Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence had been received from Councillor Kelly Martin (Councillor Farhad Choubedar was present as his substitute).

There were no declarations of interest in matters coming before this meeting. 

RESOLVED:  That the minutes of the meeting held on 21 February 2024 be agreed as a correct record. 

RESOLVED:  That the minutes of the meeting held on 9 May 2024 be agreed as a correct record. 

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

The Chair welcomed those present to the meeting. 

The Hillingdon Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (THH)

Ms Patricia Wright, Chief Executive at THH, advised that she had provided the Committee with a comprehensive update at its meeting in January 2024.  The Trust’s 2022-2026 Strategy had set out six priorities and Ms Wright had spoken to Members about the objectives that the organisation had hoped to achieve during the current year.  In the final quarter of 2023/2024, the Trust had rated its performance against its objectives for each area of the Strategy as follows:

•      Quality - deliver consistent high quality, safe and compassionate care;

•      People - be a great place to work and an exemplar employer;

•      Performance - we will deliver the right care at the right time for our patients;

•      Finance - maximise resources available for the benefit of patient care;

•      Strategic Programme - progress delivery of our strategic programmes; and

•      Partnerships - be an active system partner leading strategic change.

The focus for the year had been on staff and patients whilst not losing sight of performance.  Ms Wright believed that the 2023/2034 Quality Account report had highlighted good performance in relation to falls and ulcers.  However, it was noted that, following the CQC inspection in August 2023, the final inspection report in February 2024 had revised the rating for THH’s maternity services from ‘Good’ to ‘Requires Improvement’.  It was noted that maternity services nationally had seen a change in the acuity of individuals having babies who needed more support for their complex health care needs.  Furthermore, it had been recognised that THH had not been as sensitive to the local population’s needs as they could have been.  The growth of diversity in the community meant that there was more evidence on the difference in outcomes for black and minority ethnic (BAME) women and THH needed to be clearer about patient communication.  Longer appointments were now regularly scheduled at the start of the maternity pathway.  Work had started to address these needs as well as the issues raised in the Ockenden Maternity Review report and, to this end, a Maternity Voices Partnership had been set up.  The level of scrutiny and the standard of care had been much higher since the Ockenden report. 

Members were disappointed with the performance of maternity services and queried what had been learnt from the CQC inspection and what action was being taken to improve the service.  Ms Wright assured the Committee that the CQC report had included a lot of positive messages and that the ‘Safe’ and ‘Well Led’ domains had been reviewed and an improvement plan had been put in place.  Consideration was being given to what people needed to be able to improve the patient experience and conversations would be undertaken with a variety of individuals who had / would have contact with the service. 

Ms Wright noted that, although the staff engagement response rate had increased by around 8%, the Trust’s scores were not as  ...  view the full minutes text for item 8.

Consideration was given to the Cabinet Forward Plan.

RESOLVED:  That the Cabinet Forward Plan be noted.

Consideration was given to the Committee’s Work Programme.  Members agreed that they would cancel the meeting on 19 June 2024 and schedule a new meeting for a date in October 2024. 

The Chair advised that he and the Labour Lead had recently met with Ms Sandra Taylor, the Council’s Corporate Director of Adult Social Care, in relation to the upcoming CQC inspection.  Ms Taylor would be providing the Chair and Labour Lead with information in relation to the CQC inspection which would then be shared with Members of the Committee. 

The CQC was currently at Westminster undertaking an inspection and it was likely that the Hillingdon inspection would take place around July 2024 with the resultant report being available within a couple of months.  It was agreed that the Cabinet Member for Health and Social Care and the Corporate Director of Adult Social Care be asked to attend the Health and Social Care Select Committee in either October or November 2024. 

Consideration was given to possible review topics.  It was agreed that Members of the Committee would forward ideas for possible topics to the Democratic, Civic and Ceremonial Manager before the next Committee meeting (by 12 July 2024).  The Committee would then look to shortlist one major review topic and up to three single meeting review topics. 

RESOLVED:  That:

1.    the meeting schedule for 19 June 2024 be cancelled and the report due to be considered at that meeting be rescheduled for an alternative meeting;

2.    the information in relation to the upcoming CQC inspection be circulated to Members of the Committee;

3.    a new meeting date be scheduled for October 2024;

4.    the Cabinet Member for Health and Social Care and the Corporate Director of Adult Social Care be invited to provide an update at the meeting in October or November 2024;

5.    Members forward suggestions for review topics to the Democratic, Civic and Ceremonial Manager by 12 July 2024; and

6.    the Work Programme, as amended, be agreed.