Meeting documents

            Meeting: Health Scrutiny Sub-Committee (County Hall, Durham - Committee Room 2 - 03/10/2005 10:00:00 AM)

                  Item: A1 Minutes

         

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At a Meeting of the Health Scrutiny Sub-Committee held at the County Hall, Durham on Monday 3 October 2005 at 10.00 a.m.
Durham County Council
Councillors Armstrong, Carr, Chaplow, Hunter, Lethbridge, Porter and Trippett.

Derwentside District Council
Councillor Agnew

Durham City Council
Councillors Pitts

Easington District Council
Councillors Campbell and Taylor-Gooby

Wear Valley District Council
Councillor Harker and Lee

Other Members
Councillors Fenwick, G Gray, Hodgson, Iveson, Knox and Meir

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor A Gray.

A1 Minutes

The Minutes of the meeting held on 11 July 2005 were agreed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.


A2 Declarations of Interest

There were no declarations of interest.


A3 Ambulance Services in the Dales

The Sub Committee considered a report of the Head of Overview and Scrutiny about a meeting held with the North East Ambulance Service to consider the future of services in the Durham Dales (for report see file of Minutes)

Resolved:
That the report be noted.


A4 Consultation on the Proposed Merger between the County Durham and Darlington Priority Services Trust and the Tees and North East Yorkshire Trust

The Sub Committee considered a report of the Head of Overview and Scrutiny, the consultation document on the merger and a presentation from Sandy Taylor Chief Executive of the County Durham and Darlington Priority Services Trust and Nigel Maguire of the Tees and North East Yorkshire Trust about the proposed merger between the two trusts. (for report see file of Minutes).

Sandy Taylor advised that at present they were half way through the formal consultation process. Six public meetings had been held with nine more meetings to take place. He had also attended two user forums and would also be speaking to all County Durham PCT’s and their Professional Executive Committees. Contact was also being maintained with colleagues in Social Care and Health. In addition discussions have also taken place with staff and their trade union representatives. He explained that mergers were taking place in other parts of the UK and that they were benefiting from the experience of other Trusts. To date, the comments received have been largely supportive, though two local Members of Parliament have expressed concern about the merger.

The merger will allow the development of specialised services and allow patients to be treated locally. As an example Sandy referred to recent cases where the patients had to travel to Northampton to receive treatment which had cost the Trust £1.2M.

Nigel Maguire also referred to out of area placements. A review undertaken 12 months ago revealed that £30M had been spent on out of area placements. At the present time seventeen people are receiving specialist dementia treatment outside of the area.

He explained that the Tees and North East Yorkshire Trust had also held a number of public meetings, used a range of existing forums and had held a number of events with users, carers and staff. Generally it was felt that there was broad support for the merger.

Concern was expressed that the merger would affect the quality of services in Easington District. Sandy and Nigel confirmed that they were aware of the problems in the Easington area and were of the view that the merger would lead to further improvements in services in the south of the area.

In response to Member’s concerns Sandy assured the Sub Committee that the major issue arising from the merger is to enable the provision of more local specialist services. In addition he advised that the merger was an administrative change and would not have a detrimental effect on front line services.

The Head of Overview and Scrutiny asked that any concerns be reported to the Sub Committee.

Resolved:
That the report and presentation be noted.

A5 Consultation - Proposed Reprovision of the Louisa Wing, Stanfield House, Stanley

The Sub Committee considered a report of the Head of Overview and Scrutiny together with a report of County Durham and Darlington Priority Services Trust on the proposed closure of the Louisa Wing at Stanfield House Stanley (for report see file of Minutes).

The Head of Overview and Scrutiny informed the Sub Committee that he, the Chairman and Councillor J Armstrong had visited the premises.

Lesley Crawford of the County Durham and Darlington Priority Services NHS Trust advised the Sub Committee that feedback from the consultation indicated that the Louisa Wing does not meet present standards and that most carers would like the change to take place sooner rather than later. The re-provision of the service in Derwentside is being examined. When the Louisa Wing closes a Registered Mental Nurse will be provided to support residential care in the area. Lesley advised the Sub Committee that comments about the closure and the need to provide replacement facilities had been received from Derwentside District Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

Resolved:
That the recommendation contained in the report be approved.


