Agenda item

Presentation to be made by Janet Atherton, Acting Chief Executive, NHS Sefton.

The Committee received a presentation by Janet Atherton, Acting Chief Executive, NHS Sefton on Improving Children’s Services in North Sefton.

 

The presentation included the following:-

 

Purpose:-

·        Feedback on additional work undertaken to review options for improving access to children’s services;

·        Report progress on development of services; and

·        Seek views on options for improving access to services for children with minor injury.

 

Project:-

·        To identify improvements that could be made in short term while work on sustainable model for children’s services and urgent care undertaken through North Mersey QIPP programme;

·        Oversight group;

·        Clinical design group;

·        Health status review;

·        Activity data review;

·        Engagement with children and families; and

·        Clinical engagement.

 

Strategic Context:-

·        Children’s health is one of the strategic priorities;

·        Care closer to home where appropriate and cost-effective;

·        Strategic plan and Sefton children’s services review priorities:

- Children with long term conditions;

- Children with complex needs ;

·        NHS Operating Framework 2011/12:

- Children with disability;

- CAMHS;

- Looked After Children;

- Family Nurse Partnerships;

·        N Mersey QIPP:

- £300m efficiency savings needed;

- Urgent Care and Children’s work-streams identifying most cost-effective models of care; and

·        Knock on impact of other public sector cuts.

 

Data:-

·        20,800 children aged 0 - 16 in Southport and Formby;

·        10-19 year age group projected to fall by 20% over next five years, 0-10s steady;

·        Increasing numbers of children with complex needs;

·        4866 children attend A&E with minor conditions (13 per day); and

·        Average child will attend A&E with minor condition once every 4 years.

 

Public Engagement:-

·        Better integration of services;

·        Build on good access to primary care;

·        More out patient services in Southport and better signage in Ormskirk; and

·        Care in right place, first time – better publicity of services available.

 

Clinical Engagement:-

·        Recognise need to improve services especially for LTCs and disability;

·        Minor illness predominantly treated in primary care – best place;

·        Extent to which GPs deal with minor injury depends on experience and time – difficulties maintaining skills as low numbers seen; and

·        Support for telephone advice from Consultant paediatricians.

 

Service Developments:-

·        Creation of a children’s hub at Southport Centre for Health and Wellbeing;

·        CAMHS;

·        Community paediatrics;

·        Out patient clinics for LTCs;

·        Dental;

·        Sexual health, etc; and

·        Voluntary sector.

 

Reducing Attendances for Minor Illnesses:-

·        Communications – Choose Well;

·        Improving access to general practice:

- Telephone access to GP;

- GP telephone access to Consultant for advice;

·        Children’s hub:

- Better management of LTCs results in reduced unplanned care episodes.

 

Options for Minor Injury Service:-

·        Stand alone walk in centre not considered feasible;

Alternative options:

·        Nurse led minor injury service;

·        GP based minor injury service;

·        Nurse led service in GP Out of Hours;

Assessed against criteria:

·        Clinical safety;

·        Workforce;

·        Clinical need; and

·        Financial viability.

 

Next Steps:-

·        Progress service developments;

·        Continue to work with North Mersey QIPP on urgent care and children’s services;

·        Views on options regarding minor injury from:

- Children’s Trust;

- Stakeholder Group;

- Overview and Scrutiny Committee;

- Practice-based commissioners;

- Clinical Executive Committee; and

·        Board to consider options on 3 February 2011.

 

The Acting Chief Executive, NHS Sefton, advised that there were three options which were currently out to consultation.

 

Councillor McGuire referred to the “hub” to be opened on Hoghton Street, Southport,  to treat children with long term conditions, and asked whether that facility could be utilised in improving children’s services in north Sefton generally.

 

RESOLVED: That

 

(1)       Dr. Atherton be thanked for her presentation;

 

(2)       this Committee welcomes the service developments to enable the establishment of the children’s hub in Hoghton Street, Southport;

 

(3)       this Committee would favour the exploration of option 2, a GP based minor injury service, to include the possibility of a GP practice based at the Hoghton street clinic, and requests NHS Sefton to investigate the possibility of this, including a breakdown of the potential cost and the possibility of running such a service as a pilot scheme; and

 

(4)       NHS Sefton be requested to report the deliberations of the NHS Trust Board on the matter back to this Committee, in due course.