Agenda item

(i)        North East Ambulance Services NHS Foundation Trust

(ii)       County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust, and

(iii)     Tees Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust

The Committee considered a report of the Corporate Director of Resources which provided Members the opportunity to consider and comment on the draft 2022/23 Quality Accounts for:-

·      North East Ambulance Services NHS Foundation Trust

·      County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust

·      Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust

The Principal Overview and Scrutiny Officer advised that the report introduced the draft Accounts of North East Ambulance Service, County Durham and Darlington Foundation Trust and Tees; Esk and Wear Valley Foundation Trust.

M Cotton, Assistant Director of Communications and Engagement provided a detailed presentation for the North East Ambulance Service (NEAS) and highlighted the key areas of performance for 2022/23 and proposed Quality Account priorities for 2023/24 (for copy see file of minutes). 

Councillor Stubbs asked what constituted a safety incident and how this differed from a serious incident. The Assistant Director of Communications and Engagement agreed to make enquiries regarding this and feedback to Members.

G McGee asked how much influence NEAS had on the delays experienced at A&E. The Assistant Director of Communications and Engagement advised that NEAS decide whether to take a patient to A&E but have no control over delays experienced from this point forward. He stated that hospitals had access to NEAS systems and were aware of imminent admissions.

A Stobbart noted the feedback received from service users and how this helped to shape service improvements and asked if this information was published. The Assistant Director of Communications and Engagement confirmed that it was published and gave an example of a high profile issue involving a dementia friendly ambulance which had helped support patients with dementia, but stressed that more consistency was needed.

Councillor Andrews noted that health care services were co-dependent on each other and experienced issues with funding and asked if the plan was therefore achievable. The Assistant Director of Communications and Engagement reassured Members that many priorities had been carried forward to the following year and would continue to be a priority for the service. With regards to handover delays, he advised Members that the department of health had recognised this area as an issue and funding had been received to address this. He further advised that additional support had also been given by the Integrated Care Board (ICB).

W Edge, Assistant Director of Assurance and Compliance provided a detailed presentation for County Durham and Darlington Foundation Trust (CDDFT) and highlighted the key areas of performance for 2022/23 and proposed Quality Account priorities for 2023/24 (for copy see file of minutes). 

With regards to the data given on sepsis, Councillor Haney was sad that this had an amber warning and asked what percentage of patients were given antibiotics within one hour and what the average delay was when this was not achieved. L Ward, Associate Director of Nursing (Patient Safety) agreed to obtain this data. She advised that antibiotics were given quickly wherever possible but that delays were incurred when there was sepsis with an unknown origin.

Councillor Stubbs referred to the colour ratings for 2022/23 and expressed concern that some quality priorities with zero tolerance had been given an amber status. The Assistant Director of Assurance and Compliance clarified that if there had been more than one incident then the quality priority would have been given a red status but agreed to feedback Councillor Stubbs concerns.

R Gott, co-opted member commented on a personal experience and praised the work of County Durham and Darlington Foundation Trust. The Assistant Director of Assurance and Compliance thanked R Gott for her feedback. Further experiences were shared by Members who also expressed their appreciation.

Councillor Higgins suggested that information be made available in communities and at GP surgeries to enhance public awareness on sepsis so that treatment for patients was not delayed.

Councillor Howey asked why County Durham and Darlington Foundation Trust had stopped giving pain relief medication to children after being discharged. The Director of Integrated Community Services assured that medication continued to be offered and agreed to follow up on the case given by Councillor Howey. Councillor Quinn advised that there had been information in the media recently regarding medication for children which had advised that parents could present at a GP surgery if they were struggling to afford it.

A Lowery, Director of Quality Governance provided a detailed presentation for Tees, Esk and Wear Valley NHS Foundation Trust (TEWV NHS FT) and highlighted the key areas of performance for 2022/23 and proposed Quality Account priorities for 2023/24 (for copy see file of minutes). 

With regards to feeling safe, R Gott stated that the report did not reflect information in the media and gave an example of how a patient with suicidal thoughts had been treated. She asked whether staff sat with patients and whether they understood what triggered patients to be violent and disruptive. 

D Gardner, Care Group Director, Mental Health Services for Older People and Adult Mental Health Services acknowledged that distressing stories had been covered in the media but assured Members that they were currently undertaking work to address this and explained that values, behaviour and culture of staff were integral to their work.

Councillor Higgins commented from experience that patient safety at University Hospital of North Tees was good.

Councillor Gunn left the meeting.

Councillor Stubbs referred to the question ‘Were your family/carers involved in your care as much as you wanted’ and asked why there had been a reduction from 81% to 72%. The Care Group Director explained that over the previous 12-18 months, the level of occupancy on wards had increased and it was difficult for staff to broadly engage with families when experiencing a high level of occupancy. He explained that they were currently undergoing a piece of work which would introduce a designated carer contact to ensure families were kept updated and engaged.

Councillor Stubbs asked if the carers that had responded to the inpatient survey were reflected in the statistics for the carer surveyor as the statistics did not correlate. The Care Group Director clarified that it was dependant on the size of the sample explaining that the number of people returning the survey from the community would be significantly higher.

Councillor Haney asked what level of access patients and carers would have with the new electronic system. The Care Group Director advised that the electronic system was due to go live on 1 July 2023 and a patient portal would subsequently follow and agreed to obtain the schedule details for this. The Care Group Director noted that NEAS would also be given access to the electronic system. 

Resolved

That the information detailed within the presentations be noted and the production of responses to the Draft Quality Accounts be delegated to the Democratic Services Manager as Statutory Scrutiny Officer be agreed.