Agenda item

Michael Ridgwell (Programme Director, Kent & Medway STP), Liz Shutler (Director of Strategic Development and Capital Planning EKHUFT) and Simon Perks (Accountable Officer, NHS Ashford CCG and NHS Canterbury & Coastal CCG) were in attendance.

(1)       The Chairman welcomed the guests to the Committee. Mr Ridgwell began by outlining the three objectives of the Sustainability and Transformation Plan (STP): improving quality and performance; reducing health inequalities and addressing the financial challenge. He reported that these objectives could only be achieved by health and social care organisations working together.

(2)       Mr Ridgwell stated the Case for Change set out why change in Kent & Medway was required including variable outcomes for patients, workforce challenges and financial deficit. The STP was looking to develop local care proposals to resolve these issues. Following a stocktake, the STP Programme Board had agreed that there would be two waves of consultation. The first wave of consultation would focus on service change in East Kent along with stroke and vascular services; the second wave would look at transformation in the rest of Kent & Medway. He noted that the STP had been identified as one of four national pathways and would be exploring innovative ways to improve efficiency and productivity. He stated that further engagement with stakeholders including the patients and public was a priority. 

(3)       With regards to acute sustainability in East Kent, Ms Shutler explained that the main issue was the provision of emergency medical services across three sites; locum, temporary and permanent staffing was required to reinforce staffing levels. She stated that the Trust was looking at a range of different options which included proposals to move and/or reduce services provided on each site. She stated that there were no plans at present to implement any of the proposals; the Trust was continuing to work on the proposals and would engage with staff and the public. She stressed that any decision to implement a proposal would be based on patient safety. Mr Perks noted that the CCGs were working with the Trust and endorsed the planning being undertaken to provide sustainable services in East Kent.

(4)       Members enquired about the proposed models of care  Mr Ridgwell stated that models of care would be brought back to the Committee; local care based models were being developed to create sustainable primary and community care at scale. Mr Perks stated the importance of provider organisations, including social care, in developing care models to meet the needs of the patient. He highlighted the work of Dr Ribchester at Estuary View who had developed a care model which brought together a multi-disciplinary team to support GPs in providing patient-centred care.

(5)       In response to a specific question about 300 bed reductions in East Kent, Mr Perks explained that 300 patients in East Kent, as part of a cohort of 1000 patients across Kent & Medway, were not in the appropriate care setting; they were occupying an acute hospital bed and not receiving hospital medical treatment. The STP was looking to develop a model of care which would enable these patients to receive appropriate care outside of a hospital setting.

(6)       A number of comments were made about prevention, the provision of services in London, public engagement and sustainability. The guests were in agreement about the importance of prevention and scaling it up as part of the STP. Ms Shutler highlighted that the services provided in London were specialist and it was inappropriate for these to be replicated locally. Mr Ridgwell stated that access to specialist services in London would always be part of the range of services available to patients in Kent. Ms Shutler explained that a number of engagement events had been held and further would be planned as the STP was developed. Mr Inett reported that people attending the listening events understood the aspirations of the STP.

(7)       RESOLVED that the report on the Kent and Medway Sustainability and Transformation Plan be noted and an update be presented to the Committee at the appropriate time.