Agenda item

Mr Kevin McNamara, Director of Strategy, Great Western Hospital (GWH) NHS Foundation Trust, submitted a report providing the Committee with a performance update and a summary of the following key issues in relation to the planning and provision of health and social care services provided by the hospital:

·         The Care Quality Commission inspection in 2017 with nearly two thirds of services now rated as good or outstanding.

·         The increase in demand for services within the Emergency Department.

·         The impact of Swindon’s increase in population and its effect on the hospital’s capacity.

·         The referral to treatment indicators, which were positive compared to national targets but had dipped during the winter months.

·         The hospital’s achievement of most of its cancer indicators, including the 31 day waits for diagnosis to first treatment, the 31 day wait for second treatment, the 62 day wait for first treatment from a referral from the NHS cancer screening services.

·         The financial pressures on the hospital and the work being undertaken to reduce the deficit which will make the hospital eligible for some national Sustainability and Transformation funding.

·         The work with other Trusts to submit a bid for capital funds to support the expansion of the emergency department and other parts of the estate due to lack of capacity at the hospital.

·         The appointment of Julie Marshman as new Chief Nurse.

·         The infection control regime, which saw no hospital acquired cases of MRSA blood stream infections in 2017/18.

·         The excellent team work from hospital and Carillion staff during a major incidentat the hospital.

·         GP referrals and the fact that the majority were now being done electronically (digitally, maybe?). 

·         The new e-observations system enabling staff to manage patient observations electronically will be rolled out across the Trust this summer. 

·         The hospital’s full accreditation again from UNICEF’s Baby Friendly Initiative after a recent assessment.

·         The success of the #EndPJParalysis campaign that sees patients up and moving out of their hospital bed.  This helps them to get home quicker.

          Following his introduction of the report, Mr McNamara, together with

Councillor Brian Ford, the Cabinet Member for Adults, and the Director of Public Health responded to members’ questions and comments on the following issues:

·         GWH’s preparation for A&E pressures during the winter months.

·         The breakdown of data provided for scrutiny by the Committee

·         The national shortage of nurses and how GWH was addressing this.

·         The distribution of medication in hospital wards on patient discharge. 

·         The waiting list for ophthalmology services.

·         The bid for funding submitted to the National Executive to help deal with the population growth in Swindon.

·         The need to attract developer’s funding from the Section 106 Agreements and the Community Infrastructure Levy to address the population growth in Swindon.

·         The myriad ways various health services were promoting preventative care on obesity and diabetes within the community.

           Resolved – (1) That the report be noted.

          (2) That the Executive Nurse at NHS Swindon Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), circulate a range of key indicators to the Committee to assist them in selecting topics for scrutiny.    

          (3) Further to (2) above, a meeting be set up by the Committee Officer to discuss the key indicators and determine the way forward.

          (4)  Further to (3) above, the targeted indicators be submitted to the Director of Strategy for inclusion in future reports.

          (5) That the Director of Strategy and the Executive Nurse at NHS CCG be requested to include an update on ophthalmology services in Swindon in their reports to be submitted at the next meeting of this Committee.

          (6) That the Director of Strategy, Great Western Hospital (GWH) NHS Foundation Trust be requested to (a) include information regarding staffing levels at GWH in his report to the next meeting of this Committee and (b) circulate to members a copy of the presentation, “Rightsizing hospital capacity – planning for the future” that he had presented to the Committee in February 2018.