Agenda and minutes

The Panel noted that Councillor Bogle declared an interest in items relating to the University Hospital Trust and remained in the meeting.  It was explained that her employer had been involved with projects listed within the Trust’s draft quality account.

To approve and sign as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 24th March 2016 and to deal with any matters arising, attached.

RESOLVED: that the minutes for the Panel meeting on 24th March 2016 be approved and signed as a correct record.

The Panel considered the report of the Service Director, Legal and Governance introducing the 2015/16 draft Quality Accounts for NHS providers operating within Southampton.

University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust (UHS)

Gail Byrne, Director of Nursing and Organisational Development at UHS and Jane Hayward, Director of Transformation and Improvement UHS were present and with the consent of the Chair addressed the meeting. 

The Trust outlined its performance against 2015/16 targets and reasons for choosing the priorities for the forthcoming year.  Clarification was given to the Panel on the initiatives outlined in the introduction to the Quality Account relating to the new 7 day service standards and staff health and wellbeing.  The Panel requested that it be provided with the priorities and targets for 2016/17 that are referenced in Appendix C. 

The Panel welcomed the improvements identified in the draft Quality Account and noted that there was still work to do to improve performance in a number of areas, notably within the Emergency Department.

Care UK

Penny Daniels, Hospital Director at Southampton NHS Treatment Centre and Minor Injuries Unit and Rachel Broadly, Medical Director at Southampton NHS Treatment Centre were present and with the consent of the Chair addressed the meeting. 

The Panel noted that the Care Quality Commission had assessed the Minor Injuries Unit (MIU) overall as “Good” in 2015 and that they had been rated “outstanding” for caring.

The Panel were provided with highlights of the draft Quality Account, detailing the performance against the priorities set out in 2015-2016 and the reasons for choosing the priorities for the forthcoming year.  The Panel raised questions relating to the aftercare service offered and were pleased to see the introduction of a Dementia Screening Tool in pre-op planning. 

In addition the Panel questioned whether the closure of the Bitterne Walk in Centre had caused an increase in the number of people attending the MIU.  In response it was noted that the number of people attending the MIU had increased in the past 6 months, this was placed within the context of an increase nationally in the demand for urgent care.

Solent NHS Trust

Ellen McNicholas, Deputy Director of Nursing Solent NHS Trust and Alex Whitfield, Chief Operating Officer Solent NHS Trust outlined the draft of the Trusts 2015-2016 Quality Account to the Panel.  It was noted that the draft presented to the Panel for consideration was at a very early stage of preparation. It was noted that the CQC were to inspect the Trust in June 2016.  In addition the Panel received an update on the financial position of the Trust.

Southern Health NHS Foundation Trust

Dr Lesley Stevens, Medical Director and Professor David Kingdon, Clinical Services Director for Adult Mental Health in Southampton for Southern Health NHS Foundation Trust presented the draft Quality Account to the Panel.  It was noted that the Trust had not achieved a number of the priorities set out in the previous years Quality Account.  The Panel noted that there had been an improvement in  ...  view the full minutes text for item 37.

The Panel considered the report providing the Panel with the requested update on Southern Health's progress implementing the improvement plan and feedback from regulators.

Dr Lesley Stevens, Medical Director and Professor Kingdon from Southern Health NHS Foundation Trust, John Richards - Chief Officer NHS Southampton City Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), Councillor Pope and Denise Wyatt (resident) were in attendance and with the consent of the Chair addressed the meeting.

The Chair noted that the Care Quality Commission (CQC) had given advance notice of the publication of their report into Southern Health. It also was noted that the Chair of the Foundation Trust had tendered their resignation shortly after the advance notice of the CQC report had been circulated.

The Chair stated that at the time of the meeting the details of the CQC report had been embargoed from general publication.  However, the Chair advised that the Panel had been circulated the accompanying press release to the report, which whilst similarly embargoed from release did highlight a number of concerns.  The CQC report found that:

·  The Trust had not put in place robust governance arrangements to investigate incidents, including deaths;

·  Effective arrangements had not been put in place to identify, record or respond to concerns about patient safety raised by patients, their carers, staff or by the CQC;

·  Inspectors had serious concerns about the safety of patients with mental health problems and learning disabilities in some of the locations inspected; and

·  Overall, the Trust’s governance arrangements did not facilitate effective, proactive, timely management of risk. Where action was taken by the Trust to mitigate risk, this was delayed and mainly done in response to concerns raised by the CQC.

It was noted that NHS Improvement had appointed an Improvement Director to the Trust. 

Councillor Pope addressed the meeting and presented a motion to the Panel seeking its endorsement.  The Panel considered the motion and agreed that matters raised were extremely serious and of concern to the Panel.  It was noted that the Panel had not had the opportunity to examine the CQC report therefore Panel Members declined to endorse the tabled motion. 

The Panel acknowledged that urgent action was required to resolve the issues identified by the CQC and stated that this item would be referred to the first meeting of the next municipal year and that every effort should be made to ensure that appropriate officers from the Trust and the regulator, NHS Improvement, be present.

RESOLVED that the matter return to the Panel’s first meeting of the municipal year and that every effort be taken to ensure that the appropriate and relevant officers from the trust and regulator are in attendance.

The Panel noted the report of the Service Director, Legal and Governance detailing the actions of the Executive and monitoring progress of the recommendations of the Panel.