Meeting: Health Scrutiny Sub-Committee (County Hall, Durham - Committee Room 2 - 05/06/2006 01:00:00 PM)
Item: A0 Minutes
At a Meeting of the Health Scrutiny Sub-Committee held at the County Hall, Durham on Monday 5 June 2006 at 1.00 p.m.
COUNCILLOR J PRIESTLEY in the Chair.
Durham County Council
Councillors Carr, Carroll, Chaplow, Simmons and Stelling
Chester le Street District Council
Councillor Harrison
Derwentside District Council
Councillor Agnew
Durham City Council
Councillors Pitts and Smith
Easington District Council
Councillors Campbell and Taylor-Gooby
Sedgefield Borough Council
Councillor
Teesdale District Council
Councillors Hamilton and Stansfield
Wear Valley District Council
Councillor Harker and Lee
Co-opted Members
G Eshelby
Other Members
Councillor S Iveson
Apologies for absence were received from Councillors G Armstrong and Porter.
A1 Declarations of Interest
Councillor Taylor-Gooby declared an interest in Item No 3.
A2 County Durham and Darlington Acute Hospitals Trust - Consultation about Foundation Trust
The Sub Committee considered a report of the Head of Overview and Scrutiny about the outcome of the County Durham and Darlington Acute Hospitals Trust consultation relating to its application to become an NHS Foundation Trust (for copy see file of Minutes). The Sub Committee also received a report from Edmund Lovell of the Acute Hospitals Trust which outlined the consultation process and explained the changes to the Foundation Trust application following consultation.
A formal application will be made to the Department of Health on the 9 June 2006. A review of membership will take place to identify their locality and to seek additional members from those areas which are under represented.
Resolved:
That if the application for Foundation Status is approved:
(a) the Trust should continue to consult the Sub-Committee on substantial variations and developments;
(b) the Sub-Committee should, in due course, be seeking to discuss with the Trust what improvements for patients have been introduced as a result of Foundation Status.
A3 Shotley Bridge Hospital - Day Surgery
The Sub Committee considered a report of the County Durham and Darlington Acute Hospitals Trust about the temporary closure of day surgery at Shotley Bridge Hospital (for copy see file of Minutes).
John Saxby, Chief Executive of the Acute Hospitals Trust explained that the Trust Board had approved the temporary closure of the day surgery unit at Shotley Bridge Hospital for a period of six months with effect from 1 August 2006. He advised that following the transfer of urology patients to Sunderland that there was under utilised capacity at University Hospital North Durham. There was a need to use resources more effectively. In addition there was a continuing shift from secondary care to primary care. There was a need for the Trust to respond to PCT commissioning changes to balance its finances, and this was why the Acute Trust had decided to reduce 700 posts over the next three years.
The Chief Executive stressed that the majority of day surgery patients, who have their operation at University Hospital North Durham, will have their initial outpatient appointments and post-operative follow-up at Shotley Bridge Hospital. There was concern that the change could lead to patients choosing to use neighbouring hospitals in Gateshead and Newcastle rather than traveling to Durham.
It was explained that day surgery represents a very small element (around 2%) of the Trust's work at Shotley Bridge and the change would not affect the hospital's overall viability. It was pointed out that currently 40,000 outpatients are seen annually at Shotley Bridge. It was confirmed that other services provided at Shotley Bridge would continue to be provided there.
Members of the Sub Committee expressed their concern about the value of any consultation exercise after a temporary closure and were of the view that the Trust should defer the temporary closure until such time as a consultation exercise can be carried out.
In relation to questions about patient transport it was explained that transport would be offered to those patients who have difficulty in attending appointments.
John Saxby agreed to provide a breakdown of the numbers of medical and administrative/managerial posts that the Trust is to reduce.
The Head of Overview and Scrutiny on behalf of the Sub Committee stressed the need for formal consultation and an open debate to take place when there are changes to patient services.
John Saxby provided an assurance that the Acute Hospitals Trust will carry out a formal consultation if it is decided to make the closure permanent.
Resolved:
That the report be noted.
A4 Durham Community Hospital
The Sub Committee received a report from John Saxby Chief Executive of the County Durham and Darlington Acute Hospitals Trust about the decision to close Durham Community Hospital.
Durham Community Hospital has 33 beds and is used for the care of the elderly for rehabilitation and respite care or when patients are transferred out of hospitals.
The transfer of urology services to Sunderland had freed 14 beds which together with beds at Shotley Bridge Hospital and Chester le Street Community Hospital will provide 28 beds. This will be a more economical use of hospital beds. Some of the patients come from areas outside of Durham City and will be placed nearer to their homes.
Members of the Sub Committee suggested that the site could perhaps be used for other purposes such as dementia patients. John Saxby explained that these patients would be accommodated at University Hospital North Durham, Shotley Bridge Hospital or Chester le Street Community Hospital. Any expansion of service would need to be taken up with the Primary Care Trust.
The Head of Overview and Scrutiny again stressed the need for a dialogue with the Sub Committee before a decision is made to change services.
Resolved:
That the report be noted.
A5 Re-organisation in the National Health Service
The Sub Committee considered a report of the Head of Overview and Scrutiny explaining the changes in the structure of the National Health Service involving a new Strategic Health Authority for the North East, a new Primary Care Trust for County Durham and the merger of the North East Ambulance Service with part of the Tees and East and North Yorkshire Trust (for copy see file of Minutes).
Resolved:
That the report be noted.
A6 Tees Review
The Sub Committee considered a report of the Head of Overview and Scrutiny
explaining the latest position on the work of the Joint Committee set up to consider the review of hospital services on Teesside which has an impact on South Easington and Sedgefield (for copy see file of Minutes).
Resolved:
That the report be noted.
The Chairman was of the opinion that the following item of business was of sufficient urgency to warrant consideration because of the need to keep members informed.
A7 North East Ambulance Service
The Sub Committee were informed by Brian Ferguson, a member of the Public and Patient Forum for the North East Ambulance Service that there were proposals to close the ambulance station at Fishburn. In addition he informed the Sub Committee that the Patient Forum were now holding their meetings during the daytime which was inconvenient for those members who worked during the day.
Resolved:
That the report be noted.
Attachments
mins050606.pdf