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 Action

·         Solent NHS Trust: Proposals to move the Kite Unit

Solent NHS Trust: Proposals to Move the Kite Unit

Representatives of Solent NHS Trust presented a report on the proposed move of the Kite Unit (see report, Item 6 in the Minute Book).

A summary of the report was provided.  In response to questions, Members heard:

·      For most Hampshire patients and their families/carers, there would be a shorter distance to travel to the Unit in Western Community Hospital, Southampton.  Public transport links were also better.  For those who might financially struggle to travel to Southampton, funding had been identified through ‘Headway’, which would see individuals reimbursed if criteria were met.

·      A formal consultation with staff had not yet been held as the Trust wished to gain support for the proposed move first, but through informal discussions and engagement it was thought that most staff would be willing to transfer to Southampton.  Those who had signalled their intention to leave the service had noted this to managers, and a recruitment exercise was being held to fill these posts.

·      Should the Kite Unit move to Southampton, staff would have protected travel costs reimbursed for a four-year period at 79p* per mile.

*Post-meeting, this was corrected to 28p per mile.

·      The majority of clinical staff were supportive of the proposals, with the only concerns raised relating to how the new Unit would be staffed, and what support would be offered in terms of travel.  All staff were supportive of the clinical strategic direction and agreed that the Kite and Snowdon wards should be co-located.

·      The low level of GP feedback to the proposals was likely due to only a minority of doctors being aware of the Unit, as most would not have referred patients into the neurological rehabilitation pathway.  Those who had responded had been positive about the proposals, alongside responses from acute and commissioning colleagues.

·      Currently the Snowdon Unit is a stand-alone ward in Western Community Hospital and would remain unchanged.  The Kite Unit would occupy a vacant ward in the hospital, which would be renovated and adapted to suit the requirements of a neurological rehabilitation ward.

·      It was hoped that by co-locating the two Units, staff on Snowdon would improve their skills around acuity, and staff on Kite would be able to improve their physical therapy skills.

·      It was additionally hoped that by being located on the Western site, conversations could be held with the major provider of mental health services in Hampshire, Southern Health NHS Foundation Trust, about a shared out-of-hours psychiatric rota given that the two providers would be in close proximity.

Members held discussion after questions which indicated their support for the proposals, particularly noting the positive indication of the two mental health trusts located on the Western Hospital site working together on shared rotas.

The Chairman moved to the recommendations.

RESOLVED

That Members:

1.  Support the proposal to move the Kite Unit from St James’ Hospital, Portsmouth, to the Western Community Hospital, Southampton.

2.  Request an update on this service three months after the move has been completed. That this update includes information on the staffing of the Kite Unit post-move, and details of travel arrangements made with staff, patients and their families/carers.