Agenda item

The Committee received a report of the Director of Transformation and Partnerships that provided information in respect of proposals to reconfigure  specialised and some non-specialised vascular services in the North East  England in advance of  a presentation to be given to members by representatives of NHS England’s North Region Specialised Commissioning Team on 1 June 2018 (for copy see file of Minutes).

The Principal Overview and Scrutiny Officer advised that concerns had been raised at the North East Regional Joint Health Scrutiny Committee regarding the proposals to reconfigure vascular services.  The University Hospital North Durham was one of four centres offering these services however, recommendations from the Northern England Strategic Clinical Network would see this option being removed.  The Regional Team would be attending a special meeting of this Committee on 1 June 2018 to allow the Committee to give full consideration to the proposals.

The Chairman advised that an immediate objection had been lodged to these recommendations and that there was also a concern to the knock on effect to the Darlington Memorial Hospital and Bishop Auckland Hospitals.

Councillor Temple was concerned about the report and the clinical reasoning behind the proposed changes.  In the report, he referred to Sunderland being geographically located in the centre of the region.  This was particularly concerning as the STPs moved forward and there did not see to be an understanding of the geographical layout of County Durham.   He added that there needed to be further understanding of the implications for the County and costs involved in making the changes.  He believed that Members needed to make a case to protect the long term future of the area.

Councillor Bell agreed with those comments and asked how this fit into the plans of the STP process.  He felt that County Durham would miss out everytime there were any proposal to streamline services at a regional level.

The Principal Overview and Scrutiny Officer advised that he would express these concerns to NHS England in advance of the meeting on 1 June 2018.  He also advised that the Chief Executive of CDDFT would be attending the meeting with the Foundation Trusts lead vascular surgeon on 1 June 2018.

Resolved:

(i)            That the report be received;

(ii)          That comments on this report and the briefing paper provided by NHS England’s North Region Specialised Commissioning Team in respect of the proposals to reconfigure  specialised and some non-specialised vascular services in the North East and the associated communications and engagement plans be noted;

(iii)         That further detailed report be brought back to the Committee following the end of the 2018 local election purdah period be agreed.