Agenda item

Moneeza Iqbal Director of Strategy to provide an update. Report attached

Adrian Crook, Director of Community Commissioning provided an introduction to the Service Pathways of the former Pennine Acute Trust. The update  provides a follow up from the last update given in 2022.

Moneeza Iqbal, Director of Strategy advised the Committee that in March this year the Committee were informed about phase two of the disaggregation. In summary in 2016 it was determined that Pennine Acute would be disbanded to create sustainable services for North Manchester to become part of Manchester Foundation Trust and the creation of a single service across the City of Manchester and for the Northern Care Alliance to be created. We are now six years later and heading towards the end of the process.

The update focuses on four clinical specialties to improve quality and sustainability in:

·         Ears nose and throat pathways

·         In-patient urology

·         trauma and orthopaedic services and;

·         DEXA bone density scanning.

The new process taken is to come up with best clinical options and inclusive of patient travel and choice.  

Members were invited to ask questions.

Councillor Duncalfe asked for further clarification regarding the orthopaedic transfer. In response Moneeza Iqbal, Director of Strategy advised that both elective orthopaedic and trauma orthopaedic surgery are included in this new pathway. In addition patient engagement has taken place with previous patients and an assessment of support is currently available to assist with travel and for some patients scheduling start times for when and how patients are traveling to us is also considered. Members were informed that the aim is to diagnose people and provide rehabilitation as close to home as possible but for once in a life time operations patients get much better outcomes if the procedure is performed at units who preform high volumes of the procedures.

Councillor Rizvi, questioned if traveling would it be closest specialised service. In response members were informed by Sophie Hargreaves, Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, that for Ears Nose and Throat services are currently provided at Fairfield and Oldham but we want to leave services there but to create a service at North Manchester too so choice is increased.  

Councillor Rizvi asked why teenagers are not mentioned in the report, members were informed we have two cohorts children and young people and adults but the Children and Young People cohort covers up until eighteen years old however the consideration of needs for teenagers does need special consideration.

Councillor Hayes questioned if the public will be receptive to the plans or just attend where they want to go. Moneeza Iqbal, Director of Strategy advised patient choice means the publics General Practitioner will have a conversation with the public as they may know the clinician or a pathway. There is however a risk they may not want to choose the new services.

Councillor Rizvi questioned if the effects of covid and delays impact on the service. Members were informed that having once in a lifetime services concentrated in one area rather than having lists improves quality, efficiencies  and theatre productivity.

Councillor Tariq, Cabinet Member for Health and Wellbeing asked about the thirteen members of the public who engaged with the trauma and orthopaedic service proposals. Members were informed that a number of routes for engagements were used. A wide group of people were invited to provide feedback in focus groups. Sophie Hargreaves Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, advised surveys were done in outpatient clinics and 300 surveys were completed.

Councillor Boles questioned if there has been an evaluation over phase 1, what is the main learning and how has it developed. Moneeza Iqbal, Director of Strategy advised phase 1 covered changes to clinical haematology foetal medicine and sleep services. One of the main learning was the level of patient engagement and lots of discussions, in particular for the clinical haematology pathways those patients were long term condition patients and we learnt how important it was to communicate with the patients prior to changes being implemented, this has been brought in for the rheumatology. Healthwatch were beneficial in communicating the language used previously was too technical for patients to understand. Professor Mathew Makin advised close attention post change to the migration of data is essential so both organisations are clear there is no delay or lack of clarity on waiting list management.

In summary Councillor FitzGerald advised it would be good to have a follow up to how the new service has gone in the next municipal year.

Members thanked officers for their report, update and attendance at the Committee.