TO FOLLOW
Minutes:
The committee received the Turnaround Plan for the North Middlesex Hospital from the Primary Care Trust.
Members noted that North Middlesex was required to save £9 million pounds this financial year and to do this, following support from the Department of Health, had split the programme into six key themes:
· Service Efficiency/Change
· Procurement
· Income
· Estates and Facilities
· Workforce
· Demand Management
Through a process of reviewing everything that the hospital did, including changing clinical practice and using experience from inside the Trust as well as externally, the Trust had put together a plan to save the £9million which had been signed off by the Trust Board and Strategic Health Authority. Members were assured that the projected figure for redundancies was less than 30.
The committee welcomed the decision to continue the St Ann’s X-Ray Service, noting the Trust’s comments that this would operate in a different way.
Members enquired as to whether a reduction in length of stay would leave the Council having to provide financial support. Members were assured that there was no likely impact on Haringey Social Services, with the Hospital were working with physicians and social services monitoring the impact of the changes. Members were assured that the hospital had a good relationship with Haringey social services, meeting formally on a fortnightly basis, and forming good working relationships between staff from the two agencies.
It was noted that pressure was being applied nationally to reduce the length of stay at hospitals, and, on the surgical side, emphasis was being placed on pre-operation treatment, which reduced the patients length of stay. Emphasis was also being placed on the effective and efficient usage of operating theatres. Members were assured of the priority of providing good quality services in a financially responsible manner, and that none of the measures within the plan were compromising patient care.
In response to Member concerns over the Sexual Health services in the borough, the PCT stated that it was an ambition for a combined sexual health service with the London Borough of Enfield to be established at the North Middlesex hospital.
Members were informed that the process of discharge was to be made more efficient. Significant numbers of patients were failing to turn-up for appointments, and work needed to be done on reducing the number of appointments for patients who did need to be seen.
Members raised concerns over the image and perception issues at the North Middlesex hospital. Representatives agreed that this was an issue, but argued that it was being addressed through the new team in charge positively responding to the patient survey. The committee noted that although buildings were an issue, patients were generally happy with the service, the overall quality of care was good.
Members emphasised that it was useful and helpful if they were to be kept informed by the North Middlesex in the long-term. After discussion among the Members of the committee, Members thanked the North Middlesex Representatives for their presentation, and they withdrew.
RESOLVED: