Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence had been received from Councillors John Riley and Philip Corthorne.

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

RESOLVED:  That the minutes of the meeting held on 13 November 2018 be agreed as a correct record.

The Chairman welcomed those present to the meeting. 

Ms Sarah James, Divisional Hospital Director - Cancer Services at East and North Hertfordshire Trust (ENH), advised that the Trust was continuing to look at models of care and the provision of service for the future.  ENH had been in ongoing discussions with Michael Sobell Hospice Charity (MSHC) and Hillingdon to establish future demand for services.  Ms James stated that the Trust was currently focussing on recruitment to the vacancies and on building a strong service for the future.

Mr Michael Breen, Trustee at Michael Sobell Hospice Charity (MSHC), advised that, prior to becoming a Trustee, he had been a campaigner for the charity.  He noted that MSHC wanted to get the inpatient unit reopened and, to this end, had met with the Chief Executive of ENH on 7 September 2018.  At that meeting, the Chief Executive had agreed to provide information on the critical paths that had been discussed.  However, as this information had not yet been provided, MSHC had made a proposal to the Chief Executive in the week commencing 3 December 2018 to provide the critical path and associated costs for an eight bed unit. 

Mr Breen noted that, as the result of a Freedom of Information request, the charity had obtained costings for the work to put the roof back to the state that it had been in previously, which amounted to £3½k.  This information had been sent to the Chief Executive at ENH who had also been advised that MSHC would meet these costs.  For an additional £7,576, the charity could commission a RIBA report which would set out exactly what work needed to be undertaken to get it back up to standard. 

Mr Breen reaffirmed MSHC’s commitment to its continued support of the day centre and to meeting the associated ancillary costs.  Currently, the charity paid for everything associated with the day centre, including the cost of two staff (there were usually four staff but there were currently two vacancies). 

Ms Caroline Morison, Managing Director of HCCG, advised that, for the short term, it would be important to try to ensure a certain standard of care.  HCCG had worked with partners (including THH and H4All) to ensure that key elements were provided as part of the service.  Effort had also been made to gain clarity regarding the intention for the estate.  ENH had been engaged through meetings and through the contractual process.  HCCG had also attended a very helpful meeting with MSHC about moving forward. 

Mr Joe Smyth, Chief Operating Officer at THH, advised that THH was the landlord which provided the building that the inpatient unit had operated from before it had been closed and did not provide services from the site.  He advised that THH was responsible for the fabric of the building but that the leaseholder had leased the building as it was.  If the standards required had changed or modernisation was required, it was the responsibility of the leaseholder to finance these  ...  view the full minutes text for item 37.

Consideration was given to the Committee’s Work Programme.  It was noted that there was currently no capacity within the Committee’s scheduled meetings to accommodate further discussion regarding hospice inpatient services.  As such, it was agreed that an additional meeting be scheduled for 6pm on either 28 February 2019 or 7 March 2019.  Members requested that a full list of works required and associated costs to bring the building up to an adequate standard be sought (it was recognised that new standards did not apply to old estate). 

It was agreed that the letter to ENH needed to include information about the patients being turned away from Wards 10 and 11 since the closure of the hospice inpatient unit.  Councillor Radia would provide the Chairman, Vice-Chairman and Democratic Services Manager with a copy of the information that she had received. 

Insofar as the public meeting suggested by Mr Brewer was concerned, it was noted that agreement would need to be reached in relation to the logistics (for example, timing, venue, etc).

RESOLVED:  That:

1. an addition meeting be scheduled for either 28 February 2019 or 7 March 2019;
2. a list of works required and associated costs to bring the hospice inpatient unit back into operation be requested;
3. a letter be sent to ENH regarding the concerns of the Committee and the evidence that had been obtained regarding the service provision; and
4. the Work Programme, as amended, be agreed.