To receive and if so determined, to approve as a correct record, the minutes of the last meeting of the Joint Health Scrutiny Committee held on 22 October 2013. 

Decision

To approve the minutes of the meeting on 22 October 2013 as a correct record.

To note any declarations of interest.

The following personal interests were declared:

·         Councillor Lloyd declared a personal interest as an employee of the Stroke Association based at Salford Royal NHS Foundation Trust.

·         Councillor Bruer-Morris declared a personal interest as a practice nurse at a GP practice in Trafford.

To receive updates from NHS representatives on

a)    Implementation of the New Health Deal

b)    Patient activity across the local health system

c)    Performance of local A&Es.  

d)    Integrated Care

e)    Transport schemes,

f)     Manchester Orthopaedic Centre

g)    Financial plans

An update on these areas is attached.  Updates with the latest data will also be circulated when these are available so that Members have the up to date position.

The Committee welcomed Mike Burrows, Director (North West) NHS England, Warren Hepolettee, Director of Operations and Delivery NHS England, Nigel Guest, Chief Clinical Officer Trafford CCG, Gina Lawrence, Director of Commissioning and Operations Trafford CCG, Attila Vegh, Chief Executive of University Hospital of South Manchester and Mobeen Ismail, Clinical Director, Central Manchester Foundation Trust.

The Chair introduced the item by informing all those present that at its meeting of 12 December 2013 the Health Scrutiny Committee (Manchester) (HSC/13/70) had invited NHS England to respond to the concerns raised by members following press reports and anecdotal evidence of the pressures experienced by University Hospital of South Manchester (UHSM), Wythenshawe Hospital following the changes implemented from 28 November 2013 to the service provided at Trafford.

The Chair stated that at its meeting of 12 December 2013 the Health Scrutiny Committee was assured that the negative reports in the press were misleading as there was not enough statistical information available to draw any conclusions. This was because the new system had only been operational for a short period. Assurance was given by NHS England that patient volumes at Accident and Emergency (A&E) and Admissions were broadly inline with expected figures based on patient modelling. However the Chair advised that he was still receiving anecdotal evidence and press reports of issues arising at UHSM and invited NHS England to respond.

The Committee received a presentation from NHS England which covered six themes –

·         Reminder of assurance

·         Understanding patient activity across local health system

·         Performance of local A&Es

·         Integrated Care including transport schemes

·         Manchester Orthopaedic Centre

·         Financial Plans

In regard to the assurances given Dr Burrows advised that NHS had arrangements in place to ensure patient safety was not compromised during the transition to new services. He further stated that unequivocal assurances had been given that additional patient activity could be safely received.  He informed the Committee that the three neighbouring A&Es that would need to treat additional patients as a result of the changes to Trafford were consistently meeting their waiting time standards.

Members were then presented with statistical information relating to patient activity. Warren Heppolette, Director of Operations and Delivery, NHS England advised that analysis of the data for the period 30 September 2013 to 19 January 2014 indicated that there were 171 fewer Trafford residents attending Central Manchester Foundation Trust (CMFT), 279 fewer than expected at UHSM but with higher ambulances arrivals during the day and 181 fewer than expected at Salford Royal Foundation Trust  (SRFT) but again with higher ambulance arrivals during the day.

Similarly in regard to A&E Admissions for Trafford residents the figures indicated that admissions were broadly in line with the actual activity and getting closer. There were 222 fewer admissions than expected at CMFT, 161 more than expected at UHSM and 32 more than expected at SRFT.

The Committee were advised that both UHSM and CMFT fell narrowly below the 95% standard for A&E with each trust treating 94.5%  ...  view the full minutes text for item 3.