To receive a report from the Corporate Director of Commissioning.

Consideration was given to a report of the Director of Commissioning, Trafford Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), which sought to provide an update on the Community Services which delivered physiotherapy as part of the clinical pathway and with a multi-disciplinary approach.

The author of the report attended the meeting to present the information and address the enquiries of the Committee. 

It was explained that physiotherapy was provided as part of a number of community services delivered by Pennine Care Foundation Trust. An overview of the main community services which involved physiotherapy was provided. They were: Community Musculoskeletal Service, Community Rehabilitation Service and Outpatients, Community Neuro Rehabilitation Services and Pulmonary Rehabilitation.

The main areas of concern for these services were highlighted.

With regard to Community MSK Service, it was reported that the main issue concerned meeting the Key Performance Indicator (KPI) for waiting times; a joint CCG and Pennine Care Foundation Trust Steering Group had been established and an action plan had been agreed to improve performance. 

In relation to Community Rehabilitation Service and Outpatients, Members were informed that, the demand for this provision had increased significantly with an impact on waiting times. It was explained that this was due to Trafford’s ageing population as well as the introduction of the frailty index in General Practice which identified older people at high risk of adverse health outcomes to enable preventative intervention.

A non-recurrent investment of £106,348 had been agreed to support the short term employment of additional physiotherapy and occupational therapy capacity to reduce the extensive waiting times to access Community Neuro-Rehabilitation Service.

Waiting times were also an issue for the Pulmonary Rehabilitation Service which was provided by Pennine Care NHS Foundation Trust. All community rehabilitation services would be considered as part of a wider review which would be undertaken with the implementation of Trafford’s Community Services transition to Manchester University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (MFT).

The Committee expressed its concern with regard to the long waiting list to access the Community Neuro - Rehabilitation Service and the possible negative consequences for patients’ recovery. The expected closure of the leisure centre also posed the issue of a new location for the service. It was explained that this was a unique service whose patients were at high risk of readmission to hospitals due to falls and social isolation. Work was ongoing with MFT; early windows of improvement had been identified and waiting times had started reducing. Although rehabilitation services were considered a priority, it was recognised that capacity remained an issue. Members requested that a progress report be brought to a meeting of the Health Scrutiny in the new Municipal Year.

Members also queried the number of missed appointments for Musculoskeletal Service. It was explained that work was ongoing to improve the effectiveness of the online booking system.

RESOLVED that;

1.    The content of the report be noted;

2.    A progress report be presented in the new Municipal Year (i.e.: 2019/20).

At this point in the proceedings, Councillor Longden left the meeting.