To receive an update on the performance of the Urgent Care Centre from Central Manchester Foundation Trust (CMFT).

The Committee received a report on the Trafford Urgent Care Centre which provided an update on its implementation, staffing, attendances, acute medical patients, governance and incidents since the Committee last met.  Stephen Gardner, Director of Strategic Programs, CMFT introduced the report across its main themes. He explained that the Committee had been kept updated on the models for the provision of the Urgent Care Centre (UCC) and the chosen model was robust.  He said the only difference now was attempts to work in collaboration with Mastercall and the care of patients at the Trafford Urgent Care Centre continued to be of an appropriate standard.  He noted that the Acute Medical Unit was now receiving patients and explained work was being done to develop frailty services. 

Mary Burney, Divisional Director for Trafford Hospitals, Central Manchester Foundation Trust (CMFT) also commented on the report. She said the new arrangements with Mastercall had commenced at the beginning of October 2016.  This hadn’t impacted on the ability to deliver services but the numbers of doctors employed had reduced.  She described the work that was ongoing to retain integrated teams in order that patients could present at any location and be triaged and signposted appropriately.  She explained that governance was now done jointly with Mastercall with monthly governance meetings and weekly catch ups.  Incidences at low and high level continued to be logged and everyone who attended after 8pm.  Communications and signage around the closing times were currently being reviewed. 

The Chair noted that Councillor Harding had requested more information on the types of transfers to other hospitals.  She had also asked whether the information being collated by Helen Hurst, the Nurse Consultant for Frail Elderly on the new medical model for small hospitals could be shared with the Trafford Health Scrutiny Committee once it was available.  Mary Burney explained that where patients were transferred was dependent on their condition.  Patients with head injuries were transferred to Salford Royal Hospital, cardiac outpatients were transferred to University Hospital South Manchester (UHSM) or Central Manchester Foundation Trust (CMFT) and those with acute kidney failure to CMFT.  She confirmed that the transfers were the same as those that would have happened prior to the change to an Urgent Care Centre.  Mary Burney described the Small Hospitals Project that was being worked on at present.  In response to a members query she advised that it was community focussed and that the results could be shared in time.

Members discussed patient flow.  A member stressed the importance of whole system resilience.  Members noted that there had been issues with delayed discharges nationally over the Christmas period.  Members noted that within Greater Manchester UHSM, CMFT and Salford Royal had all cancelled elective surgery over this period as there were not enough beds.  Members questioned what was being done to ensure that there were enough beds for those patients that needed them and enough care packages for those patients that could be discharged in order that their discharge was not delayed.  A member asked whether the Urgent Care Centre could retain the 9,000 patients that were projected to be sent elsewhere due to the move to a nurse led model. Mary Burney advised that she was confident the 9,000 patients could be retained at Trafford noting there was a 13% increase in attendances that she was confident could be sustained.  In response to members queries regarding whether patients could choose their own pathways she advised that evidence suggested they would choose the right services. 

DECISIONS:

1. To note the report

2. To note that information on the new medical models for small hospitals being collated by Helen Hurst would be provided to Trafford Health Scrutiny Committee in due course.

3. To retain The Trafford Urgent Care Centre as a standing item on the Committee’s agenda and request a further update on its performance at the next meeting.