Issue - meetings

Report attached.

Sarah Tedford/Louise Mitchell

13.15

A lot of work had taken place at BHRUT over the last two years to reduce delays to treatment. The Trust was ahead of its trajectory to meet the standard of 92% of patients treated within 18 weeks by September 2017. Clinical harm reviews had continued and no patients had come to serious harm while waiting for treatment.

The demand management programme established with local CCGs was working but there had not been any reduction in the number of referrals to hospital. There was now robust reporting in this area with externally assured processes and fortnightly meetings re delays to treatment were held between BHRUT and the local CCGs.

It was clarified that patients on a complex care pathway may not attend all their appointments but would be kept in the system until their treatment plan was sorted. Plans to deal with increased demand were already in place and pathways such as cardiology had been identified where work could focus on reducing referrals to hospital. More details of the Trust’s work with GPs on this area could be shared with Healthwatch.

It was the responsibility of individual GP Practices to contact patients who did not attend hospital appointments. This was monitored by the CCG. Variations in referral rates between Practices would be addresse by the Primary Care Networks planned by the CCG. A pathway for diabetic footcare was under development with the secondary care sector.

The Board:

·         Noted the progress of RTT activity and the reduction in long waiting patients.

·         Noted progress with the clinical harm reviews of long waiting patients.

·         Noted the work and support BHRUT had given with the development of a system-wide RTT recovery plan in response to the legal directions placed on NHS Havering Clinical Commissioning Group by NHS England which came into force on 20 June 2016.

·         Agreed that a further RTT update should be made at the September 2017 meeting when the 92% standard should be being achieved in full.