Agenda and minutes

There were no apologies for absence received.

The minutes of the meeting held on 1 December 2015 are attached for approval.

The minutes from the meeting held on 1 December 2015 were agreed as a correct record.

Report of Strategic Director, Care, Wellbeing and Learning

The Committee received a presentation from Chris Piercy, Executive Director of Nursing, Patient Safety & Quality, Newcastle/Gateshead CCG, which set out the current position in relation to the Deciding Together Consultation process and a report which outlined the Committee’s involvement / role in the formal consultation.

The Committee noted that there had been an extensive engagement process prior to the formal consultation during which the OSC had received information and updates regarding the process and had been afforded the opportunity to feed in its views.

The Committee had also been made aware of engagement events during the formal public consultation period.

However, the OSC was concerned that a) the formal consultation document lacked sufficient detail regarding all three proposed scenarios for change for adult acute, assessment and treatment and rehabilitation services and b) key issues raised during engagement events were not being effectively highlighted in the formal public consultation to ensure full and proper consideration of all the issues and gain an effective response.

The Committee noted that a member of the Committee had, at a recent engagement event, questioned why there was no reference in the consultation document to the importance of developing relationships / increased joint working between community based services and hospital staff to ensure effective community based provision going forwards and had been advised by those running the exercise that this was a key issue and an omission. The OSC was concerned that, in spite of the issue having been raised and acknowledged as an omission, it did not appear to have been subsequently picked up in the consultation document.

The Committee was also particularly concerned regarding the level of detail provided on pages 58 and 59 of the consultation document which sets out the three possible locations for adult acute assessment, treatment and rehabilitation services. The Committee noted that options T and N both specified locations whereby services could be provided in the future whereas option G, the Gateshead based scenario, states “a location to be identified”. The OSC considered that not highlighting a location for the Gateshead option was a real flaw and the OSC questioned how the public could meaningfully respond to the options in the consultation without such key information. The OSC also noted that had option G referred to a “central location” within Gateshead, this would have gone some way in assisting respondents to complete the consultation survey.

The Committee also expressed serious concern that the options outlined in the consultation document, which require Gateshead service users, families and carers to travel further from their local community to access acute inpatient facilities (particularly option T) would have a detrimental impact and fail to meet their overall health and wellbeing needs.

The Committee had raised its concerns regarding the adverse impact of Gateshead service users, families and carers having to travel further to access facilities since the earlier engagement process and whilst it acknowledged that, as part of the formal public consultation exercise, an absolute commitment  had been given to support travel for  ...  view the full minutes text for item CHWOSC32

Matt Brown, NHS England will provide the OSC with a verbal update

The Committee received an update from Matt Brown, Head of Primary Care NHS England.

The Committee were advised that no bids had been forthcoming through the procurement process for the Blaydon Primary Care site.

The current position being looked at is a branch surgery with reduced hours and this scenario is currently out for consultation/engagement with the pubic.

The Committee expressed concern that patient details have been reported as lost and councillors who reside in the west of the borough had not received any information or consultation documents.

This would be looked into as a matter of urgency.

RESOLVED -             i)          that the information be noted.

                                    ii)         that further updates be provided as soon as practicable

Report or Strategic Director, Care, Wellbeing and Learning

The Committee received a report and presentation as part of the third evidence gathering session of the review which is being jointly led by the Council, NHS England and Newcastle Gateshead NHS CCG with input from Healthwatch Gateshead.

Jane Mulholland, Director of Delivery and Transformation, Newcastle Gateshead CCG and Helen Lumley, Chief Executive of Community Based Care provided the Committee with a presentation which set out the national context arising from the Forward View and recent NHS Planning Guidance as well as the local context from the CCG’s Primary Care Strategy for High Quality and Sustainable General Practice 2016-19. Consideration was then given to the following issues and how they impact on access to GP services and the quality of care:

·         IT

·         Workforce

·         Estates

·         7 Day Services

·         Prime Ministers Challenge Fund

·         Inter-practice referrals and other initiatives being taken forward through Gateshead Community Based Care Ltd

Following on from the two site visits already undertaken to Trinity Square Health Centre and Oxford Terrace practices, arrangements are being made for the two remaining site visits to:

·         CCG headquarters at Riverside House, Newburn in order to be taken through the CCG’s ‘Visibility Wall’ which has been developed to provide an overview of its work in improving the quality care. As part of the visit links will be made with the committee’s review topic.

·         A GP practice to observe a patient engagement forum meeting.

Dates will be circulated in due course.

The Committee has already had a presentation from Healthwatch Gateshead on the findings of its own survey on GP Access and Out of Hours Provision at the first evidence gathering session on 20 October 2015. This report was subsequently provided to the Committee and was attached to the agenda papers.

RESOLVED -             That the information be noted.