To receive an update from representatives of Havering Clinical Commissioning Group on plans for St George’s Hospital.
Minutes:
The CCG Chief Operating Officer explained that the CCG had a number of priorities including moving services from hospital into the community, improving urgent services and primary care and ensuring better integrated working with the Council. The population of Havering was increasing in age and there were also many new communities arriving in the borough.
The above factors had led to a wish to introduce a new, innovative development on the St George’s Hospital site. This could include services such as a GP-led primary care centre, assessment and diagnostics planned and unplanned care for older people as well as flexible working space.
The proposed primary care facility could bring existing GPs together and offer extended hours with greater access. Four local GP practices had expressed an interest in moving onto the St George’s size which, if this took place, would give a practice size of at least 10,000 patients.
The Outline Business Case for the project had not been finalised as yet and the CCG would work with local people on the plans. The expansion of community treatment teams also needed to be taken into account in the St George’s plans.
The decision making process had now changed and the CCG had to submit a case for change to NHS England. It was also clarified that the CCG did not own the St George’s site as ownership had been transferred to NHS Property Services. The current annual maintenance costs for St George’s were approximately £500,000 per year.
The new development would use around 15% of the St George’s site and be located at the front of the site with good access. There had already been engagement with the Health and Wellbeing Board, the Over-50s forum etc and further engagement would follow once approval had been granted for the next stage of the project. The CCG would receive a final decision on their submission from NHS England but timescales would need to be confirmed.
It was hoped to submit the CCG documents to NHS England in February and to get feedback from NHS England on the proposals by early summer. The preferred option for the site had not been decided on at this stage. The Chief Operating Officer confirmed that there would not be a polyclinic-style facility on the site. It was also not definite that there would be any beds in the new development but the CCG would like some integrated care beds to be put on the site.
Members emphasised that local residents had asked for more specific information on what would be on the site but the Chief Operating Officer responded that it was essential to demonstrate a need for and value for money of any services put on the St George’s site. Beds on the site were likely to be very short stay for older people requiring monitoring or stabilisation. It was also possible that there may be some urgent care on the site for example the Out of Hours service.
Members felt that they needed a more strategic overview of the CCG’s plans for health services in Havering as a whole. It was therefore AGREED that the CCG should explain its overall future strategy at the Committee’s next meeting.
Mapping of current health facilities was mainly held by NHS Property Services although the CCG would have to cover this in the outline business case for St George’s. NHS Property passed the cost of any empty health service buildings in Havering onto the CCG. The Chief Operating Officers accepted that parts of some buildings were unused although this was less common in Havering than it was in Barking & Dagenham or Redbridge.
It was uncertain at this stage if rehabilitation beds, currently located outside the borough, would return to Havering. It was possible that services of this kind may be better outside the Havering area.
NHS Property Services would decide on how building work could be funded and this could potentially include a Private Finance Initiative. There has however been no decision on this as yet.
The Committee NOTED the update.