Issue - meetings

The Panel considered the report of the Chair of the Health Overview and Scrutiny Panel requesting that the Panel review and comment on the draft service proposals for Trauma and Orthopaedic services at Hampshire Hospitals.

Alex Whitfield (Chief Executive of Hampshire Hospitals Foundation Trust (HHFT)), Dr Lara Alloway (Chief Medical Officer – HHFT), Jane Hayward (Director of Transformation and Improvement - University Hospitals Southampton (UHS)), Jacqui McAfee (Divisional Director of Operations - Trauma and Specialist Services UHS) and Peter Horne (Director of System Delivery Southampton City Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG)) were in attendance and, with the consent of the Chair, addressed the meeting.

Officers outlined the rationale for the proposed changes to orthopaedic services in Hampshire.  It was explained that the changes would make the service more efficient and result in the cancelation of fewer planned orthopaedic surgical procedures whilst freeing up beds to respond to trauma cases.  It was noted that the proposed changes had been drawn up with the support of national NHS experts.

The Panel heard that there were concerns that the proposals would place an increased burden on Southampton General Hospital and the local system.  During the meeting it was announced that the principal stakeholders had met following the publication of the report and had agreed amendments that would see the ambulance service continuing to transport patients to Winchester.  HHFT would then convey patients via private ambulance to Basingstoke if required, in line with their proposal for patients to be seen at Basingstoke.  It was noted that the situation would be monitored daily by both hospital trusts and that the plan can be paused at 24 hours’ notice should there be an untoward effect on the system in Southampton. 

RESOLVED that the Panel

(i)  considered and noted the priorities detailed within the plan, attached as Appendix 1 to the report and the modifications announced at the meeting;

(ii)  requested that HHFT circulate the next scheduled update to Hampshire’s Health and Adult Social Care Committee on the proposals for Trauma and Orthopaedic services to the Panel.