Representatives from the Healthier Together review and Bury CCG will report at the meeting.
Minutes:
Sharon Martin, Director of Commissioning and Deputy Chief Officer at Bury 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 undergoing change. The three areas that were affected were:-
GP services
Health and Social Care
Specialist Surgery (Abdomen and Bowel)
Sharon explained that there was currently a scheme running in Radcliffe where GP were offering their patients appointments 7 days a week and this was due to be rolled out across Bury from December.
Work was taking place looking at how services between health and social care could be integrated and some schemes were already in place that were bridging the gaps in these areas. This ongoing work was bringing together lots of different organisations to provide joined up services across health and social care and bring more community based services to people outside of a hospital based setting.
The current consultation was asking all Greater Manchester residents to look at the different options for specialist hospital services (relating to abdomen and bowel surgery) across the conurbation and give feedback on them.
Sharon explained that there were 12 hospitals across Greater Manchester all providing different levels of care in relation to specialist surgery. Following a lot of work with clinicians working in these hospitals the eight Healthier Together options had been proposed.
It was explained that there were currently hospitals providing specialisms in areas such as stroke and heart surgery and these would not change. All hospitals that currently had an Accident and Emergency department would continue to have one and the changes being consulted on would effect a very small number of patients but would improve the service they received and help save lives.
The options were set out as there being seven or eight local general hospitals and four or five specialist hospitals.
Two hospitals would not be affected by the consultation; Trafford General and Rochdale Infirmary. Three hospitals had already been designated as Specialist; Manchester Royal Infirmary, Salford Royal Hospital and Royal Oldham Hospital. Three had already been designated as Local General Hospitals; Fairfield General Hospital, Tameside General Hospital and North Manchester General Hospital. This leaves four hospitals to consider; Royal Albert Edward Infirmary (Wigan) Royal Bolton Hospital, Wythenshawe Hospital and Stepping Hill Hospital.
Fairfield General Hospital would remain a local general hospital.
The consultation was asking for views on which of the eight options set out was preferred.
Those present were given the opportunity to ask questions and make comments and the following points were raised:
· Mr Booth stated that he had recently signed a petition set up to stop the closure of the A & E department at Bolton Royal Infirmary.
Sharon explained that there were no plans to close any A & E and that any suggestion that this would happen was rumour.
· A member of the public asked if information was available relating to the cost implications of the proposals.
It was explained that cost benefit analysis had been carried out in relation to each option and this was available on the Healthier Together website.
· Councillor Fitzwalter explained that she had heard that the Christie outreach work provided at Oldham and Wigan may be discontinued and asked if this was the case.
Sharon explained that this service was separate to the Healthier Together consultation and she hadn't heard that this was happening but, she would look into it.
· A member of the public expressed concern relating to the way that pre operation appointments were currently scheduled and their location.
Sharon reported that the Healthier Together proposals would see these type of routine appointments carried out much more locally to the patient and where possible not in a hospital setting.
· Brenda Headley asked for confirmation that a single GP would not be working seven days a week.
This was confirmed, GP services would be rostered over the seven days.
It was agreed:
That Sharon be thanked for her attendance.