Agenda and minutes

To receive declarations of interest from Members on items included on this agenda.

Councillor Loades declared an interest as a Cabinet Support Member for Social Care and Wellbeing. 

Councillor L. Hailstones declared an interest as a District Nurse employed by SSOTP.

The Chair explained that the meeting had been called to scrutinise the issues around the proposed decision to close beds at Bradwell Hospital and set out how the meeting would be conducted.

Opening with scrutiny questions about the timeline and openness around the decision to close the community beds at hospital, members had sight of correspondence from the Accountable Officer which stated that the proposals would be considered at a public meeting of the Governing Body on 4 October.  It was noted that this decision was subsequently taken in a closed session.

Continuing, Sharon Emery as a member of the public who had submitted questions in advance of the meeting, addressed these to the representatives of the CCG and the SSOTP :-

1.    Will the CCGs guarantee that no harm will come to patients as a result of closing these community beds?

2.    What is the plan for coping with the winter pressures, especially with the loss of such a significant number of community beds?

3.    What is the breakdown of how monies saved from bed closures have been used to improve quality of care for patients in the community?

Representatives from the CCG explained that no harm would come to the patients.  Some community beds would be retained at the Haywood Hospital and that other support in nursing homes in the community would be provided.

There were a number of plans in terms of extra nursing home capacity.  From the savings achieved by closing the beds £5m could be invested into community services, primary care and dementia care liaison; there would be an increase in the number of beds commissioned within nursing homes and there would be increased therapy cover to sit within the nursing homes.

Members returned to question the representatives from the CCG and SSOTP regarding:-

Concerns around the patient experience following discharge from Bradwell, which may result in readmission to UHNM, and to a subsequently worsening bed situation at the UHNM. 

It was explained by the CCG that the point prevalence study had shown that the majority of people occupying beds were waiting for other services and that rehabilitation did not necessarily need to occur in a hospital. However re admittance to hospital may not always be avoided, around 13% return to hospital, as this was dependent on an individual’s condition.

It was stated that 20 beds had closed at the Haywood Hospital and that 130 beds had been commissioned in the community. Pressed on the point around the provision of adequate care package provision within the home it was admitted that there were difficulties around the Council procuring services, although investment had been made to help with this area of work.

Councillor Loades added that the CCGs were committed to ensuring that care packages were provided and that this had rendered very positive results with the opportunity to deliver safe care at home.

Further concerns were expressed at the number of people waiting for a care package revealed by the point prevalence study which was  ...  view the full minutes text for item 2.

There was no urgent business.