Agenda and minutes

Mr N J D Chard declared that he was a Director of Engaging Kent.

It was RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting held on 24 November 2020 were a correct record and they be signed by the Chairman. There were no matters arising.

Mrs C Selkirk, Executive Director for Health Improvement, Kent & Medway CCG and Mrs P Wilkins, Chief Nursing Officer, Kent & Medway CCG were in attendance for this item.

1.    The Kent and Medway CCG had provided a report with updates on primary and secondary care operations during the pandemic as well as the Covid-19 vaccination programme.

2.    Mrs Selkirk gave a verbal overview of the report and an operational update. She began by noting the prolonged and considerable pressure on NHS and social care staff in Kent over the past year and commended their exemplary work. The latest Covid-19 fatality statistics were outlined, following the report’s timeframe, it was confirmed that in excess of 400 people had died between 17 January and 27 January 2021. The staff absence rate was confirmed at 5%, it was noted that not all absences were directly related to Covid-19. Mrs Selkirk confirmed that elective surgery had been halted and that a Phase 4 plan, to prepare for the recommencement of elective surgery, would be produced in the weeks following the meeting. The Committee was informed that critical care transfers to services outside of Kent and Medway had taken place, Mrs Selkirk noted that repatriation plans had been developed to support patients returning home from these services. It was added that in recent weeks Kent and Medway had given mutual aide to other areas experiencing increased service pressure.  The Armed Forces were thanked for providing staff to support operations, which had alleviated hospital staff and permitted an expanded workforce on Intensive Care Units. 

3.    Mrs Wilkins provided a verbal update on the Covid-19 vaccination programme in Kent and Medway. She emphasised the unprecedented scale of the programme, detailed the programme timetable to that point and reassured the Committee that individuals in all nine priority groups would be vaccinated. It was confirmed that pharmacy-based vaccination would begin as of 29 January. Members were reminded that vaccination data was published every Thursday. Mrs Wilkins confirmed that 127,000 people had received a vaccine in Kent and Medway as of 17 January and that 411,000 people in the top priority groups would be vaccinated by the end of February 2021.

4.    Dr Allingham gave a verbal overview of the vaccine programme from the primary care perspective. He addressed the inconsistencies in the vaccine rollout and confirmed that there had been delays in the Weald and Hoo Peninsula caused by the requirement for large, restriction compliant vaccine hub facilities. Dr Allingham reassured the Committee that there had been extremely low levels of vaccine wastage and that GPs had administered vaccines in care homes directly.

5.    Dr Allingham delivered a verbal update on primary care business-as-usual operations during the third national lockdown. He confirmed that there had been no reduction in demand, in contrast to the first national lockdown which had seen a sizable reduction. It was noted that the combination of regular business-as-usual demand and the vaccine programme had placed primary care in Kent under significant strain. 

6.    The Committee expressed  ...  view the full minutes text for item 68.

Mrs C Selkirk, Executive Director for Health Improvement, Kent & Medway CCG; Mrs P Wilkins, Chief Nursing Officer, Kent & Medway CCG and Mrs N Teesdale, Associate Director of Commissioning, Kent & Medway CCG were in attendance for this item.

1.    The Kent and Medway CCG had supplied a report which updated the Committee on the developments and lessons learnt following the suspension of the DMC Healthcare (DMC) North Kent dermatology contract in June 2020.

2.    Mrs Teesdale provided a verbal overview of the report and gave a general service update. She confirmed that Dermatology Services had continued throughout the second and third national lockdowns and met current national guidance, 70% of patients had received same-day surgery, whilst 90% received surgery within three weeks. It was noted that face to face and virtual consultations had continued and that patient satisfaction had increased to a rate of 85%. The Committee was informed that the emergency contract given to Sussex Community Dermatology Services (SCDS) had been extended, to provide service stability and bolster patient confidence. Mrs Teesdale reminded Members that a harm review was underway, it was not expected to conclude for some time, pending the completion of patient treatment.

3.    Mrs Selkirk was asked how contract decision accountability was governed in Kent and Medway CCG and why there had been a reliance on a lessons learnt approach in analysing contracted services. She noted that Kent and Medway CCG commissioned 100s of successful contracts and that very few required lessons learnt evaluation. It was confirmed that specialist teams dealt with specific services, commissions and contracts, with clinician and patient input considered in the commissioning process. Mrs Selkirk reassured the Committee that ultimate accountability was held by the CCG’s Governing Body and Primary Care Commissioning Committee, that their minutes were publicly available and that qualitative and quantitative data was considered.

4.    It was RESOLVED that the Committee note the report.

Mrs T Flint, Commissioning Manager, Kent and Medway CCG; Mrs J Sarakbi, Programme Director for Integrated Urgent Care, Lead Commissioner for 999 and 111, Kent and Medway CCG and Mr M Teaney, Service Centre Manager Millbrook Healthcare were in attendance for this item.

1.    The Kent and Medway CCG had provided a report with performance updates on commissioned Wheelchair Services, operated by Millbrook Healthcare.

2.    Mrs Flint gave a verbal overview of the report and outlined recent performance statistics. She confirmed that service waiting times had continued to fall and that they had met national targets, at an average of 15 weeks, a third of adults had waited 18 weeks in 2018, which had improved to 81% by the end of 2020. The Committee was informed that the service’s waiting list had reduced to a third of its peak size. It was noted that despite targets being met, service improvements had continued, this had included the completion of actions recommended following the CCG’s last visit. The impact of Covid-19 on the service was addressed, it was confirmed that services had remained open throughout the pandemic.

3.    The Chair thanked Kent Healthwatch for their involvement in the scrutiny of the service and identified the overall improvement to Wheelchair Services in Kent.

4.    It was RESOLVED that the Committee note the report.

1.    The Chair confirmed that Covid-19 and the winter response, 2020-21, would return as an item at the next meeting.

2.    It was RESOLVED that, with the addition of the item listed above, the committee’s future work programmed be noted.

Please note the dates and times of the Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee for 2021/22. All meetings will begin at 10am.

·         Thursday 4 March 2021 (previously agreed)

·         Tuesday 8 June 2021 (previously agreed)

·         Wednesday 21 July 2021

·         Thursday 16 September 2021

·         Tuesday 23 November 2021

·         Wednesday 26 January 2022

·         Thursday 3 March 2022

·         Tuesday 7 June 2022

It was RESOLVED that the future Committee meeting dates be noted.

It was NOTED that the next meeting of the Committee would be on Thursday 4 March 2021, commencing at 10.00 am.