Agenda item
Shaping a healthier future consultation
The reports are attached which outline the three main options being considered.
Minutes:
Dr Mark Spencer (Brent NHS) presented this item and confirmed that the public consultation on shaping a healthier future was launched on 2 July. From the week starting 23 July, around 410,000 consultation leaflets would be distributed and there would also be road shows visiting all the boroughs involved.
During discussion, Councillor Hector stated that residents had expressed concern that since the closure of Accident and Emergency (A and E) services at Central Middlesex Hospital, they would require longer journeys to Northwick Park Hospital. She also sought clarification as to what services would be provided at Central Middlesex Hospital. Councillor Leaman sought views as to what services should be provided at Central Middlesex Hospital and at what stage had it been decided that A and E services were not viable at this location. Councillor Hunter acknowledged the model of care in respect of the major hospitals, however she expressed concerns that there would be pressure on waiting times at Northwick Park Hospital and she asked if there was confidence that the additional demand could be met. Councillor Gladbaum, in noting the preference for Option A in the consultation document, asked if there was flexibility within the consultation process to express preferences for the other options and she enquired whether there were any other public meetings planned in the borough apart from the one listed on 31 July. She also requested that all consultation responses be documented and evaluated.
The Chair confirmed that the public meeting scheduled for 31 July would take place between 1pm – 9pm at Patidar House and all were encouraged to attend and she asked what was planned for the meeting. In respect of UCCs, the Chair enquired whether all provided the same service.
In response to the issues raised, Dr Mark Spencer advised that the public meeting on 31 July would include a series of presentations, videos and question and answer sessions. He advised that patients who were seriously injured in the south of the borough were most likely to be transferred to the A and E at St Mary’s Hospital in Paddington. Steps were taken to ensure that any patient was sent to a site with the most relevant services depending on the nature of the problem. Dr Mark Spencer advised that Central Middlesex Hospital would provide non-emergency elective care and also the UCC, however the UCC contract would be reviewed to consider what could be provided in future. The committee heard that an A and E unit at Central Middlesex Hospital could not be sustained because it lacked the range of support services to assist such facilities.
Dr Mark Spencer was confident that the success of the UCC at Central Middlesex Hospital would help Northwick Park Hospital cope with demand and there would also be an increase in bed capacity at Northwick Park Hospital. All UCCs needed to perform to an agreed standard, although there may be some variation of services available at individual UCCs, however all UCCs had measures in place to ensure rapid transfer to A and E units. In respect of the consultation, Dr Mark Spencer advised that it would finish on 8 October and there would be an independent analysis of the responses and it was noted that there would be at least two public meetings for each borough involved. In addition, groups could request that NHS representatives attend a meeting to provide information on shaping a healthier future.
The Chair requested that councillors from each borough involved be offered sessions on shaping a healthier future and she added that the committee’s task group on this item would also provide a response to the consultation.
Supporting documents:
- 20120718-shaping-healthier-covering[1], item 7. PDF 64 KB
- 20120718--shapinghealthier-document, item 7. PDF 7 MB