To receive an update from representatives of the University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust.
Minutes:
The Chair introduced the Executive Managing Director for Burton and the Deputy Director for Strategy & Partnerships from the University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust (the “Trust”) to the Committee who were attending the meeting to provide an update on the performance of the Trust with a particular focus on the local community hospitals.
By way of background the attendees explained to the Committee that the NHS was required to work more collaboratively and in a more integrated way to deliver services to patients. In terms of the Community strategy this involved understanding the population’s health needs, developing place-based models of care and enhancing the Community Hospital offering. This should provide a more personalised and patient centred focus with more integrated pathways which linked into primary care as well.
The Committee was updated on the new services established at the Sir Robert Peel and Samuel Johnson hospitals since the merger as follows:
· Spinal Clinics
· Hand surgery Clinics and Theatre
· Gastroenterology Clinics
· Palliative Care Clinics
· Orthopaedic Clinics
· Renal & Nephrology Clinics
· Endoscopy Clinics
The Executive Managing Director highlighted to the Committee the new Frailty / Staying Well Pathway which aimed to help support frail and elderly patients in staying well, and avoiding admissions to hospital by working with GPs, pharmacists and with social care colleagues and also to minimise such patients needing to attend multiple appointments.
In addition it was reported that the hours of operation of phlebotomy and dermatology services had been extended, and that further services were planned to be operated from the community hospitals.
It was reported that as well as increasing services at the community hospitals, following the merger there remained a focus on looking to expand cardiology services and work was underway to assess whether Burton hospital could provide primary coronary intervention. In terms of stroke cases, it was reported that the Trust was following the national model to ensure the hyper acute stroke phase (first 72 hours) was delivered from the specialist centre at Derby Hospital.
It was reported that the merger had helped to support the recruitment of specialists in several areas who would be able to operate over both the Derby and Burton sites as well as there being local clinics run from community hospitals as appropriate.
The Committee was updated on the activity at the two local community hospitals which showed positive trends in the numbers of day case procedures, although there were some activities which were down on pre-mergers levels, although the most recent data was more positive in terms of elective activity and minor injury unit visits.
The Committee considered the importance of patients using local services when they were available and any barriers, in terms of transport, which existed to patients accessing services locally and at Burton hospital. The Trust reported that it looked to deliver as much health care as locally as possible and to minimise the times patients needed to travel further to Burton for treatment. Furthermore the Committee discussed whether local GPs were always aware of all the services which could be delivered locally when assisting patients in exercising their choice for any treatment required. The Trust noted that it would continue to work with local GPs to support the local delivery of services, when appropriate, which fitted in with the long term strategic direction of the health service.
The Committee sought clarification on whether some aspects of cardiac care could be provided at community hospitals, rather than at the main centres where it appeared most rehabilitation took place currently. It was reported that this would depend on eth bed base at community hospitals, and that there was not yet clarity on whether such care could best be delivered from hospitals or from home.
The Committee discussed the size of the site at Sir Robert Peel and the potential for there to be further developments at this site.
The Committee thanked the Executive Managing Director and the Deputy Director for Strategy & Partnerships for attending the Committee, who then left the meeting.
Councillor D Box left the meeting.