Agenda item
NHS Tower Hamlets Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) Update
Minutes:
Jane Milligan, Chief Officer for Tower Hamlets Clinical Commissioning Group gave a verbal update on key issues including the sustainability and Transformation (NEL STP) plan and the CCG’s commissioning plans for 17-18.
She said the CCG has developed the commissioning intentions and plans and was aiming to complete these by the 23rd December, She said the timeframe to implement the commissioning plans needed to be quicker because of the pace of change in the NHS.
The CCG had delivered its Community Health Strategy and was working with Providers to manage the pressures on Acute services.
The CCG was continuing to examine joint commissioning arrangements and methods to bring skills and processes together under the ‘Transforming Services Together’ agenda, from April 2017 onwards.
Jane said the NEL STP consultation was receiving positive feedback and the next stage was to tease out the main issues and ensure the CCG’s and providers on the patch were clear on what was needed on a regional and local basis.
Board Members raised the following questions:
· What are the pressures on Acute services?
· Has there been an increase in admissions as well as the number of patients seen in A&E?
· What impact will the Ambulatory Care policy have on care?
· Is there statistical information relating to trolley waits?
Jackie Sullivan, Managing Director for Hospitals, Bart’s Health Trust responded:
There has been a spike in the number of patients A&E departments are seeing. For example the Royal London usually sees about 450 patients per day but over the last three weeks this has been in excess of 550 patients. Patients are usually presenting at A&E in the twilight hours and at night. Statistical information is showing it’s a younger population 18-24 year olds and young families. Therefore Bart’s Health intends to work with colleges and schools to deliver key messages as to when A&E should be used.
Jackie stated the spike had led to an increase in admission and there was a lot of pressure on hospitals. However discharge teams were working with partners/stakeholders to ensure patients were not in hospital longer than necessary.
The Ambulatory care policy will impact on the numbers of patients presenting at A&E. Bart’s Health are in single figures and need to increase the use of this and other patient pathways. It’s better to deal with patients closer to home than at A&E.
The Trust had not experienced trolley waits over 12 hour however there have been occasions when the Royal London has been very close to this target.
Chis Lovitt, Associate Director of Public Health informed the Board the Health Overview and Scrutiny Sub-Committee was conducting a review looking at the night-time economy and wondered if the festive season, alcohol and violent disorder was impacting on the patient numbers at A&E. Jackie Sullivan agreed to meet with Chris Lovitt to further examine the possible causes for the spike.
The Vice-Chair, Dr Sam Everington thanked Jane Milligan and Jackie Sullivan for providing the Board with an update on the current issues facing the CCG and Bart’s Health Trust.
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