertaken with responders; how and why the ambulance service had changed; the evolving role and local initiatives that had taken place;

 

·             Outlined the changes to emergency and urgent care and how the service was operating differently to achieve better outcomes; and

 

·             Explained how work was taking place to educate the public and partners.

 

The Chairman reported that last year England’s Chief Inspector of Hospitals had published his first report on the quality of care provided by North West Ambulance Service.  Overall the Quality Care Commission (CQC) Inspection had found that the Trust provided safe and effective services which were well led with a clear focus on quality.  The Inspection Team had included CQC Inspectors, doctors, nurses, paramedics, patient experts by experience and senior manager, over 60 people had spent four days visiting the Trust’s three emergency operation centres.

 

The Board noted the challenges and delays in patients waiting to be transported home via ambulance and the steps that were being taken to address this matter.

 

The Board was advised that the three emergency call centres were based in Broughton - Preston, Parkway – Greater Manchester and Anfield – Liverpool.  However, an urgent upgrade was required in respect of the building and environment in Anfield and it was anticipated that a new site, preferably on the Joint Command and Control Centre at Bridle Road Bootle would be established by 2017. 

 

The Board was also advised that there were 35 Ambulance services across Cheshire and Merseyside seven of which were co-located with the Fire and Rescue Service.  Clarity was sought on how many emergency ambulances were available in Halton during the evening.  In response, it was reported that there were two vehicles in Runcorn; two in Widnes, two response cars in Runcorn and one in Widnes which ceases at 2 am due to lack of demand.  However, the additional investment would also provide an additional 16 hour ambulance vehicle in Widnes and Runcorn and one further response car.

 

The Board noted the extensive training that was undertaken by all staff and that this included training in mental health issues, alcohol and drugs.

 

Clarity was sought on the vulnerability of the Patient Transport Service in light of losing the Manchester contract two years ago.  In response, it was reported that the contract would cease in 2016 and NWAS would bid to retain the existing contracts and to gain the Manchester contract.  It was reported that lessons had been learned and the bid would be as competitive as possible.

 

RESOLVED: That

 

(1)        The contents of the presentation and comments raised be noted;

 

(2)        Mr D Kitchin and Ms J Treharne be thanked for their informative presentation; and

 

(3)        The Board re-affirm the support from the CQC in finding that the Trust provided safe and effective services which were well led with a clear focus on quality.