Agenda and minutes

Councillor Mrs Johnson declared an interest in the agenda items for North Staffordshire Combined Healthcare Trust (works for North Staffs User Group).

Councillor Loades declared an interest in the agenda items referring to his involvement with Healthwatch and Staffordshire LINk.

Resolved:-   That the minutes of the meeting of this Committee held on 21 November 2012 be approved as a correct record.

To receive a verbal update from Liz Rix, Chief Nurse at the University Hospital of North Staffordshire regarding performance at the Accident and Emergency Department.

Liz Rix presented a verbal update on performance at the UHNS Accident and Emergency Department.

She indicated that the significant increase in the number of patients attending Accident and Emergency and the resultant increase in the numbers of requiring admission to hospital over the winter period had led to the 4 hour target time not being achieved.  Work was ongoing with partners to try and manage and improve the situation with patient safety remaining a high priority.

The Committee accepted the situation and that action was being taken to address the problems.  In connection with this it was felt that Walk-in centres had a major part to play in dealing with the problem.

On a positive note Liz was happy to report that the number of complaints made against the department was lower than ever.  This, it was felt, was a clear indication that patients had confidence in the services provided. Feedback also suggested that staff took positive steps to keep patients informed of actions being taken to provide treatment during their stay in the department.

Although the majority of patients entering Accident and Emergency did not require bed based services it was indicated that all patients entering the department did receive appropriate treatment.  UHNS was working closely with CCGs to ensure that patients got to the right place relative to the treatment that they required.

The Committee understood that a relatively high number of patients from Cheshire and Stafford/South Staffs were presenting at the department and expressed an interest in establishing the post codes of all those attending over the last 12 months.  In response Liz confirmed that the information was held by the hospital and would be provided to the Committee for consideration at the next meeting. She also indicated that the hospital had not previously undertaken a detailed analysis of this data and that some work was required with partners.

In response to a question Liz confirmed that designation as a Trauma Centre had increased the number of patients arriving at Accident and Emergency and that treatment of such payments was fully funded.

Resolved:-   (a)       That Liz Rix be thanked for attending the meeting to provide her update.

                        (b)       That staff at Accident and Emergency be commended on their performance during difficult and challenging winter circumstances.

The Committee considered the fourth and fifth fortnightly updates issued by North Staffordshire Combined Healthcare Trust on the implementation of plans to improve mental health services across Stoke-on-Trent and North Staffordshire.

The Chairman acknowledged the importance of the Committee receiving the updates on a regular basis and thanked the Trust for supplying them to members. He was re-assured to learn that the affects of changes on service users was being closely monitored by the Trust.

In response to a question from a member Kath Clark agreed to provide details of the work being carried out at May Place.

Additionally, Jude Rhead confirmed that lessons had been learned from the consultation process for Lyme Brook and actions taken to improve the level of service provided to a greater number of people within financial constraints.  The Trust welcomed and invited feedback from the Committee and service users to influence and inform implementation of the changes.

Resolved:-   That the information be received.

Please ensure that any questions for Mr Jarrold are submitted to Julia Cleary before 5pm on Friday 4^th January 2012.

The Committee received a delegation from North Staffordshire Combined Healthcare Trust, led by its Chairman, Mr Ken Jarrold.

The Trust presented written answers to questions submitted by members of the Committee in addition to which representatives of the Trust provided supplementary information in those cases where further information was sought at the meeting.

The questions are set out below in bold type followed by the answers provided by the Trust in italics:-

Q1       The CQC Patient Survey highlighted areas for development.  What has Combined Healthcare put in place to address the following:-

(a)       Encouraging services user trust and confidence in health and social workers.

(b)       Giving service users the opportunity to talk to their care co?ordinator before their care review meeting.

(c)       Ensuring that service users have an out-of-hours contact number.

(d)       Asking service users to get help with their care responsibilities.

(e)       Supporting service users to get help with finding or keeping work.

(f)        Supporting service users to get help with finding or keeping accommodation.

(g)       Supporting service users to get help with financial advice or benefits.

(a)       Encouraging Service Users Trust and confidence in health and social workers.

Service users may request a change of care co-ordinator if they so desire.  An example of this is reflective of the Newcastle Team:  In this 12-month period there have been only two requests for change of care co-ordinator which is a positive indicator of the supportive relationships that exist between care co-ordinators and Service Users.

The complaints dealt with for Newcastle have been low this year (April 2012 to current date – four) and mainly relate to service provision issues and not direct complaints against staff members.  We have a robust complaints reporting system in place with the Patient Experience Team and PALS and managers at a local level seek to resolve complaints informally where possible.

Our commitment to preserving trust and confidence in staff through times of change is evidenced by all transfers of care co?ordinator being done in a timely way through a Care Planning Approach (CPA).

Service users are fully informed of any care co-ordination changes as we make changes.  Initially this is done verbally and then followed up by a formal letter explaining what is happening.

All our operational staff are registered with their registering body and current CRB checks are in place which again provides confidence that staff are professionally accountable.

The CQC survey is only one data source to capture data around this question.  The Trust includes this question in the service user discharge questionnaire, which is collated at each quarter.  For Q3 2012 we achieved 87% yes always, 12% yes sometimes, and 1% for no.  This is reflective of scores against previous quarters.

(b)       Giving service users the opportunity to talk to their care co?ordinator before their care review meeting.

Reception displays information clearly regarding care co?ordination roles and responsibilities (a copy of this is available if needed).  Opportunity is provided prior to the CPA, to discuss any issues  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

The Chairman updated the Committee on the County Council’s Malnutrition Plan.

Resolved: That the information is received.

The Chairman advised the Committee of arrangements made for the above workshop to be held at County Buildings on 29^th January 2013 at 2pm and asked that those wishing to attend contact the County Health Scrutiny Officer direct.

Resolved:  That the information be received.

The Chairman referred to information provided to him by the County Council about the Healthwatch Procurement Contract and requested that it be forwarded to all members of the Committee.

The information particularly concerned the procurement process leading to award of the contract.

Resolved:  That the information be received and forwarded to all Members of the Committee as requested by the Chairman.