Agenda item

The Committee received a report of the Director of Transformation and Partnerships that provided information in respect of the results of the Path to Excellence consultation undertaken by South Tyneside and Sunderland Partnership (for copy see file of Minutes).

Caroline Latta and Patrick Garner of South Tyneside and Sunderland NHS Partnership gave a detailed presentation highlighting the following:-

·         Consultation analysis – quantitative and qualitative

·         Consultation options

·         Stroke Services –

o   Overall Options Preference

o   Qualitative Analysis

·         Maternity and Women’s Healthcare Services –

o   Overall Options Preference

o   Qualitative Analysis

·         Children and Young People’s Healthcare Services –

o   Overall Options Preference

o   Qualitative Analysis

·         Overall concerns – focus groups

·         Staff question and answer sessions

Members were given a summary of the preferred options for each service and the alternative solutions proposed.

Councillor Darkes referred to the stroke services and asked if plans had been put in to address and mitigate the transport requirements.  Patrick Garner explained that this applied to all services and conversations had taken place with NEAS and the CCGs about what they would need to mitigate extra travel.  NEAS felt that they would need more capacity.  With regards to the stroke services all patients from the South Tyneside area had been using Sunderland since the temporary change was introduced in 2016.  This had allowed more timely interventions and quicker access to the stroke unit with good outcomes as a result of that.

Councillor Patterson asked who had decided on the three options out for consultation to the public.  She believed that this led the public into choosing the option that least affected them.  Caroline Latta said that there was not a ‘how to’ guide on how to conduct a consultation.  The NHS had clear statutes and was included in the constitution.  She advised that a lot of work took place on developing the options by talking to patients and staff either by a survey or face to face contacts.  There was a pre-consultation report that included all of this documentation and clearly evidenced how the clinical design teams used it.  With regards to the options available Ms Latta explained that they were designed to improve quality and safety for services.

Councillor Bell commented that NEAS were having difficulties responding now and asked if they had given a formal response to the options put forward.  Mr Garner confirmed that they had responded formally and assured the Committee that they had been involved in conversations since 2016.  They had been provided with data to enable them to carry out their own assessments.

The Chairman added that the whole of the North of England were concerned about NEAS without the added pressure from CCGS.  He asked that transport would be addressed for all areas of concern.  Ms Latta advised that the Travel and Transport Working Group, as part of the delivery of the five year forward view, would address these concerns.

Referring to the consultation, Councillor Grant asked how much influence the exercise has and did feedback show if people felt they had a voice or if decisions had already been made.  Ms Latta explained that was why they carried out qualitative and quantitative analysis.  People were asked to weigh up the issues and put forward any solutions.  For those people wanting the status quo this was an ongoing dilemma as if things did not change people could be harmed.  Mr Garner added that the consultation was a good way of influencing decisions as for example, comments about the 8am-8pm service for paediatrics reported that this would not cater for all needs and it had therefore been decided to change to times to 8am-10pm.

Referring back to the stroke services, Councillor Darkes suggested that any cost savings be used to back up transport issues for this area and would therefore back up any weaknesses that the service might encounter.

Councillor Davinson asked if there was a summary document available and pointed out duplicate information on pages 134 and 135 of the report, and asked that these pages could have the same format.  Ms Latta said that the Committee needed to have sight the full document.  The document was published for a month from 10 December 2017 with comments received. A short video had also been produced and the report had been presented to staff.

The Chairman said that a lot of residents from the east of the County used Sunderland hospital.  He asked what affect this would have on them as numbers would increase with the addition of South Tyneside residents.  Mr Garner explained that there had already been a temporary change in place for stroke services and capacity would not be a problem. Paediatrics had extra physical space and extra staffing and it would fit within capacity for Obstetrics and Gynaecology.

The Chairman thanked the officers for their detailed presentation.

Resolved:

That the report and presentation be noted.