Issue - meetings

The Select Committee will receive an update on this issue at the meeting.

Fiona Hughes, Specialised Commissioning – South West Hub introduced this item to the Select Committee.

She explained that in order to maintain a service for Bath renal patients in the Bath area, the service was put out to tender late 2018.

This process has now concluded and we can provide the following update:

·  As a result of the tender, and a rigorous and detailed selection process, a contract has been awarded to Fresenius Medical Care Renal Services Ltd, for a replacement service within the Bath Area to commence September 2019.

·  An extension to the existing service has been agreed with the RUH to continue the service on the Bath site, clinically supervised by North Bristol Trust, until end of September 2019.

She said that patients and staff have all been informed of this agreement.

She stated that a further update with regard to the location of the new Bath Unit would be provided at the end of January/beginning of February 2019 to coincide with planning applications.

The Chair asked if patients were involved in the tendering process.

Fiona Hughes replied that through Healthwatch a patient from Swindon was involved in the evaluation process.

Councillor Tim Ball welcomed the update as the issue was raised initially because of a rumour that the service was to be moved to Southmead, Bristol.

Fiona Hughes replied that she did not know how that rumour had begun. She added that the RUH have been supportive in this process and that is shown by the extension to continue to house the service on the RUH site until September 2019.

Dr Ian Orpen said that this was a good outcome and acknowledged that the idea to move the service to Bristol was a non-starter.

Councillor Eleanor Jackson asked for further information or a profile on Fresenius Medical Care Renal Services Ltd could be sent to the Select Committee.

Fiona Hughes replied that they are a Special Dialysis Team that has 48 units nationally, including sites in Yeovil, Taunton and Frome. She added that she would send through further information following the meeting.

Councillor Lin Patterson asked if concessions were available for patients travelling for treatment via public transport.

Fiona Hughes replied that she would make enquiries on behalf of the Select Committee.

The Chair thanked Fiona Hughes on behalf of the Select Committee for the update.