Issue - meetings

Joint report of NHS South Sefton Clinical Commissioning Group and NHS Southport and Formby Clinical Commissioning Group.

The Committee considered the joint report of NHS South Sefton Clinical Commissioning Group and NHS Southport and Formby Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), providing data on key performance areas and the Friends and Family Test for both Southport and Ormskirk Hospital NHS Trust and Aintree University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust.

Fiona Taylor, Chief Officer for NHS South Sefton Clinical Commissioning Group and NHS Southport and Formby Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), was in attendance to present the data, highlight key aspects of performance, and respond to queries from Members of the Committee.

Members of the Committee asked questions/raised matters on the following issues:-

·         A comparison of the clostridium difficile (C.diff) cases between the 2 Trusts – A number of variables could impact on cases and it was important for Trusts to learn good practice from each other.

·         A comparison of the A&E response in the Friends and Family Test between the 2 Trusts – There was a need for Trusts to ensure the systems for data collection were user-friendly for the public and Trusts could possibly learn good practice from each other.

·         Performance levels for Ambulance Category A (Red 1) 8 minute response time – The figures provided reflected the position as at July 2017 and key performance indictors did not necessarily accurately reflect performance, particularly as performance standards for the North West Ambulance Service (NWAS) had changed recently. NWAS had been identified as a possible Trust to scrutinise when Quality Accounts were considered by the Committee during 2018.

·         Recent waiting experiences of several hours at A&E – Aintree NHS Foundation Trust had increased its bed capacity in order to deal with the high demand of winter pressures. Due to the size of its estate, Southport and Ormskirk Hospital NHS Trust experienced more difficulties in dealing with additional demand for beds. All NHS staff were doing their best to cope with the high demand.

·         Reference was made to recent media coverage of the winter pressures within the NHS and of ambulances queuing at A&E. What statistics were available to reflect current A&E waiting times? – Commissioners received daily updates providing data and statistics. The most recent data available showed significant pressures on the waiting time target and ambulance turnaround times.

·         Experience of poor advice/sign posting of a patient to A&E during the busy Christmas/New Year period – Good advice and sign posting for patients was important, particularly during the winter pressures experienced by the NHS. Locally, the NHS continued to promote “Examine Your Options”.

RESOLVED:

That the information on Health Provider Performance be noted.