Minutes:
Deborah Fellowes, Scrutiny Manager reported the following:-
Children’s Cardiac Surgery Review
On March 27th the High Court found that the consultation and decision-making process which underpinned the Joint Committee of Primary Care Trusts (JCPCT) reconfiguration of Children's Heart Surgery Services in England and Wales was flawed and that its assessment of Quality of Services was unfair and unlawful. The case was brought by Save Our Surgery Ltd. (Leeds) a body affiliated to the charity linked to the Heart Unit at Leeds Children’s Hospital (part of Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust).
The National Commissioning Board (the new body replacing the JCPCT) had been asked to reconsider the elements identified by the Judge, including how they arrived at the quality scores, issues of travel and access, co-location of vital services, strength of cardiac care network and financial viability. The Judge had asked that they then report back on their findings and decide upon which Centres were to be designated on those new grounds.
On the same day as the judgement was made, services at Leeds were suspended because of concerns about mortality rates and patient outcomes. There has been considerable press and media attention in this issue. However, after rigorous examination of evidence surgery was reinstated last week, concluding that there was "no evidence of significant safety concerns in terms of governance, staffing or the management of the patient pathway for surgical care in the unit or referral to other units as required" and added that "A number of very positive aspects of practice are present in the service provided… the teamwork is strong, inter-professional working is effective, surgical staffing levels are comparable to other units."
The Joint HOSC met in Leeds on April 10th. Cllr Ali has been the scrutiny representative on this body since the process started in 2011.
The meeting was originally convened to discuss the Secretary of State's referral of the proposed closure of the surgical unit to the Independent Reconfiguration Panel and their response. However, following recent developments regarding the provision of Children’s Cardiac Surgery and interventional cardiology at Leeds Children’s Hospital, the focus of the JHOSC meeting had changed from what was originally planned.
The JHOSC considered the outcome and implications of the High Court ruling that found in favour of Save Our Surgery Ltd. It also considered issues associated with the implementation phase of the review, with representatives from NHS England in attendance. The meeting also focussed on issues/ concerns about the service provision at LTHT, which resulted in the suspension of services.
Following the meeting, the JHOSC concluded "Our prime concern throughout has been the welfare of the children concerned and limiting the anxiety of their parents and families. We hope that the restoration of services and the outcome of the joint review being made available through NHS England and Leeds Teaching Hospitals Trust will bring families peace of mind and the certainty that their children are in safe hands. We must now focus our attention on the ongoing issue of retaining these key services In Leeds for children and families across the whole of Yorkshire and the Humber"
Although the IRP was expected to report its findings by April 30th, in light of the Judge finding in favour of Save Our Surgery Ltd. and the requirement placed upon the National Commissioning Board to consider the judgement, it was unlikely that the IRP would report its finding to the Secretary of State within the timescale.
Further information was being sought on when the IRP was expected to report. This would be fedback in due course. In the meantime, a press release had been issued outlining Rotherham's participation in the Joint HOSC and expressing continued support to retain services in Leeds.
Review of Services for Adults with Congenital Heart Disease
The Joint Health Overview Scrutiny Committee had taken the view that there was a strong link between the 2 Services and that the work that had been carried out on the Children’s Cardiac Services needed to be linked into the work on the Adult Services. The Committee were requesting that individual authorities consider whether they thought it was the right approach with the 2 reviews being integrated which would necessitate a new set of Terms of Reference.
It seemed appropriate that the Health Select Commission nominate a representative for Rotherham.
Resolved:- (1) That the Joint Health Overview Scrutiny Committee be informed of this Council’s endorsement of the proposed linkage of the 2 reviews.
(2) That Councillor Steele represent the Health Select Commission.
Conference
It was noted that Councillor Dalton was to attend a Teenage Pregnancy conference to be held in London on 23rd April, 2014, on behalf of the Cabinet Member of Health and Wellbeing.