Agenda and minutes

RESOLVED:  That all items of business be considered in public.

RESOLVED:  That the minutes of the meeting held on 11 July 2017 be agreed as a correct record.

The Chairman welcomed those present to the meeting.  He noted that the Committee had already heard from representatives from the Royal Brompton and Harefield NHS Foundation Trust and were now looking to gain an understanding of NHS England's position in relation to the proposals regarding congenital heart disease services in England.  Members had previously expressed concerns about the impact of the proposals on, and perception of, residents in Hillingdon.  As this issue was close to residents' hearts, it would be important to ensure that expectations were managed. 

Ms Claire McDonald, Communications and Engagement Adviser at NHS England (NHSE), advised that the congenital heart disease services being reviewed were those that cared for people who were born with the disease.  Over the last 16-18 years, there had been a range of national and local service delivery changes with the most recent proposals being a standards-based solution rather than numbers-based solution.  As a result of significant and lengthy consultation, 200 standards had been agreed in 2015 for each of the three levels of care (1: surgical and interventional; 2: ongoing care and minor interventional; 3: ongoing care closer to home) in children's and adults services.  Since then, NHSE had assessed each of the centres and worked with providers to determine how they were going to be able to meet all of the standards.  Once the majority of patients had undergone surgery in a Level 1 centre (hub), they would then receive ongoing regular monitoring from a more local Level 3 hospital (spoke).  Receiving this care closer to home enabled patients to live a more regular life. 

Ms McDonald advised Members that the standards had not been developed on a cost basis and that parents and children had been encouraged to identify those elements that made their stay in hospital more comfortable (for example, the availability of onsite accommodation for parents, wifi, etc).  NHSE had worked with providers to identify where capital investment would be needed and these providers had assured NHSE that this investment to meet the standards had already been provided for within their budgets so there would be no need for additional funding.  It was thought that providers had already anticipated the increasing demand / projected growth and had put plans in place to address this.  Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH) had advised that it would bring forward its expansion plans and Evelina had stated that it would be able to accommodate the growth.  Members found it difficult to accept that the implementation of the proposals would not need additional funding from NHSE. 

Congenital heart disease covered a huge range of conditions of varying severity.  Members were advised that, to ensure that skills were maintained, the standards included positive volume outcomes where each surgeon needed to complete at least 125 surgeries per year and work in a team of four surgeons.  This would ensure that each surgeon was performing a number of the same operation on the same type of congenital heart issue each year.  It was thought that  ...  view the full minutes text for item 17.

Consideration was given to the Committee's Work Programme.  Members were advised that the Community Sentencing Working Group would be meeting on 21 September 2017 and that there were still challenges in getting a representative from the Community Rehabilitation Company to attend a meeting. 

The GP Pressures Working Group witness sessions had taken place in 2015/2016.  Although the final report had been drafted, there had since been significant changes within the health sector.  As such, the Chairman had requested that two additional witness sessions be organised to refresh the information that had already been received and to enable Members to speak to a representative from the Royal College of GPs. 

At its meeting on 14 September 2017, the Committee would be hearing from the Borough Commander in relation to the MOPAC & MPS Public Access and Engagement Strategy consultation and would also consider a report on LAC offending.  The Cabinet Member for Community Commerce and Regeneration would be responding to the consultation on behalf of the Council and any comments made by Members would be forwarded to him.  It was noted that the Council's Chief Executive had expressed an interest in this matter and would be attending the meeting to watch proceedings from the public gallery.

RESOLVED:  That the Work Programme be noted.