Agenda item

The Panel will receive an update from the Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) on current issues.

The Chairman invited Dr Ian Orpen to give an update (attached to these minutes).

The Chairman commented how winter pressures across the UK had been happening every year and asked why in the past few weeks we had seen A&E departments across the UK under severe pressure with a number of hospitals decided to declare an internal major incident.

Dr Orpen responded there were a number of reasons that had contributed to the pressure on the A&E system.  These included a higher than expected number of people turning up at A&E, cold weather leading to higher levels of illness in the elderly population which could often require admissions.  There had also been delays in discharging people from hospital when the necessary health or care facilities were not in place.  Dr Orpen also said that, on local level, the RUH had not been able to meet its target of seeing 95% of patients within 4 hours although staff had worked incredibly hard to ensure that every patient received the best quality care possible in the circumstances.

Dr Orpen commented that the B&NES System Resilience Group had been carrying out a review of activity levels and plans for the period from 15th December to 12th January to help in understanding the reasons behind system’s poor performance and to identify what further actions should be taken to improve things and ensure meeting the 95% target again as soon as possible.

The Chairman commented that some Whitchurch residents chose to go to GP surgeries in Bristol area, as they were closer than surgeries in B&NES area.

Dr Orpen commented that Whitchurch has been on B&NES border with Bristol and it has been covered by the CCG from Bristol.  Dr Orpen suggested that, in near future, more GPs would be available in B&NES area.

Councillor Hall suggested that the Panel could have a report on analysis from weather pressures in near future.

Councillor Hall asked about the prioritisation of the most urgent and life-threatening cases in dermatology.

Dr Orpen responded that provision of dermatology services had been currently under review, and commissioners were liaising closely with other providers to offer alternative services to patients with non-urgent conditions.  In the meantime, the RUH had written to affected patients to ask them to discuss their condition with their GP and agree next steps.

Councillor Butters asked how much training had been given to the NHS 111 staff.

Dr Orpen responded that the NHS Pathways was a suite of clinical content assessment for triaging telephone calls from the public, based on the symptoms they report when they call. It had an integrated directory of services, which identified appropriate services for the patient’s care if an ambulance is not required.  Also, clinicians would sit during the training of new staff.

Councillor Jackson commented that the CCG and the NHS England Area Team should work closely with the schools on the ‘Primary Care: Preparing for the Future’ project.

Councillor Jackson asked if the GP could tell that lump on the skin is benign or not.

Councillor Jackson handed over to Dr Orpen complaints made by hospital transport service users. Councillor Jackson highlighted that people usually complain on a trip from hospital to their homes.

Dr Orpen responded that Children Services had been integrated in the ‘Primary Care: Preparing for the Future’ project. 

Dr Orpen also said that over the time removal of the lump on the skin was not anymore considered appropriate to be carried out by the GP.  The GP would make clinical assessment to detect those lumps.

Dr Orpen added that he took note of hospital transport complaints and that he, or his colleague/s, would get back to Councillor Jackson with an answer.

The Chairman thanked Dr Orpen for an update.