Agenda item

The Group Director explained that an assurance review would take place following the recent major incident at St. George’s Hospital and the terms of reference for this would be considered at the NHC NELC Board meeting this month. All clinical services had now been moved off the site and the CCG offices would be moving temporarily to Mercury House on 23 November.

A strategic outline business case (OBC) for the St. George’s site was being developed and engagement would take place on this with stakeholders including with Members. Officers confirmed that a total of thirty-two services, including support functions had been moved from the St. George’s site. The final two support functions would vacate the site in the next few days. Further discussions would take place around long term solutions for accommodation for clinics etc. within Havering in order to improve access issues to some services. The NELCS chief officer agreed to supply to the Committee Officer an updated list of where former St. George’s services were now located.

It was confirmed that no staff had lost anything financially due to the moves of service locations. A celebration event was also being planned to mark the end of use of the St. George’s site in its current form and it was confirmed the hospital League of Friends group would be involved with this. A total of 15 patients were moved from St. George’s to Brentwood Community Hospital, 11 of whom were later moved again to Foxglove ward at King George. Foxglove ward contained two small day room facilities which was not something that had been available at St. George’s. The move had been conducted over a two-day period and it was confirmed that no late evening transfers had taken place.

Members raised concerns over difficulties in accessing Foxgolve ward within King George Hospital. Whilst it was accepted that maps of the hospital were available, the lack of signage to and from the ward was felt to be an issue, particularly for older people, and the NELCS officer agreed to investigate this.

Commissioners did not expect to need to spot purchase any additional beds as more effective bed management and discharge procedures meant the existing number of beds was considered to be adequate. Contingencies were also available should any extra beds be needed.

Concerns were also raised by the Committee concerning access problems at Grays Court for physiotherapy patients. The NELCS officer responded that patients who required patient transport to attend St. George’s should still have this facility to enable them to get to Grays Court. The NELCS officer agreed to provide details of the number of cancellations of appointments at Grays Court and an indication of whether these were due to problems with getting to the facility. It was accepted that parking was a challenge at Grays Court and the objective was therefore to move back to a facility in Havering in due course. Updates on these plans would be given to the Committee as they developed.

It was clarified that some staff continued to park at St. George’s in order to access transport links to other offices or sites. The CCGH would lead work on the future of St. George’s although no decisions had been taken as yet. Officers accepted that the initial timescale for agreement of the plans had been too ambitious but it was hoped to have a clear vision for the site by the end of December 2012. A public consultation on the plans would take place in 2013. Ownership of the site would transfer in April 2013 to another NHS body and so it was wished to secure the future of the site as soon as possible for the benefit of local residents.

It was emphasised that there was not money available nationally for any new polyclinics in Havering but officers felt it would be possible to build a large medical centre on the St. George’s site. A range of options would be discussed in the outline business case as would analyses of local needs and of the financial viability of the proposals. It was agreed that a special meeting of the Committee would be called to consider the outline business case for St. George’s as soon as this was released.

Solutions had now been agreed for the transport department and nursery located on the St. George’s site and these issues would be resolved by the end of November. Officers would supply a list of where the support services located on the St. George’s site were now based. It was clarified that the mental health team based at St. George’s were not affected by the recent closure as this was located just outside the St. George’s site.

The Committee noted the update.