Agenda item

Presentation attached

An update on Urgent Care and Winter Preparedness began with David Lathan, Senior Programme Manager at NHS Bury, presenting an update on current performance and winter planning activities. He provided an overview of how Bury is managing urgent care and preparing for the winter season.

David highlighted several key performance metrics. Bury's performance in October for the 4-hour target was 67.3%, which is below the national target of 76%. However, Bury is the second-best performing locality in Greater Manchester when compared to other sites with fully functioning A&E departments. In terms of A&E attendances, Bury is the fifth best in Greater Manchester, with 33.7 attendances per 1,000 patients. For non-elective admissions, Bury is also fifth in Greater Manchester, showing a downward trend. The efficiency of discharging patients has significantly improved, with a reduction in the number of patients classified as "days kept away from home" (DCAP), consistently below planned targets. The number of 12-hour waits in A&E has been reduced from 924 in April to 517 in September. Additionally, the decision to admit has improved from 197 in January to 28 in September.

David then outlined the winter planning activities. Bury has a winter plan and subgroup that has been meeting bi-weekly since August, involving all stakeholders, including the Hospice. The local operational planning and escalation levels (OPEL) system ensures that Bury has never reached the highest level of crisis (OPEL 4). Over 30 admission avoidance schemes have been refreshed and included in the plan. The NHS 111 Directory of Services has been updated for all services in Bury. Communication and training for core managers have been provided, and the local system meets twice a week, with plans to increase to daily meetings as winter approaches.

David mentioned ongoing and future initiatives, including significant investment in staffing at Fairfield and the reconfiguration of the A&E department. A new streaming tool is being implemented, and the Same Day Emergency Care (SDEC) service is increasing the number of patients treated and discharged on the same day. These efforts aim to improve the overall performance and efficiency of urgent care services.

Several questions and comments were raised during the meeting. A councillor acknowledged the improvements but emphasized the need for continued progress, especially in reducing 12-hour waits and improving discharge efficiency. Councillor Brown asked why people apply for jobs they do not want and how the Council deals with time-wasters and no-shows. David explained the centralized recruitment support to address this issue and improve efficiency. Another councillor inquired about the strategy for international recruitment, and David confirmed active pursuit of international recruitment and updated contract monitoring.

Councillor Lancaster asked about the start date and current status of Bury Flex. David explained that Bury Flex had been running for 18 months and highlighted its positive impact. Councillor Gold asked about the winter plan's key elements and any unmet goals. David highlighted staffing and reconfiguration as key elements and mentioned the need for investment in ambulance service pilots.

A councillor inquired about the involvement of Age Concern and advice for residents during winter. David confirmed ongoing support from Age Concern and plans to provide advice to residents. Another councillor asked about the impact of gritting on reducing falls and A&E admissions. David acknowledged the issue and agreed to discuss proactive steps with colleagues.

Acknowledgments were made of the progress made and the need for continued efforts to improve urgent care and winter preparedness. The committee expressed appreciation for the detailed report and the tangible positive outcomes achieved.

It Was Agreed:

·       The Report and Presentation be noted