Agenda and minutes

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting held on 30 October 2009 are correctly recorded and that they be signed by the Chairman subject to the following addition and amendments:-

(a)  in relation to the proposed mid town site for a Dover Healthcare facility Kent Highways services be asked to provide the Committee with information on the actions  they had or were proposing to take to mitigate the risks from serious flooding; and

(b) on page 3 paragraph 7 line 6 insert the words “the call would be diverted” and change paragraph 9 line 1 to reflect that the correct description is "out of hours."

Mr G Douglas (Chief Executive, Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust), Ms G Duffey (Head of Midwifery Services, Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust), Dr C Unter (Consultant Paediatrician, Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust), Ms J Thomas (Director of Service Redesign NHS West Kent ), and Mr J Ashelford (LINk) were in attendance for this item.

(1) The Committee had before them a background paper prepared by the Research Officer to the Committee on the Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust Service Redesign together with Briefing Papers prepared by the Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust and NHS West Kent.  Circulated separately to the Committee was a copy of the Minutes of Maidstone Borough Councils External Scrutiny Committee on 13 October which had reviewed the issue of Maternity Services in Maidstone as a Councillor Call for Action

(2)       The Chairman explained to the Committee that this session was intended to be an opportunity for the Committee to look at the whole service redesign for the Trust although he was aware of the specific interest in the maternity service provision.   He intended to look at all other elements of the service redesign first and then concentrate on maternity services.

(3)       Mr Douglas took the opportunity to inform the Committee that last week the Care Quality Commission had carried out an unannounced inspection and no issues had been raised.  This was a major step forward for the Trust.   Mr Douglas added that in relation to the Declaration of Standards for Better Health, the Trust had fully met the health care standards. As a result it was virtually impossible for the Trust to be assessed as “weak” at its next review.  This was the result of an enormous amount of work over the past two years.

(4)       Mr Douglas then gave an update on progress with the new Pembury Hospital.  Building was 4 to 5 months ahead of schedule which provided a buffer for any delays that occurred during the winter months.  It also gave more time to embed, equip, and make the hospital ready for occupation.   He also informed the Committee that the new Hospital would be the most environmentally friendly hospital when it opened.  It had been built with sustainability in mind e.g. it would be partly powered by wood chip burners using locally sourced fuel.

(5)       The Trust had been working with colleagues at Kent County Council (KCC) in relation to the transport infrastructure and transport links, especially bus services.  It was unfortunate that despite lobbying of the Government by both the Trust and KCC, the work on the Castle Hill bypass was programmed to start at the time when the hospital opened.  The Trust had also worked with Tunbridge Wells Borough Council to increase the number of car parking spaces especially for visitors at the new hospital. The Committee noted that the Trust would shortly be publishing its green transport plan. 

(6)       In relation to the Maidstone Hospital site the roof was now on the new endoscopic  ...  view the full minutes text for item 22.

Mr M Ayre (Senior Policy Manager, Kent County Council), Mr D Hall (Head of Transport and Development, Kent County Council), and Ms Z Fright (Senior Lead Commissioner Urgent Care, NHS Eastern and Coastal Kent) were in attendance for this item.

(1)                            The Committee have frequently expressed an interest in the issues facing patients in accessing healthcare services outside of their homes, particularly as this is an important non-clinical aspect of service reconfigurations.

(2)                            The interest also extends to the issues facing family and friends in maintaining contact with those in hospital and people attending healthcare facilities for out patient appointments.

(3)                            Attached to the report was the report of a multi-agency event held on 18 May 2009 entitled “Commissioning Transport for Health” notes of a Health and Transport multi agency event on 22 September and the Terms of Reference and draft minutes of a recently re-established Transport for Health Group in East Kent for which a similar group would be established for West Kent.

(4)                            It was agreed that at a future meeting of the Committee it would be useful to have a more detailed report including what the issues might be around the Total Place pilot.

(5)                            The Committee noted the work which was being conducted on the Integrated Transport Strategy for Kent. The Committee were informed of the very successful hopper bus which operated in Thanet in providing access for the local population to the Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother Hospital in Margate.

(6)                            Similar discussions were taking place around the issues which had been considered by the Committee relating to the Maidstone and Pembury Hospitals.

(7)                            Several Members of the Committee asked questions relating to the Voluntary Transport scheme and the opportunity through Total Place for all the agencies to work together more effectively. There was real concern about the lack of information available to patients, friends and family on the Voluntary Car schemes.  One suggestion was that more information should be made available in doctors’ surgeries.

(8)                            The Committee noted that work was being undertaken to map all the transport services of agencies across Kent to avoid duplication and make better use of the transport available.

(9)                            RESOLVED that the report be noted and  more detailed report be made to a future meeting of the Committee 

RESOLVED - that the report be noted.