Agenda item
Access to Health Sites Scrutiny Review Recommendation Follow Up
This report updates the Health Select Committee on the progress made in implementing the recommendations from the Access to Health Sites Task Group.
Minutes:
The Chair introduced the report which updated the committee on the progress made in implementing the recommendations from the Access to Health Task Group. It was noted that appendix 1 of the report set out the task group’s recommendations, the original response from the organisations affected by the recommendations and an update on their implementation. It was also noted that NHS Brent had not provided an update in appendix 1, but would be providing a verbal update during this item. The committee expressed their disappointment that Transport for London (TfL) had not sent a representative to this committee meeting as it was felt that their contribution would have been extremely valuable.
It was agreed that the committee would look at each recommendation in turn and would take note of any updates which were not covered in appendix 1.
Strengthening working relationships:
- Recommendation 1 - Jo Ohlson (Director of Primary Care Commissioning, NHS Brent) stated that some links with TfL and Brent Transport Services had been made, but that NHS Brent could do more to strengthen these links. She added that as part of the paediatrics polysystem planning, NHS Brent had taken travel into account much more than it would have been in the past. It was noted by the committee that it seemed that NHS Brent were not engaging with Brent Transportation Unit. A suggestion was made by Jim Lawman (Senior Public Transport Officer, Brent Council) that quarterly meetings be held between Brent Transportation Unit and NHS Brent. In response, Jo Ohlson agreed to the quarterly meetings. It was noted that the committee endorsed the setting up of these quarterly meetings.
- Recommendation 2 - It was noted by Jo Ohlson that there was nothing further to update, except that she would also be involving public health as appropriate.
- Recommendation 3 - It was noted that the Public Transport Liaison Meetings had been taking place with TfL and that whilst it was positive that these had been taking place, a concern was raised that TfL had become disengaged from other local meetings such as the Northwick Park Public Transport Liaison Group meetings. Now that TfL had decided to only attend borough liaison meetings, it was noted that the Public Transport Liaisons meetings were an important forum for NHS Brent to engage with TfL.
Healthcare for London:
- Recommendation 4 – Jo Ohlson informed the committee that as part of NHS Brent’s primary care strategy, NHS Brent examined a map around travel. She added that NHS Brent would consider travel as it develops the plans for the 3 polyclinic sites, including how those potentially using services in Edgware Hospital would be affected.
- Recommendation 5 - Jo Ohlson informed the committee that NHS Brent had contacted the Sustainable Transport Officer for WestTrans to ask them to develop the travel plan for the GP led health centre in Wembley, but that it had not yet been completed.
- Recommendation 6 – Jo Ohlson explained that they had not yet started to use the H-stat transport modelling tool, but that they were hopeful that they would not have to pay £3000 each time the model was used.
- Recommendation 7 – Jo Ohlson noted that NHS Brent had considered an analysis of transport needs with regards to the proposals for paediatric services.
- Recommendation 8 – In response to a question regarding NHS London’s reaction when they were approached about changing the eligibility criteria, Jo Ohlson explained that she had raised it with NHS London, in relation to the polysystem, and that she had been informed that NHS Brent could decide how it should be set. She added that she was looking at the criteria this current year. A concern was raised regarding the length of time it was taking for this issue to be looked at, considering that the committee made this recommendation in December 2008. In response, Jo Ohlson stated that she had not looked at it before because they had yet to move services out of the hospital.
Service planning:
- Recommendation 9 – Jo Ohlson noted that NHS Brent would take into account the transport implications when considering the relocation of services.
- Recommendation 10 – no further update provided.
Service location:
- Recommendation 11 – Jo Ohlson stated that NHS Brent were aware of the need to consider public transport access assessments when planning the location of new services.
Northwick Park Hospital:
· Recommendation 12 – It was noted that TfL had not agreed to divert the Northbound or Southbound 182 buses into the hospital site. Gerry Devine (Transport Advisor to North West London NHS Hospitals Trust) explained that the whilst the Northbound 182 bus did not enter into the grounds of Northwick Park Hospital, an additional bus stop had been put in place on Watford Road, which was opposite the hospital. He explained that the use of the bus stop had been delayed as the road required the speed reduction, for safety reasons, from 40 to 30 mph. It was noted that the bus stop would be operational from March 2010.
