Agenda item

Select Committee members are asked to consider the information presented within the report and note the key issues described.

Alex Francis, Team Manager - Healthwatch B&NES and Healthwatch South Gloucestershire addressed the Select Committee. A copy of the update can be found on their Minute Book and as an online appendix to these minutes, a summary of the update is set out below.

Non-emergency patient transport

During quarter two, BaNES Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) approached Healthwatch to ask if we would be interested in undertaking some joint work around the non-emergency patient transport service provided by Arriva Transport Solutions. Healthwatch agreed as this is a service that we regularly receive feedback about, and have raised concerns with the CCG about in the past due to the quality of service that people have reported.

A joint visit was carried out in early August between Healthwatch and the CCG, which included a ‘ride-along’, which allowed us to experience patient transport first-hand. During the ride-along staff spoke to patients and drivers about their experiences of using and providing the service. The visit also included an opportunity to speak to patients that had arrived at, or were waiting to be collected from, the Royal United Hospital, Bath.

All of the feedback gathered during the visit has been pulled together into a joint report. The CCG has shared the report with Arriva for comment.

B&NES community mental health review

In August, Healthwatch met with commissioners and staff from B&NES Council, BaNES CCG and Virgin Care to discuss the community mental health review that is currently underway. During this meeting Healthwatch shared all of the feedback that it had received regarding community mental health services, both from people that use these services, and also their carers or relatives.

An options paper outlining the themes and proposals for community mental health provision in B&NES is expected to be released in the autumn. Healthwatch has offered to run a public meeting for people to discuss the options in more detail, and also a Health and Wellbeing Network meeting so that voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) colleagues can have their say. Details of these events will be shared widely once confirmed.

Safeguarding adults

Healthwatch is a member of the Local Safeguarding Adults Board; we are currently working closely with B&NES Council, BaNES Clinical Commissioning Group, Avon and Somerset Police and other partners to undertake three safeguarding adults’ reviews.

Healthwatch aims to provide a lay perspective on each case; asking questions about how local safeguarding policies and procedures have been implemented, and helping to establish how effectively local organisations have worked together to safeguard the individuals concerned. Once complete, the findings of these reviews will be published, including recommendations for the future and any key learning to ensure best practice is implemented.

Sustainability and Transformation Partnership (STP)

In August, Healthwatch B&NES and Healthwatch Wiltshire met with the new STP Programme Director and Programme Manager to discuss Healthwatch’s role in the revised governance arrangements, and review the communications and engagement approach that has been in place to date. Local Healthwatch reiterated the need for communication to improve, and engagement with patients, the public and the voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) sector to increase.

In July, NHS England carried out a progress assessment of STPs across the country through which the B&NES, Swindon and Wiltshire STP was rated ‘advanced’. Moving forwards, the Board endeavours to improve communication and engagement with the local population regarding the STP.

There is an STP stakeholder event taking place on Friday 20 October, 9.30am – 12.30pm at Bailbrook House, Bath.

Councillor Geoff Ward commented that it was important to know about such services as Non-Emergency Patient Transport. He asked how they were advertised.

Alex Francis replied that in terms of the service that Arriva provides there is an eligibility criteria. She added that other forms of community transport are available across B&NES and that Healthwatch do provide a signposting service in this respect.

She said that further information could be found via the Wellbeing Options or One Big Database websites.

Councillor Lizzie Gladwyn said that she welcomed Healthwatch having an input into the Mental Health Review.

Councillor Eleanor Jackson said that she was pleased to see the work relating to non-emergency patient transport as she was aware that Arriva had previously had problems with collecting people on time and then subsequently missing appointments.

Councillor Lin Patterson asked if Healthwatch had been asked to review or monitor midwifery services locally as she believed they were overstretched.

Alex Francis replied that they had not, but would discuss the matter with colleagues to see what could be done.

The Chair thanked Alex Francis for the update on behalf of the Select Committee.