Agenda item

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

a)    Recommendation to create a new community and mental health trust (Southern Health Foundation Trust and Solent NHS Trust)

b)    Building Better Emergency Care (Portsmouth Hospitals NHS Trust)

a)     Recommendation to create a new community and mental health trust (Southern Health Foundation Trust and Solent NHS Trust)

Members had received a written briefing note from the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Integrated Care Board (HIOW ICB), Solent NHS Trust, Southern Health NHS Trust and also Sussex Partnership NHS Trust setting out their proposals to develop a new NHS community and mental health organisation for Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.

The Committee heard that the proposals were in the early stages, with a business case being developed, the project team appointed and community engagement having begun. Members heard that the proposed date for the creation of the new organisation was 1 April 2024.

In response to Members’ questions, it was confirmed that:

·         Supporting people to remain well and to prevent health from declining to the point where more extensive care was required would be a key priority for the new Trust.

·         Work was and would be conducted to make NHS IT systems interact with each other in a more compatible way. This was particularly important in sharing information between partners and to prevent patients from having to explain their situation repeatedly to different healthcare professionals.

·         The consultation and community engagement proposals had not accounted for North East Hampshire. Members were concerned by this and wanted to ensure that the needs of the whole county were considered fairly. It was noted that the geographical complexities needed to be worked through as part of the process.

·         The outline business case for the new Trust was expected to be available in February/March 2023 with the more detailed, full business case available by October/November 2024.

Members were acutely aware of the rising demand for mental health services and commented on the significance of these proposals, changing the health infrastructure responsible for delivering these services. The Committee were concerned at some aspects of the presentation including the fact that consideration had not been given to incorporating the whole of the county.

Members discussed whether the proposals would constitute a substantial variation to health services. The general consensus was that the anticipated changes were significant enough to do so but it was agreed that a decision would be reached on this when the item next appeared on the HASC agenda (in March 2023) as more information would be available at that point.

RESOLVED:

i)             That the Committee note the progress made in developing the joint organisation.

ii)            That the Committee defer it’s decision on whether the proposals constitute a substantial variation to health services to the March 2023 HASC meeting when the item will be presented in further detail.

b)     Building Better Emergency Care (Portsmouth Hospitals NHS Trust)

The Committee considered the update report which set out the progress made thus far with the Building Better Emergency Care programme following the receipt of capital investment to build a new Emergency Department (ED).

Members heard that the full business case had been approved by NHS England and the funding had been released for the works to begin. Patients were expected to begin to use the new facilities, once built, by 12 November 2024.

In response to Members’ questions, it was noted that:

·         A comprehensive improvement plan looking at pre-hospital planning, organisation, receiving critical care patients, acute flow, emergency care centre initiatives was continually being developed to help to make the new ED as efficient as possible. The Committee’s concerns regarding the operation and restrictions of the current ED were recognised and Members were assured that the issues would be addressed for the new build.

·         With the funding amount having been agreed in 2018, the construction sector had since seen significant pressures on costing due to inflation; this had been factored in and Members were assured that there was enough contingency to allow the build to progress.

RESOLVED:

iii)           That the Committee welcome the progress in the Building Better Emergency Care Programme and request a further update in Spring/Summer 2023 once construction has begun.