To receive a presentation from the Senior Responsible Officer for the Pennine Acute Trust Transactions Programme.

The Committee received a presentation of the Assistant Director of Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust (MFT) on the progress on the Pennine Acute Hospitals NHS Trust (PAT) Transactions Programme. The presentation was delivered by the MFT Assistant Director.

Members were informed that, in order to support the future clinical, financial and workforce sustainability of acute hospital services in the North East sector and across Greater Manchester, two processes were underway to split PAT; both elements would require formal approval at national level. Salford Royal would put forward proposals to formally acquire Royal Oldham, Fairfield General Hospital and Rochdale Infirmary hospital sites to be part of Salford Royal’s group of healthcare services called the Northern Care Alliance NHS Group (NCA). The other transaction would see MFT to formally acquire North Manchester General Hospital to form part of its group of hospitals. This would contribute to the implementation of the plan to create a Single Hospital Service for the city of Manchester and Trafford. 

It was explained that the PAT transactions were overseen by a Transaction Board formed by senior representatives of the organisations involved with the programme. The Board was independently chaired by the Chief Officer of Greater Manchester Health and Social Care Partnership. The transactions would need to be completed by March 2020.

It was explained that the plan aimed to ensure consistent high quality of care across Greater Manchester and effective coordination with community care services through appropriately skilled workforce, financial efficiency, research and innovation and education and training.

The legal transaction processes and timescales were outlined to Members. The communication and engagement plans to inform public, patients, members of staff and key stakeholders were described. They were developed collectively by the working group. 

The Committee sought and received assurance that the clinical outcomes would not be affected by the need to progress the transactions programme. A dedicated team had been established with the purpose to carry out the transactions programme. Therefore, resources remained in place to solely focus on the delivery of the clinical outcomes.  The Chair voiced the request of the Committee to receive a progress report at a future meeting of the Committee to review performance against clinical outcomes where services had already been embedded following the merger (e.g.: Wythenshawe Hospital).

Members sought and received clarification / commented on the following points:

-       Workforce and Trade Unions engagement -  It was explained that communication and engagement had not yet been implemented as they were the next step of the Transactions Programme;

-       PAT deficit - It was explained that work was ongoing with colleagues at national level to find a structural solution to the deficit.

-       Resources to sustain the transactions – It was explained that the Transactions Programme was funded via the Greater Manchester Transformation Fund. However, it was stressed that the funding was utilised for due diligence as well as to add value and deliver transformation service outcomes.

-       Opportunity to create a permanent workforce to improve quality of care and financial sustainability.

-       Quantifiable health outcomes for Trafford’s residents – It was explained that there was a detailed programme of work to track benefits for residents and strong project management to ensure stable commitment to the clinical service strategy while the transactions were carried out.

RESOLVED that:

1.    The up to date information on the Pennine Acute Hospitals NHS Trust Transactions Programme be noted;

2.    A progress report be presented at a future meeting of the Health Scrutiny Committee to inform ofperformance against clinical outcomes where services had already been embedded following the merger of  Central Manchester University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and University Hospital of South Manchester NHS Foundation Trust (e.g.: Wythenshawe Hospital).