Meeting: Health Scrutiny Sub-Committee (County Hall, Durham - Committee Room 2 - 09/01/2006 10:00:00 AM)
Item: A4 (c) Urology Service - Consultation Process
Health Scrutiny Sub-Committee
9th January 2006 Urology Service - Consultation Process | |
| Report of Head of Overview and Scrutiny |
Purpose of Report
1. To explain the outcome of the consultation process for changes in the Urology Service affecting patients in County Durham.
Background
2. Urology deals with problems with the kidney, bladder and other related organs. A consultation process has been taking place between 12 th September and 12th December, led by the Durham and Chester-le-Street Primary Care Trust suggesting changes in the Urology Service in Durham. Day care and out-patients will continue to be available at the University Hospital of North Durham and Bishop Auckland General Hospital. In-patient treatment, however, will be centralised at the Sunderland Royal Hospital.
3. The results of the consultation exercise are set out on the attached paper. The general view seems to be that those who have commented are generally in support of the proposals and there have been no formal objections.
4. Inevitably, transport and travel arrangements have arisen as an issue. The interests of patients using public transport has been considered. Approximately 4% of patients currently use public transport for their trip to hospital for an operation. The majority of patients travel by car or ambulance when going to hospital for an operation. In the future, over 200 additional car parking spaces are to be opened at the Sunderland Royal Hospital as part of site reoganisation to assist with car parking capacity. The provision of information about transport and car parking could perhaps be provided when appointments are being made.
5. The public have also raised hospital-acquired infection at Sunderland. The City Hospitals Sunderland Foundation Trust has an action plan to address this issue. The lead consultant has pointed out that the urology service at Sunderland has the lowest rate of hospital-acquired infection in the Trust.
Recommendation
6. You are asked to consider this consultation exercise. Transport issues have been considered and, whilst patients will need to travel further for this specialist service, the interests of those who travel by public transport and private car are being addressed to minimise inconvenience. The consultation process appears to have been comprehensive.
| Contact: Ian Mackenzie Tel: 0191 383 3506 |
Attachments