Agenda and minutes

Members of the Joint Committee are asked to consider whether they have an interest in any of the matters on the agenda and, if so, to formally declare that interest.

No declarations of interest were made

In attendance will be Jane Pilkington; Head of Public Health Commissioning (Greater Manchester); Dr Graham Wardman – Consultant in Screening and Immunisation; Audrey Howarth – Screening and Immunisation Manager; Ruth Molloy – Screening and Immunisation Coordinator.

Reports attached.

The following officers attended the meetingto provide members of the committee with a verbal presentation in respect to the proposed changes to the north east sector diabetic eye screening programme and provide details of the communications and engagement plan:

Dr Graham Wardman: Consultant in Screening and Immunisation; Audrey Howarth: Screening and Immunisation Manager; Jane Pilkington: Head of Public Health Commissioning NHS England; Mr T Hashmi: Clinical Lead Diabetic Eye Screening Programme; Tanveer Kausser: Programme manager – Diabetic Eye Screening Programme;Amanda Stocks: Communications Hub Team Manager; Hilda Yarker Strategic Consultant for Patient and Public Engagement NHS England.

The presentation contained the following information:

The aim of the National Diabetic Eye Screening Programme (DESP) is to reduce the risk of sight loss amongst people with diabetes by the prompt identification and effective treatment if necessary of sight threatening diabetic retinopathy, at the appropriate stage during the disease process.

Since 2008 this has been delivered using a community based mobile service, operating by the movement of digital cameras from 16-17 clinic sites across the Boroughs of Bury, Oldham and Rochdale. 

Following an External Quality Assurance visit in 2012, several recommendations made reference to the quality and safety of the way the service was being delivered; in particular the review highlighted

·         the unsafe nature of transfer of data by USB sticks

·         concerns regarding the frequent movement/transportation of digital camera’s.

·         Identification of availability of sites had to be negotiated annually, prime site occupancy for certain sites was affected by short term booking.

·         The quality and safety of the programme was being compromised by the lack of an N3 connection. The N3 network is designed to ensure confidentiality and a safe way to transfer digital photographs and other information by NHS users.

·         The operational model of camera transfer between sites had set up implications for both the digital cameras and staff; digital camera downtime was significant – up to one day lost in the transit, staff time was lost due to the necessity to use two staff for the transfer.

Following a Serious Incident in the North east sector in February 2014, Diabetic eye screening sites were reduced from 16-17 to 6 as an interim measure to ensure the safety of the screening programme. It was intended to perform a full review of the screening sites for the programme within 6 months of the implementation of the 6 interim static sites. Work began on this review at the beginning of 2015 and a Communication and Engagement sub-group was established in April to support this process.

A Communication and Engagement plan has been produced by this group to ensure that a comprehensive and meaningful engagement exercise can take place to influence the outcomes of the review, alongside the other clinical, equality impact work being undertaken by the programme.  The engagement will be undertaken by the Commissioner, NHS England and Provider, Pennine Acute NHS Trust.

Those present were given the opportunity to ask questions and make comments and the following points were  ...  view the full minutes text for item 2.

Members of the public present at the meeting are invited to ask questions on any matter relating to the work or performance of Pennine Acute NHS Trust. A period of up to 30 minutes is set aside for public questions.

There were five members of the public in attendance at the meeting.  There were three questions tabled in advance of the meeting; they were as follows:

1.   Is the committee aware of the increase in the number of DNAs (Did Not Attend) for the Diabetic Retinopathy Screening since the removal of the service from the Phoenix Centre in Heywood? For just their own surgeries in Heywood, Dr. Chris Duffy & Dr. Bob Wood reported, at the CCG Meeting on 19^th June 2015, that the increase in DNA's from 2013/14 to 2014/15 was Argyle Street Surgery 36 and Heady Hill Surgery 32.

2.   Is the Committee aware that a 1000+ signature petition calling for the reinstatement of the DRS Service at the Phoenix Centre Heywood was presented to NHS England at a meeting facilitated by Healthwatch Rochdale in February 2015 at Heywood Civic Hall?

3.   Is the Committee aware that a new screening camera, which cost £19,070 has been sitting idle in a storeroom since early March 2015?

Dr. Wardman reported that with regards to the increase in the numbers of those that did not attend their appointments, the data from NHS England does not indicate there has been an increase, neverless the team would continue to work with those requiring the service to increase take up.

With regards to the petition the Screening and Immunisation Manager reported that this will form part of the engagement process.

Dr. Wardman reported that the purchase of the new camera coincided with the reporting of the serious incident and engagement phase.  Once the engagement has been completed and the sites agreed, the camera will become fully operational.

In response to concerns raised by Pete Malcolm, in relation to the Quality Assurance process identifying potential problems in 2012 and resulting action only being taken in 2014; the Screening and Immunisation Manager reported that the problems were highlighted just prior to a change over in commissioning responsibility.  This was a period of substantial change in the NHS and in particular in NHS England.  The first priority was to recruit to the position of Programme Manager, NHS England were working through the issues when the incident occurred.

The Programme Manager reported that the camera will still be transported around the Boroughs but less frequently, the camera will be transported in a purpose built, safe and secure container.  All identified sites in the proposals have access to a safe and secure N3 connection.

Members of the public raised concerns, in relation to transport issues and access to the proposed sites.  Members of the public provided examples of patients who have travelled for two hours plus to attend their appointment.

Any other business which by reason of special circumstances the Chair agrees may be considered as a matter of urgency.

There was no urgent business to report.