Minutes:
Minute 31: Shaping the Future: Update on Progress from the Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG)
David Williams, Director of Development at the CCG informed the Board that he was pleased to report that the early support discharge service for stroke patients would be in place this month. The CCG had a number of productive discussions with the Council’s Adult Social Care officers and over the next few months would be monitoring how the service was bedding in.
Health partners were now close to agreeing a model for rehabilitation services and investment of £700,000k had been agreed however this was predicated on the closure of ward 8 at Heatherwood Hospital.
The procurement process for the Urgent Care Centre was currently underway, a provider would be announced in November 2013 and it was hoped that the service would be up and running in early 2014. In terms of the judicial review application sought by the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead Council (RBWM) it was reported that the application had been refused by the High Court, which would mean the end of the litigation process in terms of the Shaping the Future proposals. RBWM had however indicated that they would be requesting that the Secretary of State make a referral to the Reconfiguration Panel. This Panel could then recommend that services be independently reviewed.
The Chairman expressed that it was very concerning that the RBWM continued to frustrate decisions around Shaping the Future. He stated that the Council would be expressing their comments through a press release as well as writing a letter to the Secretary of State. He asked how much delay to proposed services could be caused if the Secretary of State decided that the referral merited a full independent review.
The CCG’s Director of Development stated that they were committed to the early support discharge service for stroke patients and this would not be affected by an independent review. If an independent review was to go ahead this would affect the Urgent Care Centre and Rehabilitation services and a contract could not be awarded.
It was reported that under national timescales the Reconfiguration Panel would have four weeks to decide if the referral merited a full independent review. If a full review did take place there would be a delay in the Urgent Care Centre and Rehabilitation services. If the delay continued to after April 2014, this would significantly impact the CCG’s financial plans. In addition, the Urgent Care Centre would significantly reduce pressure on A&E services, if this was delayed there would also be an adverse impact on Frimley Park and Heatherwood and Wexham Park and their A&E attendances. The CCG felt that there was no merit in the referral; the proposals had the full support of clinicians locally and other local councils in the area. The CCG were hopeful that the referral would be refused.
The Chairman assured health partners that the Council was fully supportive of their position; a motion had been agreed at the last full Council meeting that affirmed the Council’s commitment to local health services.
It was reported that signposting would continue and an emphasis on self care and how services should be accessed. This was particularly important with winter pressures coming up.
The Board agreed to support health partners as far as possible and to reaffirm the Shaping the Future proposals wherever possible.