Agenda and minutes

To approve as a correct record and sign the Minutes of the meeting held on 25 June 2013.

The Minutes (copies of which had been circulated) of the meeting held on 25 June 2013 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

Councillors and officers were invited to declare any interests they had in any of the items on the agenda for the meeting.

The following interest was declared:-

Personal Interest

There were no call-ins to consider.

To consider a presentation from the Chief Executive and Director of Operations, Stockport NHS Foundation Trust.

Following on from the presentation made to the Scrutiny Committee in April 2013, this presentation will provide an update to the Committee on the actions taken by the Trust to address performance against the 4 hour target for unplanned admissions.

Details of the previous meeting at which this matter was considered can be found at http://democracy.stockport.gov.uk/ieIssueDetails.aspx?IId=13559&Opt=3

Ann Barnes (Chief Executive) and James Sumner (Chief Operating Officer), Stockport NHS Foundation Trust, attended the meeting and made a presentation on progress with implementing the Trust’s action plan to address performance against the 4-hour target for unplanned hospital admissions.

The presentation provided background information to the reduction in performance in the previous year that had prompted the involvement of Monitor, the NHS Regulator, and highlighted actions taken by the Trust since the last presentation made to the Scrutiny Committee in April 2013.

Since April, a range of actions had been taken by the Trust and performance had seen a marked improvement. However, in the preceding month there had been a significant increase in demand at the hospital’s Emergency Department (ED) during peak times, which had hampered achieving the target. While this was technically a breach of the target, the waiting times being experienced were only marginally over the 4-hour target as the measures put in place by the Trust meant that patients were no longer experiencing very long waits. The causes of the increased demand were not known, but it was believed to be partly as a result of high temperatures and increasing numbers of people presenting to the ED with minor issues.

There were also particular difficulties being experienced in recruiting Emergency Department Consultants, which was mirrored nationally, and this would continue to present a challenge in implementing the Action Plan. Work was also continuing with partners to address the causes of inappropriate demand and providing alternative treatment options.

It was further reported that the Care Quality Commission had made an unannounced visit in May shortly after the new measures were put in place in the ED and Ambulatory Care Unit. Feedback from the CQC, based in part on patient feedback, had been very positive.

The following comments were made/ issues raised:-

·         Uncertainty around future plans for hospital configurations, including Healthier Together, made EDs that were not major trauma centres less attractive for ED Consultants. A number of other options were being explored to try to address the shortfall in expertise.

·         Managing demand and stopping people going through the ED door was key, although was a significant challenge. Work with other partners to address this was welcomed.

·         Stepping Hill Hospital was fairly unusual in Greater Manchester in not having a GP walk-in facility at the hospital, which tend to work well at taking pressure of EDs. Options for this were being explored.

·         A significant number of attendances were still related to existing medical conditions. The Trust was looking to develop health and social care systems to help overcome this.

·         There was a tension between reducing waiting times and discouraging attendance. Were the target not a consideration, the Trust’s recent measures would be seen as a significant improvement in the service provided.

·         The Trust Board was taking all necessary actions to ensure the four-hour target was met, however it’s primary concern was safety and quality of care.

RESOLVED – (1) That Ann Barnes and James Sumner be thanked for their attendance and presentation.

(2) That the Chief Executive, Stockport NHS Foundation Trust be invited to provide a further update on performance in relation to unplanned admissions to the meeting of the Health Scrutiny Committee on 22 October 2013.

To consider a verbal update from the Chair / Democratic Services Manager

A representative of the Democratic Services Manager submitted a report of the Assistant Chief Executive (copies of which had been circulated) providing the Scrutiny Committee with a proposed methodology for the review of inequalities being undertaken jointly with the Adult Care Services & Housing and Children & Young People Scrutiny Committee.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted and any councillor wishing to take part in the Review be requested to notify the Democratic Services Manager by the end of July.

To receive feedback, if any, on issues raised at meetings of the Greater Manchester Health Scrutiny Pool and the Joint Mental Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee for Pennine Care NHS Trust.

(i)            A representative of the Democratic Services Manager reported that the recent meeting of the AGMA Health Scrutiny Pool had received an update from NHS Greater Manchester in relation to Healthier Together, Health & Social Care Integration and Primary Care reform.

(ii)          The Chair reported that the Pennine Care NHS Foundation Trust Joint Overview and Scrutiny Committee had recently received an informative presentation in relation to drug and alcohol services and recommended that representatives of the service be invited to provide a presentation to this Committee.

RESOLVED – That the reports be noted.

To consider a report of the Democratic Services Manager.                                                          

The report sets out planned agenda items for the Scrutiny Committee’s next meeting and Forward Plan items that fall within the remit of the Scrutiny Committee.

The Scrutiny Committee is invited to consider the information in the report and put forward any agenda items for future meetings of the Committee.

Officer contact: Jonathan Vali,   0161 474 3201 , jonathan.vali@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Democratic Services Manager submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) setting out planned agenda items for the Scrutiny Committee’s next meeting and any relevant Forward Plan items.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.