- Recommendation 13 – This was covered during the discussion on recommendation 12.
- Recommendation 14 – Gerry Devine explained that there were plans to improve the underpass but only cosmetically and not to meet DDA Act standards.
- Recommendation 15 – The committee raised a concern that the only bus which was coming from the South of the borough to Northwick Park Hospital was the 182. It was noted that TfL had not only concluded that the extension of route 18, from Sudbury Town to terminate at Northwick Park Hospital, would be too costly, but that to extend the 204 from Sudbury Town Station would also be too costly. Jim Lawman stated that one option would be to extend route 223 back to Harrow from Wembley Central via North Wembley so that it becomes a circular route. It was noted by the committee that there was a need to put this forward as the committee’s preferred option to TfL. Jim Lawman stated that the 223 was coming up for review and that this would be a good opportunity to look at this route.
- Recommendation 16 – Gerry Devine noted that Northwick Park Underground Station had never been included on the list of stations which would be receiving funding for step-free access, as set out in the TfL Business Plan in October 2009. In response to a question regarding DDA compliancy, Jim Lawman explained that it would only have to be made DDA compliant if substantial changes were being made to the station, such as the enlargement of Wembley Park station. Fiona Wise (Chief Executive, North West London NHS Hospitals Trust) stated that with Northwick Park Hospital likely to be become one of two major acute hospitals in the north west London sector, there would be even more of a need for sufficient disabled access. She added that there was therefore a need to emphasise the importance of this to Healthcare for London.
- Recommendation 17 – There was no further update provided.
- Recommendation 18 – There was no further update provided.
Central Middlesex Hospital:
- Recommendation 19 – Jim Lawman stated that there was nothing further to add to the update and that Brent Transportation Unit would continue to pursue bus priority initiatives.
Transport Improvements:
- Recommendation 20 – A concern was raised that, whilst in the trial area hospitals were being announced on buses, no announcements were being made on those buses which stopped at the Wembley Centre for Health and Care as to when to alight for the GP led health centre. It was noted that this needed to be followed up.
- Recommendation 21 – Jo Ohlson explained that she has raised the issue of signage, but that she had been told that it was the responsibility of the Highways Committee. Jim Lawman stated that this was something which NHS Brent and the Brent Transportation Unit could discuss during one of their quarterly meetings which they had agreed to hold.
- Recommendation 22 – Jo Ohlson explained that NHS Brent had been looking into the possibility of using the staff entrance at the GP led health centre in Wembley, but had found that this part of the building was shut during the evenings and weekend and therefore was unsuitable. She added that NHS Brent would look at other options for improving pedestrian access.
- Recommendation 23 – There was no further update provided.
In the discussion which followed, the committee noted its frustrations at the lack of progress which had been made following the task group’s recommendations in November 2008. It was agreed that the Chair would write to TfL, on behalf of the Health Select Committee, to inform them of the committees concerns, in particular the need to extend the 223 bus route and for access to Northwick Park Station to become step free. The Chair noted that he would send a copy of the letter to the Mayor of London. The Chair also agreed to ask Mark Easton, Chief Executive of NHS Brent, if he could contact the Mayor of London regarding these issues.
The committee noted that they would keep monitoring the progress made in implementing the task group’s recommendations and the progress of the quarterly meetings between NHS Brent and Brent Transportation Unit. Andrew Davies stated that at the next update, instead of going through each recommendation one by one, the relevant issues would be grouped into themes.
RESOLVED:-
(i) that the update be noted;
(ii) the Chair of the Health Select Committee to write to Transport for London, on behalf of the Health Select Committee, to inform them of the committee’s concerns with the responses to the committee’s recommendations, in particular the need to extend the 223 bus route and for access to Northwick Park Station to be step free;
(iii) the Chair to ask Mark Easton, Chief Executive NHS Brent, to contact the Mayor of London regarding the committee’s concerns;
(iv) that the Health Select Committee continues to monitor the progress in implementing the task group’s recommendations and the progress of the quarterly meetings between NHS Brent and Brent Transportation Unit. The next update should be provided in six months time.
Supporting documents:
- 100217 - Access to Health Sites Follow Up Covering Report, item 5. PDF 84 KB
- 100217 - Access to Health Sites Recommendation Follow Up, item 5. PDF 133 KB