Issue - meetings

The Panel considered the report of the Chief Executive, University Hospital Southampton Foundation Trust, providing the Panel with an update on emergency flow in University Hospital Southampton.

Fiona Dalton Chief Executive, University Hospital Southampton (UHS) and John Richards Chief Executive Officer, NHS Southampton City CCG were in attendance and, with the consent of the Chair, addressed the meeting.

The Panel discussed a number of matters of concern including:

·  The performance against targets for Emergency Department flow.

o  It was explained that overall the figures showed that performance had stabilised despite increased attendances to the Emergency Department.  It was noted that locally numbers attending the emergency department had increased at a lesser rate than the national rate.

·  That the Trust had received an offer of match funding from the Treasury to fund a specialist emergency department for children.

o  It was explained that it was hoped that this would alleviate pressure on the Emergency Department (ED) and enable the more effective flow of patients through the system.  It was additionally noted that the establishment of the Minor Injuries Unit and arrangements in the local GP surgeries had continued to provide a ready alternative to queuing in the ED.

·  That the Department had to combat different types of pressure on the service seasonally.

o  It was explained that the summer saw a higher number of attendees than winter.  The Panel noted that the summer saw a higher number of accident and trauma cases that were more easily processed and discharged whilst winter saw an increase in the attendance of patients with more complex and difficult care demands, often associated with older patients.  It was noted that these patients often required longer term treatment and the establishment of an effective care package prior to being able to return home.

·  The Panel questioned whether the Trust were able to alleviate pressure by adjusting the numbers of patients treated by elective surgery over the winter.

o  It was explained that this was not always possible because of targets relating to treatment times.  However, it was noted that as a last resort the hospital would reschedule or cancel appointments for elective surgery.

·  The Panel questioned whether there were clear links in the winter to respiratory cases that could be caused by the quality of air within Southampton.

o  It was noted that it was not entirely clear why there was an increase in ED attendances this winter but it reflected a national trend.

RESOLVED that the Panel noted the improvements that had been made and requested that the issue be brought back to Panel at a future meeting.