Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence has been received from Councillors Vanessa Hurhangee and June Nelson. 

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

RESOLVED:  That the minutes of the meeting on 8 October 2020 be agreed as a correct record. 

The Chairman welcomed those present to the meeting. 

Royal Brompton and Harefield NHS Foundation Trust (RBH)

Mr Nick Hunt, Director of Service Development at RBH, advised that the full force of the second wave of COVID-19 had not yet been realised.  Currently, RBH had 14 patients with COVID-19, 11 of which were on full life support and two of which were at Harefield Hospital on a general ward.  By comparison, Mr Hunt noted that there had been about 40 patients with COVID-19 during the first wave.  There were also currently 15 patients on ECMO (Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation) as a result of an increase in the number of flu cases. 

With regard to the merger of RBH with Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust (GST), both Trust Boards had considered and approved the business case.  A TUPE exercise would now be undertaken before the planned merger took place on 1 February 2021.  Staff had largely welcomed the proposed merger as it would provide them with additional opportunities for career progression as GST was a much larger organisation that also provided community and DGH services.  Mr Hunt noted that the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea did not appear to be happy with the proposed merger despite the move resulting in more shared information and the creation of a £2.5bn enterprise. 

Other possible benefits of a merger included wider use of a patient administration system (EPIC) and an increase in purchasing power.  It was also noted that paediatric cardiac services would move to the Evelina London Children's Hospital which then fulfilled the requirement of the review undertaken by NHSE to collocate services. 

Members were assured that the proposed merger would not change what happened at Harefield Hospital and that there might actually be potential for expansion at Harefield if costs of a new build in central London proved prohibitive.  This could also be married with the possible transfer of cancer services from Mount Vernon Cancer Centre.  Proposals for a new build in central London would take at least 10-15 years to become a reality. 

Mr Hunt noted that North West London (NWL) had produced one of the more ambitious Integrated Care Systems (ICSs) in London. 

London Ambulance Service NHS Trust (LAS)

Mr Boyd Fisher, Senior LGM for North West London Sector of LAS, advised that, during the COVID-19 pandemic, there had been 24/7 senior management cover to ensure that leadership was visible.  There had also been collaboration between the LAS and the London Fire Brigade (LFB).  As the LFB had not been as busy during this period, around 300 LFB staff had volunteered to work with LAS.  Some LFB staff had paired up with clinicians and driven ambulances which had worked really well and had subsequently been continued but in a scaled down form. 

Other volunteers had also come forward to help the LAS with logistics during the pandemic.  Many of these individuals had been furloughed and wanted to make best use of their time whilst they weren’t working.  From this  ...  view the full minutes text for item 18.

Members asked that Mr Jason Seez, currently Acting Chief Executive at The Hillingdon Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (THH), and Ms Patricia Wright, incoming Chief Executive at THH, be asked to attend the meeting on 9 February 2021 to provide them with more detail on the CQC inspection and the follow up visit from the CQC and Health and Safety Executive.  It was suggested that perhaps Ms Odlin should also be invited to attend this meeting to talk to Members about Cove. 

Consideration was given to whether the distribution of the COVID-19 vaccine ought to be included on a future agenda.  Members had heard from GPs and pharmacists that they had run out of flu vaccines in October and that the next batch had been expected for delivery in November 2020.  It was agreed that take up figures would be sought from HCCG in February, possibly offline. 

RESOLVED:  That:

1. Mr Seez and the new THH Chief Executive be invited to attend the meeting on 9 February 2021;
2. HCCG be asked to provide uptake figures for the flu vaccination in February 2021; and
3. the Work Programme, as amended, be agreed.