A6 Urology Service - Consultation

The Sub Committee considered a report of the Head of Overview and Scrutiny about the consultation exercise about a proposal to introduce a new Urology Service affecting County Durham, South Tyneside and Wearside. The Sub Committee also received a presentation from Edmund Lovell of the Acute Trust explaining the proposals (for report see file of Minutes).

Edmund explained that the changes were being proposed to enable better cancer care, a wider range of treatments, shorter waiting time, more specialist doctors and the ability to recruit and retain staff.

If patients are referred by their GP and they choose this service they would be offered:
The distribution of the patients expected to use the service is as follows
In terms of patient and public involvement in the consultation, the Trust has organised a listening event, workshop, outpatient surveys, a survey of patients treated in Sunderland, a survey of how patients travel to hospital and have also consulted a cancer reference group. A series of public meetings are to take place between now and the end of the consultation period.

It was acknowledged that patients are concerned about the issue of hospital acquired infections. The North East has amongst the lowest rates of MRSA infections and there is a target to reduce this further. Measures to reduce the level of infections include a clean hands campaign, hand gel at every bed and entrance of the ward, audits and inspections of hand washing and cleanliness and patient education.

As part of the consultation which ends on 12 December, 3000 documents and 10,000 leaflets have been distributed to outpatient clinics and GP surgeries.

Members expressed concern about the difficulties faced by carers and visitors in travelling to Sunderland particularly from outlying areas. Edmund explained that the average stay is likely to be around 3 ½ days and it was necessary to strike a balance between ensuring the best level of care and the need to travel to Sunderland.

Concern was also expressed about the infection rate at Sunderland Royal Hospital when compared to hospitals in Newcastle and Durham. It was stated that the compliance rate was only 25% and that there was no control over agency or bank staff. In addition attention was also drawn to the lower five year survival rate for the Northumberland and Tyneside area when compared to the Greater London area. Questions were also raised about the availability of patient records at out patient clinics.

Edmund advised that issue of infection rates will be addressed with Sunderland Trust. In relation to the availability of records, Edmund explained that this issue is being progressed and that the Trust was moving to digitising x-rays, which would allow them to be accessed at different locations.

The Sub Committee were informed that with the introduction of Choose and Book patients would have the option to choose another provider for their care. However in line with national policy on cancer care, if the alternative hospital has a longer waiting list, patients will be directed to Sunderland to receive treatment.

The outcome of the consultation process will be reported to the Sub Committee in January 2006.

Resolved:
That the report and presentation be noted.


A7 Major Developments in Health and Social Care

The Sub Committee considered a report of the Head of Overview and Scrutiny about a number of significant developments in the Health Service (for report see file of Minutes).

Resolved:
That the report be noted.


A8 Commission for Public and Patient Involvement in Health - Latest Statement

The Sub Committee considered a report of the Head of Overview and Scrutiny about the future arrangements for the Commission for Public and Patient Involvement in Health (for report see file of Minutes).

Resolved:
That the report be noted.


A9 Patient Forum for the Acute Trust - Food for Thought - An Investigation into Catering

The Sub Committee considered a report of the Head of Overview and Scrutiny explaining an investigation carried out by the Patient Forum for the Acute Trust into catering services (for report see file of Minutes).

Carol Briggs of the Patient Forum for the Acute Trust explained the background and the outcome of the investigation.

Resolved:
That the report be noted.


A10 Durham and Chester le Street PCT: PALS Annual Report

The Sub Committee considered a report of the Head of Overview and Scrutiny explaining some of the issues of interest arising from the Patient Advice and Liaison Service Annual Report for the Durham and Chester le Street PCT (for report see file of Minutes).

Resolved:
That the report be noted.


A11 Scrutiny Projects and Work Programme

The Sub Committee considered a report of the Head of Overview and Scrutiny about the work programme of the Sub Committee (for copy see file of Minutes).

Resolved:
That the work programme be noted.

Attachments

 healthscrutiny03.10.05.pdf