Agenda item

- presentation by Hannah Boyer, South Yorkshire Ambulance Service

(please note the Health Select Commission have been invited to the meeting for this item)

Pat Drake, Non-Executive Director, and Cath Balazs, Operations Manager, Yorkshire Ambulance Service, reported on the Service’s proposal to apply for Foundation Trust status in 2012.  Consultation had commenced on 12^th September and run until 4^th December, 2011, seeking views about the plans and help to shape the way that ambulance services were provided in the future.  They gave the following presentation:-

Looking to the Future as an NHS Foundation Trust

-        Would still operate to NHS principles

-        Be subject to CQC inspection

-        Regulated by Monitor to protect the public’s interest

-        Be free to shape how they provided and developed services

What were they trying to achieve?

-        Continuing to save lives

-        Bringing care closer to home

-        Maintain safe and high quality services together with high levels of satisfaction

Future Plans and Priorities

-        The new NHS 111 number

-        Improve how it dealt with major trauma in Yorkshire

-        Improve clinical outcomes for patients with a stroke, cardiac arrest or STEMI

How would the Foundation Trust be accountable?

-        Members/community-Governors-Non-Executive Directors–Executive Directors

-        Council of Governors

13 Public Governors

4 Staff Governors (3 front line/1  support staff)

7 Appointed Governors

Public Constituencies

-        People would join the 4 constituencies where they lived

-        Number of Governors based on local population

-        Minimum age 16

Appointed Governors

-        7 Appointed Governors – always a minority

-        Strategic Partners – Acute Trust, Mental Health Trusts, Local Authorities, PCTs, Police

-        Reflect the 4 areas balancing urban and rural

Public Consultation

-        12^th September-4^th December, 2011

-        Future plans

-        Public and staff membership

-        Council of Governors

-        Other comments

Consultation Questions

-        Do you support the plans for the future?

-        Should the minimum age for membership be 16?

-        And the same for Governors?

-        Are the 4 proposed public constituencies right?

-        Do you agree with the split between front line and support staff?

-        Do you agree with the proposals for how the Council of Governors would be made up?

What happens after consultation?

-        YAS Board to consider the analysed results

-        Consultation feedback would form part of the analysis used by Monitor to assess the application

-        Start to recruit Members – January, 2012

-        Elections for ‘shadow’ Council of Governors – Autumn, 2012

Discussion ensued with the following issues raised/highlighted:-

o       The Service’s performance had improved and was on course to hit its target

o       The Yorkshire and Humber Local Government structure may be the best vehicle to appoint representatives

o       Although the telephone response was based in Wakefield, the actual crews deployed were local

o       A Foundation Trust would allow more flexibility to promote services that fitted with local need

o       Should the Board have 1 of the Governor positions?

o       It was the understanding that by 2016 all provider services had to become Foundation Trusts or alternative arrangements would be made

It was noted that the Health Select Commission would be submitting a formal response to the consultation.

Pat and Cath were thanked for their attendance.