My Report to Council

Posted By: Wera Hobhouse
Date Posted: 15/01/2010

Thank you Mr Mayor for the opportunity to report to the Council the latest developments on various matters relating to the Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

Amalgamation of A&E Walk-in Centre and Out of Hours GP Services

Since last reporting there have been three meetings of the Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee.
The committee called a special meeting on November 4th after it emerged that the PCT and PAHT (Pennine Acute Hospital Trust) were facing difficulties with the amalgamation of the A&E , Walk-in Centre and Out of Hours GP Services at Rochdale Infirmary. The national target of 4hours waiting times in A&E had been breached on many occasions, some patients had to wait to see a triage nurse for up to an hour and many patients had to stand up because there were not enough seats. The pressure on staff was unacceptable
At the special meeting on the 4th November PCT and PAHT reported that the problem arose from an unexplained peek in patient numbers at certain times and a bottle neck to see the triage nurse who had to deal with three different patient groups when previously there had only been one. PCT and PAHT were taking the situation very seriously and proposed several measures to improve patient flow. The re opening of the Walk-in Centre was seen as a last resort. Committee members resolved to receive a further report about the situation at its next regular meeting but also asked for a feasibility study into the re opening of the Walk-in-centre.
A dispute arose between members and PCT/PAHT management whether the request for a feasibility study into the re opening of the Walk-in-Centre had been a proper resolution because it was not minuted. Subsequently the committee did not receive a report for a feasibility study at our next regular meeting on the 8th December.

Members were dissatisfied that officers from the PCT had seen the draft minutes and amended them whereas members did not have the same opportunity.
At our meeting on the 8th December members asked the Borough Solicitor for a report to clarify the procedure for the circulation of draft minutes. The committee asked again for a feasibility study into the re opening of the Walk-in Centre.

The committee noted some progress with regards of managing patient flow more effectively but will have a full discussion and take a view as to recommending further action once a report about the feasibility to reopen the Walk-in-Centre has been received.

Swine Flu up-date
The committee received an update about the Swine Flu pandemic from the Director of Public Health Sheila Will. The vaccination programme had started in November offering the vaccine to the most vulnerable patients first. Patients are urged to take up the offer of the vaccine because in many cases the virus appears to either have very mild effects, some patients become very seriously ill. So far between 100 and 200 people have died from the virus. However the pandemic doesn’t seem to spread as widely as previously feared.

Hospital nutrition
The committee received an update from the chair of the Joint Health Overview and Scrutiny committee with regards to the study into hospital nutrition in the four Pennine Acute Trust hospitals. The study group has visited two sites so far and has already come across some issues for concern particularly around mealtimes. A full report will be published in spring/summer 2010.

Foundation Trust application

The Pennine Acute Hospital Trust is seeking to become a Foundation Trust. Consultation about the process has now started and will end in February.

I thank members and officers of their continued support and I am happy to answer any questions.

Wera Hobhouse