Agenda and draft minutes

Contact: Anthony Clements  Email: anthony.clements@oneSource.co.uk 01708 433065

Items
No. Item

1.

DISCLOSURE OF INTERESTS

Members are invited to disclose any interests in any of the items on the agenda at this point of the meeting. Members may still disclose an interest in an item at any point prior to the consideration of the matter.

Minutes:

6. CANCER SERVICES.

Councillor Paul Robinson, Personal, Councillor Robinson works for a project mentioned in the papers for this item..

 

2.

MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING pdf icon PDF 195 KB

To agree as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 9 April 2019 (attached) and to authorise the Chairman to sign them.

 

The notes of an informal briefing given to the Joint Committee by Healthwatch representatives concerning work on changes to cancer services are also attached for information.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The minutes of the meeting of the Joint Committee held on 9 April 2019 were agreed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

3.

EAST LONDON HEALTH AND CARE PARTNERSHIP UPDATE pdf icon PDF 76 KB

Report attached.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Committee was addressed by a member of the public who expressed concern that statements by the Barking, Havering and Redbridge University Hospitals NHS Trust (BHRUT) that there were no plans to close or downgrade A & E services at King George Hospital were not in fact correct. The member of the public remained concerned that A & E at King George would not continue as a ‘type 1’ A & E. The member of the public wished for type 1 A & E services to continue at King George and for the A & E department at the hospital to be extended.

 

Officers explained that the East London Health and Car Partnership (ELHCP) covers 8 Councils and 12 NHS organisations. The Partnership’s long-term plan for the next 4-5 years was currently being evaluated and aimed to make integrated care (between health and social care) a reality on the ground.

 

Primary care networks had already been established as well as an integrated care system whereby commissioners and providers could focus on prevention. Details of the primary care networks could be brought to a future meeting of the Joint Committee. Cancer and digital work streams also remained priorities and a lot of engagement work on the long term plan was taking place at borough and system level. The Healthwatch organisations had been commissioned to undertake surveys at borough level in connection with the long-term plan.

 

Following submission of the Long Term Plan to the Department of Health, it was planned to bring this to the Joint Committee in later autumn 2019. A further engagement event had also been scheduled for 16 October 2019. Members felt that the previous engagement event had been very productive and that there should be a high level of engagement with the Sustainability and Transformation Partnership. Officers agreed, feeling it was also important to maintain links with the London Ambulance Service and other partners.

 

It was not possible to quantify the cost of the 7 key transformation boards supporting the long-term plan as this was more in terms of officer time than new expenditure. The boards would also allow better planning for patients in conjunction with Councils, producing savings from fewer people needing to attend A & E. Figures could be supplied re the current level of the system deficit.  

 

The Joint Committee noted the update.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4.

CANCER SERVICES pdf icon PDF 153 KB

Report and supporting documentation attached.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The divisional manager at BHRUT confirmed that clarification had now been given to the providers of the A & E reception service around the use of red cards for patients undergoing chemotherapy. Posters regarding this had been placed in triage areas and a rolling training programme had been introduced to further raise awareness.

 

Any data on the experience of chemotherapy patients would have to be collected with the service provider – PELC and officers were happy to do this. There had not been any specific complaints about non-recognition by staff of the red cards and it was noted that not all patients who were eligible in fact showed the red card at A & E.

 

Whilst more patients were being treated at Sunflowers ward at Queen’s Hospital, the unit had extended its opening hours in order to accommodate this. It was not possible to use a bigger area on Queen’s for chemotherapy and officers added that patients often preferred to sit closely together during treatment in order to share experiences etc. Chairs for relatives were also available. Overall feedback from patients using the chemotherapy suite was good but it was accepted that nothing could be done about the lack of natural light in the facility although the introduction of fake skylights in part of the area had led to some improvement.

 

It was accepted that parking for cancer services was an issue, particularly whilst a clinical diagnostic unit had to be parked in part of the cancer services car park, following a fire. This had now been resolved and more patient parking was therefore available. All cancer patients were assessed for transport needs.

 

Options were being considered regarding the rebooking of oncology appointments but Members felt strongly that patients preferred to confirm their next appointment prior to leaving the department. Officers responded that whilst chemotherapy appointments were booked in fixed timeslots, outpatient were more fluid in nature. Any overbooking of lists was managed by consultants rather than receptionists.

 

Members remained unhappy at the lack of public consultation on the removal of chemotherapy services from King George Hospital. It was requested that an audit be supplied of the incidences of sepsis among chemotherapy patients and of the demand for chemotherapy services over the next ten years. Specific details of what the Committee required could be discussed with Trust officers after the meeting but it was agreed that forecasting methodology used to predict the demand for cancer services over the next 10 years should be brought to the next meeting of the Joint Committee. BHRUT officers responded that this would be picked up as part of the Trust’s clinical strategy although these figures may not be available by the next meeting of the Committee.

 

Officers added that chemotherapy patients could also access 24:7 support from oncology nurses which often avoided the need to attend A & E. It was accepted that there needed to be a broader diversity of users of the Cedar Centre and efforts were in progress to disseminate information on these services  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.

