Agenda item

To consider a report of the Chief Executive on proposals from the NHS or providers of health services to vary or develop health services in the area of the Committee.

Items for Information

·         Building Better Emergency Care Programme Update – Portsmouth Hospitals University Trust

·         Repatriation of cancer services – Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

·         Urology services proposed reconfiguration – Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Building Better Emergency Care Programme update: Portsmouth Hospitals

University NHS Trust

Representatives from Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust gave a presentation in support of a report providing an update on plans to build a new Emergency Department at the Queen Alexandra Hospital in Portsmouth (see Item 11a in the Minute Book).

Members heard that the preferred site to build the new Emergency Department was on a staff car park, which would reduce the spaces available for staff parking. Learning from the pandemic would be built in to the new facility e.g. ventilation and flexibility of the space. Engagement had been undertaken and feedback had been received around the environment and accessibility. Further work was needed to form a full Business Case for submission by May 2022, with the timeline to open the new facility in late 2024.

In response to questions, Members heard:

·      The ‘111 First’ initiative had helped to reduce the number of people attending Accident and Emergency, however numbers had started to rise again in recent weeks

·      Making the new building net zero for energy efficiency would be considered as part of the full business case

RESOLVED:

The Committee note the update and request a further update in Spring 2022 when the full business case is due for submission.

Cancer services repatriation update: Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation

Trust

Representatives from Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust presented a report on the repatriation of cancer services, following the termination of contracts with the independent sector used at the height of the pandemic (see Item11b in the Minute Book).

Members heard that the Trust had moved cancer services during the pandemic, which had enabled services to continue. This meant the Trust was one of the best in the country for cancer waiting times at present. Services were now being moved back to sites within the Trust.

RESOLVED:

The Committee note the update regarding repatriation of cancer services.

Urology services proposed reconfiguration: Hampshire Hospitals NHS

Foundation Trust

Representatives from Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust presented a report on proposals to reconfigure the urology service (see Item 11c in the Minute Book).

Members heard that the average urology department has 8 to 10 consultants, whereas Winchester has 2 and Basingstoke has 2. This makes it difficult to staff an emergency rota consistently. It was planned to consolidate emergency urology to be treated at the Royal Hampshire County Hospital in Winchester from September 2021. This would enable a better service to be provided for patients. The impact on patients would be small as non emergency work would continue at both hospitals, and emergency patients would often arrive by ambulance who would be aware of where to take them.

RESOLVED:

1.    That the Committee support the proposal to centralise emergency urology services, on the basis that the Trust has evidenced that this is in the best interest of service users, and that sufficient consultation and engagement has been undertaken with relevant groups and the feedback taken into account.

2.    Request an update in the autumn of 2021 regarding this service change.