Agenda item

            The Board received a report of the Strategic Director, Health and Community which informed Members of the conclusions reached during phase 4 of the review on Halton Hospital.

            It was noted that in November 2007, Halton and St. Helens PCT, North Cheshire Hospitals NHS Trust and Halton Borough Council agreed to deliver a “Strategic Vision and Mission Project” for Halton Hospital.

            It was noted that the report reflected on the findings from earlier stages of the project and summarised the key findings of phase 4. Members were advised that the key messages from the initial stages of the project included:

• Uptake and utilisation of existing services was good and had increased over the last 12 months;
• Overall, the current site was under-utilised;
• The financial impact of working time directives, meant that it was not financially viable to provide 24 hour clinical care on the Halton site;
• Any future model would focus on meeting local health needs and providing services that fit with community services and met a medical need for the wider geographical area not met at neighbouring hospitals; and
• That there was scope for capital redevelopment on the site.

            It was noted that the object of phase 4 of the project was to prioritise a number of service areas for potential development on the Halton Hospital Campus. Proposals put forward were for additional services over and above what was already being provided on site, details of which were outlined in the appendix to the report.

            Members were advised that using the seven priorities identified in the Halton and St. Helens PCT Commissioning Strategic Plan, views were sought from key stakeholders and members of the public on which additional services would best address local health care needs and whether these services should be developed in the community or on the Halton Hospital Campus site. As a result of this consultation, the additional services identified for potential development on the Halton:

• Healthy lifestyle promotion/interventions;
• Early detection screening for major illness;
• Short stay rehabilitation/re-enablement;
• Maternity (not including delivery); and
• Lifestyle and leisure facilities linked to health improvement rehabilitation and re-enablement.

            Members were advised that the size and scope of the additional services had not yet been established. This would be determined during the final phase, through the development and evaluation of detailed business proposals on each of the prioritised areas listed above.

            Halton Borough Council would contribute to the development of all business cases and would take a lead on developing a case for services to enhance the site as a Health Improving Hospital. At this stage, the location and size of land available for development remained unclear, as did the availability of health capital/revenue funding. It therefore seemed likely that the initial business proposal would be subject to review following the completion of a detailed feasibility study of the site and the surrounding area.

            Members were advised the full report “Halton Health Campus Development – The Case for Change”, set out in detail the key health needs in Halton and how the PCT and its partners were addressing those needs. In addition to noting the areas for development on the Halton Hospital Campus site, it was also worth noting that there was a number of planned service developments for urgent care, as set out in the report.

            Members were further advised that the potential financial implications to the Council arising out of the development of additional services on the Halton Hospital campus site would be dependent on the type of facility developed and the extent of any subsidy forthcoming from Health. Any resultant business case would be considered subject to discussion with the Executive Board and Council and considered in the context of the overall Council budgetary position.

            The Board was further advised that the report referenced a number of PCT investment and projected benefit gains which had been committed to deliver the seven priorities identified in the Commissioning Strategic Plan and which were set out in the report.

            Members requested additional information in relation to the operation of the district nurses service and it was agreed that further information would be sought and circulated to the Board.

            The Board expressed concern that the Burns Unit at Whiston was under threat of closure and reiterated the importance of having such a facility nearby due to the type of industries in Halton.

            RESOLVED: That the report be noted and the action outlined above be undertaken.