5.

WINTER PRESSURES pdf icon PDF 78 KB

Report attached.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Officers representing BHRUT and the local Clinical Commissioning Groups felt that the key issue impacting on plans for dealing with winter pressures on health services was workforce issues. This was not an issue of money but NHS bodies wished to work with Council to attract people to work in both health and social care.

 

Planning was already under way for 2019/20 although patient demand was also present throughput the year. An important objective was to increase the take up rates for flu vaccines and meetings had been held with GP practices with the highest urgent care demand in order to understand the reasons for this. Flu vaccination programmes would be better organised in order to avoid the national shortages that had occurred in 2018/19.

 

All local Councils and NHS organisations were involved in the A & E Delivery Group and a multi-agency A & E Delivery Board also met on a monthly basis. Workstreams covered ambulance demand, hospital flow and mental health issued which were now more clearly recorded in A & E.

 

Performance at BHRUT in meeting the target had improved in the last year, despite rising demand for A & E services. This contrasted with a 4% fall in A & E performance at Whipps Cross Hospital in the same period. Numbers of ambulance conveyances had increased slightly, mainly at King George Hospital.

 

The GP-led Urgent Treatment Centre at Queen’s would be open on a 24:7 basis from July 2018 and the Urgent Care Centre at King George had seen a 13% rise in patients. It was clarified that both facilities were managed by the Partnership of East London Co-Operatives rather than BHRUT directly.

 

Investment had been made in intensive rehabilitation services in order to seek to reduce demand on health services. It was emphasised however that all winter pressures money in 2018/19 went to Local Authorities rather than the NHS.

 

The Red2Green initiative had been introduced to improve patient flows through the hospital and reduce length of stay this producing better outcomes for patients. A new Rapid Assessment and Fast Treatment area had been opened at Queen’s which had reduced turnaround time for patients brought by ambulance to A & E.

 

Decisions would be needed shortly for critical recruitment to support the next round of winter pressures and a bid had also been made for national funding to support a 24 hour Enhanced Mental Health Care Liaison team in A & E. Plans were also being developed to reduce demand for children’s A & E services and to develop an integrated model of assessment for frail older people, again to avoid hospital admissions where possible.

 

The failure by the Trust at times to meet the 95% 4 hour target fir A & E treatment was part of a national pattern. This was caused by a number of issues including lack of capital and recruitment difficulties. BHRUT currently had around 1,000 vacancies including consultant posts. The use of the four hour target was currently being reviewed at a national level but BHRIT officers accepted that the Trust  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

6.

ESTATES UPDATE pdf icon PDF 22 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Committee was advised that there was currently a constrained capital environment and CCG budgets were not likely to be reviewed. It was possible that some additional capital may be made available in the spending review. It was hoped that the London devolution of health services would allow local NHS systems to operate in such a way that would support future capital bids. Links cold be sent to the London NHS Estates Strategy which included projects such as a new treatment hub at the former St George’s Hospital site in Hornchurch.

 

The St George’s project was a high priority of the STP but it was noted that the CCGs could not own property and had to work with landlords, providers, NHS Property etc. Discussions were also in progress local Councils and neighbouring boroughs on wider planning for services such as a new health centre at Beam Park.

 

A Member asked who signed of the capital funding bids to NHS England and felt it was important that more clarity was received on this. It was clarified that current policy was that the receipts from the sale of NHS property assets were retained centrally, unless the vendor was a Foundation Trust. Advice had been received that part of the proceeds of the sale of the St George’s site would be available for use on any new health facility at the site although this had not been confirmed in writing. Members requested copies of the original bids if these were available. Confirmation of who had signed the bids on behalf of the relevant Local Authorities was also requested. Officers responded that these could be provided but that they were already in the public domain and were now historic documents. This also applied to documentation concerning bids such as that for the expansion of maternity services.

 

Subject to the confirmation of signatories and supply of documents outlined above, the Joint Committee noted the update.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

7.

AMENDMENTS TO COMMITTEE'S TERMS OF REFERENCE pdf icon PDF 88 KB

Report attached.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

A report before the Committee proposed some amendments to the Committee’s terms of reference in light of the recent decision by the London Borough of Waltham Forest to reduce its representation on the Committee from three Members to one. Some minor changes to reflect recent changes to health service structures were also recommended. A Member stated their regret at the Waltham Forest decision given the numbers of Redbridge residents in particular that used health facilities in Waltham Forest.

 

The Committee agreed the report and resolved:

 

1.    That the decision by London Borough of Waltham Forest to reduce its level of representation on the Committee from three Members to one be noted.

2.    That the proposed changes to the Committee’s terms of reference, as shown in the appendix to the report, be agreed.

8.

JOINT COMMITTEE'S WORK PLAN

The Joint Committee is asked to suggest any further items for scrutiny at future meetings.

Minutes:

A number of items at the meeting had produced suggestions for the Committee’s work programme and the clerk would circulate a revised work plan for the Joint Committee in due course.