Agenda item

- Joanne Martin and Dr David Clitherow, RCCG

Dr. David Clitherow, Lead GP for Unscheduled Care, RCCG, gave the following powerpoint presentation:-

 

Proposal

To redesign our urgent and emergency care system to ensure~:

-          Patients receive the right care first time – one place to go if you have an emergency or urgent care need

-          Patients receive quality care – bringing together the skills of primary care with the skills of accident and emergency in a modern facility

-          Rotherham’s emergency and urgent care services are sustainable for the future – more and more patients need and will need urgent care and re-investing in this area will make the whole NHS in Rotherham work better

 

Why do we need to change?

-          Rotherham patients told us that the existing system is confusing and they do not know where to go when they have an urgent care need.  Sometimes they go to more than one service

-          We know that sometimes patients can wait a long time when they access urgent care, we want to improve this

-          We know that demand for urgent and emergency care services continues to rise.  The existing service may struggle to meet the demand in the future especially with an ageing population

-          We know that patients are sometimes admitted to hospital unnecessarily creating pressure on services

-          Nationally the evidence base states that 30% of A&E attendances are for conditions which could be treated by primary care

-          Nationally the direction of travel is to develop emergency centres

 

The Vision

To have one Emergency Centre to provide a single urgent and emergency care system for the people of Rotherham, located at the hospital

This means

-          Emergency Department staff and Primary Care staff working together to provide a multi-skilled workforce fully equipped to meet the patients’ needs

-          The GP OOH service and care co-ordination centre will be based there so all urgent care services are together in one place

-          It will have better links with Mental Health Services

-          It will have better links with Social Care Services

-          Enhanced facilities to meet future demand

 

Discussion took place around the new IT system.  There were different systems at present but the new system would be one system for the emergency centre to allow the sharing of information in order to provide the best care possible.

 

How will it work?

-          Patients will book in at reception

-          Patients will then be rapidly assessed by a senior clinician

-          Diagnostics will be requested if appropriate (x-ray, bloods etc.)

-          Patients will then be streamed to the most appropriate clinician to treat their condition.  This might mean back to own GP or pharmacy if this is appropriate or direct to a speciality

-          The patient will either be admitted to hospital, observed 24 hours, discharged home or alternative level of care

 

If patients rung the GP Out of Hours Services they would check in at reception via touch screen.

 

What difference will it make to the people of Rotherham?

-          It will ensure patients see the right clinician first time

-          Improved waiting times

-          Quality, safe care

-          More sustainable services for the future

 

Timescales

-          Relevant Boards for approval – October/November, 2014

-          Capital Scheme commences – October/November, 2014

-          Capital Scheme complete – September, 2016

-          Service model operational – October, 2016

 

Frequently asked Questions

Q. Will the whole of Rotherham Community Health Centre will be closing after the Walk-in-Centre leaves the building.

A. The centre currently provides health services to patients other than the Walk-in-Centre. There will still be health services provided in the building after the walk-in service leaves.

 

Q. Is A&E closing, where do I go if I have an emergency?

A. We are not closing the A&E department, we are bringing together all emergency and urgent care      services under one roof to make it easier to know where to go when you have an emergency or urgent condition.

 

Q. What’s happening about parking?

A. We recognise that parking is an concern. We know staff park in the patients car park. As part of the scheme we will be building an additional 122 spaces to move staff out of the patient car park, which will free up car parking spaces for the public.

 

Q. Will I have to pay for parking?

A. Yes. Patients who access A&E now pay for parking. When the emergency centre opens this will not change.

 

Q. What is going into the health centre when the WIC moves out?

A. We are currently in the process of looking at what services could be better delivered from the community health centre.

 

A discussion took place with the following being confirmed:

 

·           Patients would be triaged initially by a senior clinician or an advance specialised nurse

·           All staff will be under one roof working flexibly together, not two separate services and there will be better integration with out of hours services

·           Common protocols would be in place for the Emergency Centre and primary care GPs regarding access to appropriate services and giving common messages to patients

·           As the plan progresses groups would be invited to become involved i.e. learning disability/Age UK etc.

·           Patient experience simulations prior to the centre opening

·           Consideration would be given to a police presence/base within the centre

·           The plan to create 122 additional parking spaces is the maximum agreed by planning consent

·           Finance had been confirmed.  CCG had made a commitment to deliver this project, so assurance there for TRFT.  Procurement 21 framework had been used to ensure there is a ceiling on the price of the build and risk sharing with developers

·           Reminder of the letter to the Chairman from the Trust regarding parking charges

 

Resolved:-   (1)  That the Select Commission receive a copy of the IT procurement proposal.

 

(2) That the travel plan be shared with this Select Commission.

 

(3) That the Select Commission receive annual updates.

 

(4)  That the issue of parking spaces be raised with the Planning Service.