Agenda and minutes

(1)       Members of the Kent & Medway Stroke Review Joint Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee noted the membership listed on the Agenda.

(1)       Cllr Wildey proposed and Mr Pugh seconded that Mrs Chandler be elected as Chair of the Committee.

(2)       RESOLVED that Mrs Chandler be elected as Chair.

(1)       The Chair proposed and Cllr Diment seconded that Cllr Wildey be elected as Vice-Chair of the Committee.

(2)       RESOLVED that Cllr Wildey be elected as Vice-Chair.

(1)       There were no declarations of interest.

(1)       The Chair noted that the meeting was being held on the 70^th anniversary of the launch of the NHS on 5 July 1948 which provided the Committee with the opportunity to reflect on its achievements in delivering significant medical advances and improvements to the nation's health and to thank NHS staff for their hard work and dedication in delivering care to patients.

(2)       Cllr Purdy added her thanks to past and present Members involved in health scrutiny.

(1)       RESOLVED that the minutes of the Kent and Medway NHS Joint Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on 22 January 2018 be noted.

(1)       RESOLVED that the Terms of Reference for Kent and Medway Stroke Review Joint Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee be noted.

(1)       RESOLVED the responses to the public consultation from Bexley Council’s People Overview and Scrutiny Committee; East Sussex County Council's Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee; Medway Council’s Cabinet; Medway Council’s Health & Wellbeing Board; and Our Healthier South East London Joint Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee be noted.

Patricia Davies (Senior Responsible Officer, Kent & Medway Stroke Review) and Steph Hood (STP Communications and Engagement Lead, Kent & Medway STP) were in attendance.

(1)       The Chair stated that the Stroke Consultation Analysis and Activity Reports had been added to the agenda, via a supplement, as she had agreed that they should be considered at this meeting as a matter of urgency, as permitted under section 100B of the Local Government Act 1972. She explained that this was to enable the Committee to consider the reports and to avoid any possible delay in this; the reports were not available for despatch as part of the main agenda on 27 June 2018 as they required consideration at an NHS Committee which took place on 28 June 2018.

(2)       The Chair welcomed the guests to the Committee. Ms Davies and Ms Hood began by stating that the two reports covered the public consultation activity and independent analysis of the feedback. Ms Davies noted that the formal public consultation on five three-site options had lasted for 11 weeks.

(3)       Ms Hood highlighted the following key themes from the activity report:

§  The consultation had the potential to have been seen by 2 million people which had exceeded the target; the total registered population of Kent & Medway, Bexley and High Weald Lewes Havens was 2.2 million.

§  5000 responses to the consultation were received which had exceeded the target. Response mechanisms included emails, questionnaires, social media, listening events, focus groups, telephone surveys and outreach engagement with hard-to-reach groups. She noted that a petition with 3500 signatures had also been received.

(4)       Ms Hood highlighted the following key themes from the analysis report:

§  The majority of responses supported the establishment of a hyper acute stroke units (HASUs) in Kent & Medway

§  Respondents felt that the two most important questions to ask, in order to assess the proposals, were whether it would improve the quality and access to specialist urgent stroke services.

§  Respondents understood the reasoning for having three units; some felt that staffing should not be a driver in decision-making and many felt that four units would provide fairer access.

§  The key area of concerns were location and travel times to units particularly in the Thanet area

§  Respondents were asked to rank the five options. Whilst option A (Darent Valley, Medway Maritime and William Harvey Hospitals) was the most preferred option followed by option B (Darent Valley, Maidstone and William Harvey Hospitals); the rankings for all options were close. Respondents indicated that their preferred option included their favoured hospital and had the greatest potential reach. She noted that the consultation was not a vote but provided an important opportunity to gain insight and receive feedback from local people.

§  A number of people in CT postcode area did not feel any of the five options were suitable and requested that Kent & Canterbury and the Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother Hospitals be reconsidered.

§  Concerns about aftercare, rehabilitation and prevention were  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5d