Agenda item

DELAYS IN SECONDARY CARE

To receive a verbal report from the Director of Strategy for Manchester Foundation Trust.

Minutes:

The Director of Strategy for MFT gave a verbal update on the impact on secondary services. MFT Had introduced several targets to reduce waiting times. Clinical teams were aware that the numbers represented real people and while the work force was tired following the demands of the pandemic, they were working to ensure that people received treatment in a timely manner.

 

Work was ongoing to ensure all available resources were used in the most effective manner, especially in using digital resources to help to meet the increased level of need. The Director of Strategy for MFT spoke of the work MFT were undertaking to address delayed discharges of care in partnership with Trafford Council and the importance of ensuring the work of addressing the backlog did not lead to an increase in the levels of inequalities.

 

Councillor Gilbert asked if the targets MFT set were achievable. The Director of Strategy for MFT responded that MFT were doing their best to achieve those targets and spoke about possible initiatives that could be brought in nationally to help them achieve those targets.

 

Councillor Gilbert asked a follow up question around the level of funding likely to be available and the restrictions MFT faced. The Director of Strategy for MFT responded that they were currently looking to increase capacity in the area and would take it forward from there.

 

Councillor Gilbert asked what kind of plans were in place to communicate with patients about delays. The Director of Strategy for MFT responded that the NHS was developing a number of communications platforms to enable people to see where they were up to in the process.

 

Councillor Gilbert asked whether a joint approach was being taken or if there were any examples of good practice which could be copied. The Director of Strategy for MFT responded answered that GM were taking a joined-up approach to ensure a consistency in across the area.

 

Councillor Cordingley noted that some patients were being too passive and understating due to the strains the services were under and asked how this was being addressed. The Director of Strategy for MFT responded that MFT had prioritised their lists and this was continually reviewed to ensure that those who needed treatment most received it.

 

Councillor Carr asked how MFT were addressing inequalities. The Director of Strategy for MFT answered that MFT were assessing where people were from and the timings for treatment those people were seeing and were just starting to see the benefits of this data gathering coming through within the service.

 

Councillor Carr asked whether there had been any changes to the system for Did Not Attends (DNAs) and asked for reassurance that those who missed appointments were not taken off the list and having to start again. The Director of Strategy for MFT responded did not have the detail of the access policy to hand but would share it after the committee and welcomed questions on that policy.

Councillor Lloyd spoke about people missing appointments due to not having received post and whether this was being addressed. The Director of Strategy for MFT stated that there was a text service in place and assured the Committee that MFT made multiple attempts to contact people.

 

Councillor Lloyd asked about the capacity of beds available. The Director of Strategy for MFT did not have the figures to hand but stated that he would provide the figures after the meeting.

 

Councillor Lloyd spoke about the importance of having an adequate number of staff for beds and asked about the issues nationally around capacity. The Director of Strategy for MFT responded that some areas had recovered faster than other and had increased their capacity quicker than others.

 

Councillor Lloyd asked about the impact of people switching to private care. The Director of Strategy for MFT responded that the impact of people switching would need to be seen and spoke of the increase in the number of services commissioned with private providers to support the NHS to cope with demand. 

 

Councillor Lloyd asked what contracts were available and if the information could be provided later. The Director of Strategy for MFT confirmed that he would provide the information after the meeting via email.

 

The Chair of Healthwatch Trafford noted that around 30% of people were turning up to appointments unfit to receive treatment and asked whether this had been seen at MFT. The Director of Strategy for MFT was not aware of the figure being 30% but he did know that people were regularly found not to be fit for appointments.

 

The Chair of Healthwatch Trafford asked about the rule of not being allowed to have an operation with 7 weeks of having covid and how this was assured. The Director of Strategy for MFT responded that there were several checks performed but did not have the full details to hand.

 

Councillor Carr spoke about pre-operation assessments and how the first was more of a scoping exercise and then they may need a second appointment. The pre-operation assessment was specific to the type of operation given but the majority were done by Nurses with anaesthetist only doing those of high risk. Councillor Carr explained that there were other reasons which could lead to different pre-operation assessments depending on which trust was conducting them.

 

RESOLVED:

1)    That the update be noted.

2)    That the additional pieces of information requested be provided to the Committee via email.