Agenda item

To consider the report of the Director of Transformation and Governance on proposals from the NHS or providers of health services to vary or develop health services in the area of the Committee.

Items for Monitoring

·      Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust: Andover Hospital Minor Injuries Unit

Items for Information

·      South Eastern Hampshire CCG and Portsmouth Hospitals NHS Trust: Spinal Surgery Service 

The Chairman took items in a different order to the published agenda, to take items with presenters in attendance first.

South Eastern Hampshire CCG and Portsmouth Hospitals NHS Trust: Spinal Surgery Service

Representatives from the Hampshire and Isle of Wight CCG Partnership and Portsmouth Hospitals NHS Trust presented a report on Spinal Surgery Services in Portsmouth and South East Hampshire (see report, Item 6 in the Minute Book).

Members heard that elective spinal surgery was a single handed service at the Queen Alexandra Hospital in Portsmouth, which impacted waiting lists. Efforts had been made to build the service and recruit additional clinicians, but they had been unable to attract new staff. Commissioners had reviewed what was best for patients and were proposing to move the service to be provided from University Hospital Southampton. This was expected to impact around 204 patients. The proposal had been to the Portsmouth Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee. They agreed that the proposed change does not constitute a substantial change in service and was in the interest of service users. They did ask that service users and local people were provided with clear communications about the changes as they were made. If agreed, it was planned to move the service from October 2018. Patient engagement had been undertaken and concerns expressed were mainly regarding car parking in Southampton. 

In response to questions, Members heard:

·      Non surgical services for those with back problems e.g. physiotherapy would continue to be provided at the Queen Alexandra Hospital

·      It was expected the surgeon currently undertaking this surgery in Portsmouth would TUPE to Southampton

·      University Hospital Southampton were employing additional staff to manage the additional demand

·      Commissioners would be monitoring the performance of the service following the service move, and could update the committee in future following implementation

RESOLVED

That the Committee:

a.    Agree that the proposed change does not constitute a substantial change in service

2. Agree that the proposed change is in the interest of the service users affected in the Hampshire area

3. Request an electronic update in September 2018 on the engagement undertaken with service users. In September the committee will consider an appropriate date to request an update on implementation of the service change.

d.    Agree to write to University Hospital Southampton regarding ensuring there is sufficient car parking provision to accommodate the additional patients.

Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust: Andover Minor Injuries Unit Update

The Committee received a report from the Chief Executive of Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust providing an update on staffing the Andover Minor Injuries Unit (see report, Item 6 in the Minute Book).

Members noted that Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust provide a Minor Injuries Unit (MIU) at the Andover War Memorial Hospital. In recent years the Trust had implemented a temporary variation to the commissioned opening hours, due to staff absence and vacancies meaning the Unit could not be safely staffed to cover the required hours.The HASC last received an update on the situation in November 2017. At that time the Trust was operating the MIU 7 days a week between 8am and 8pm (compared to commissioned hours until 10pm). However recruitment of Emergency Nurse Practitioners (ENPs) continued to be difficult against a national shortage. The latest update indicated that, with the agreement of West Hampshire Clinical Commissioning Group, the opening hours of the MIU had been reduced to 0830Hrs -1800Hrs for a period of 6 months from 4 June 2018. This was due to the MIU having 5 ENP vacancies.

The Trust were keen to continue to develop the services provided in Andover War Memorial Hospital and were actively working with partners and commissioners on the development of an Urgent Treatment Centre that would include and expand on the service currently commissioned. The new service was currently at invitation to tender stage and the commissioning plan was for a new service to be in place in July 2019.

Members expressed concern that the Trust continued to be unable to recruit to fill the staff vacancies to maintain the commissioned opening hours of the MIU. The Committee wished to receive a further update to provide assurance that the Trust were actively seeking to address the situation. 

RESOLVED

That the Committee:

a.    Note the progress on managing the opening hours of the MIU at Andover War Memorial Hospital.

b.    Request a further update in three months time.