A presentation will be given on the evening.
Minutes:
Sharon Martin, Head of Commissioning and Deputy Chief Officer of Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) and Claire Wilson, Chief Finance Officer (CCG) attended the meeting to explain the current Healthier Together consultation and to ask those present for their comments and feedback on the proposals.
It was explained that the way in which healthcare was provided across Greater Manchester was changing and the vision was to provide the best health and care in the Country. Sharon explained that Healthier Together was about improving GP Services, Health and Social Care and making sure the sickest patients receive the best care in hospitals.
It was explained that Services would be working together to provide the best care for patients. General hospitals deliver care locally for the majority of patients, with all hospitals having A&E and acute medicine departments. Specialist hospitals would provide the same general hospital care to the local population and also care for the very small number of very sick patients across a wider area of Greater Manchester. This would mean that residents would receive the majority of care from their local hospital but also be able to access the very best specialist care at an appropriate hospital.
The question was how many specialist hospitals throughout Greater Manchester should there be – 4 or 5? There are currently 3 hospitals that already provide specialist care, which are Manchester Royal, Salford Royal and Royal Oldham and these hospitals would stay as such. The options with 4 specialist sites were:
Ø Royal Bolton
Ø Royal Albert Edward, Wigan
Ø Wythenshawe
Ø Stepping Hill, Stockport
Or with 5 specialist sites:
Ø Royal Albert Edward, Wigan and Stepping Hill
Ø Royal Alert Edward and Wythenshawe
Ø Royal Bolton and Wythenshawe
Ø Royal Bolton and Stepping Hill, Stockport
Fairfield General Hospital would stay as it was but the consultation is asking the public what is important to them; quality and safety, travel and access, affordability and value for money or transition. The CCG have already liaised with Councillors, hospital staff, GP’s and Paramedics and all responses will be collated at the beginning of October with a decision by hopefully the end of the year or the very start of 2015. It was really important to get people’s views in relation to this consultation.
Those present were given the opportunity to ask questions and make comments and the following points were raised:
· Would this include ambulance drivers?
Yes, the North West Ambulance Service has been involved with the design of the consultation.
· Who runs the North West Ambulance Service?
It is an organisation in its own right with a board of Directors, which is part the NHS, emergency response.
· What specialist areas were the hospitals short of?
Emergency and high risk general surgery and intensive care for complex patients – these are areas that looking at centralising.
· What assurances was there that Fairfield would continue as a General Hospital and how will the re-structure impact on the NHS Funding Formula which is already £20 million short and until that is on target would this not impact upon the provision of services?
Fairfield would remain in the short term a General Hospital with an A&E Service but there was no specific answer in relation to what could happen in 15 – 20 years.
With regards to the funding formula, there is a trajectory period so the £20 million shortfall will lower each year.
· Is anything being done to educate people on health matters?
Working with adult and children’s Social Care through integrated Services of Bury and it is hoped to see more changes.
It was agreed:
That Sharon Martin and Claire Wilson be thanked for their presentation and attendance at the meeting.