Issue - meetings

Report attached.

The Committee was addressed by a member of North East London Save Our NHS (NELSON) – an umbrella organisation representing a number of NHS campaigning groups in North East London. It was noted that the Committee had not had the opportunity to scrutinise the NHS Long Term plan before the draft was submitted to NHS England on 15 November. 

The NELSON group had a number of concerns regarding the plan including a lack of information about resources available for specific plans and a lack of detail about how services could be delivered in the community. Issues such as difficulties that the elderly or people with dementia may have in accessing hospitals had also not been considered sufficiently. Other concerns raised including an apparent lack of training opportunities for staff and moves towards an integrated care provider meaning there was a risk of contracts going to private companies.

Members noted the concerns raised and agreed that there was an absence of much numerical data in the published plan.

A member of the public questioned the accuracy of data supplied in the agenda papers concerning the meeting of four hour A & E targets at Queens and King George Hospitals. BHRUT officers responded that the emergency departments at the two hospitals were different and could not be directly compared. It was accepted that there was significant room for improvement in performance in this area and that data could also be presented with more context around it. Admission rates from A & E had lowered recently which was an improvement in performance.

It was agreed that a draft policy on public speaking would be presented at the next for meeting for discussion.

A representative of the local CCGs explained the revised policy showed the final proposed list of procedures to be funded. A consultation exercise in May 2019 had produced around 600 responses and had resulted in the removal from the policy of a number of procedures including hip & knee replacements, elective caesarean sections and treatment for cluster headaches. Some procedures had also been added to the policy including split earlobe repair and certain procedures relating to skin pigmentation issues.

The policy had commenced in November 2019 and would be subject to six monthly reviews which would take into account any updates in National Institute for Clinical Excellence Guidance. Exceptional clinical need cases would still be funded and this would be decided by a panel including clinicians, Council representatives and members of the public. Each case would be taken on its merits with for example a condition affecting a patient’s ability to work likely to be considered as exceptional clinical need. Whilst private providers would be expected to adhere to the same policy as local NHS Trusts, it was accepted that there was nothing to stop clinicians offering such procedures on a private basis.   

It was agreed that an update on how the new policy had been operating should be brought to the Committee in approximately 9 months time.