Agenda item

Attending for this Item were:

Heather Macdonald, Operations Director, Wyre Forest Clinical Commissioning Group

Jan Austin, Interim Lead – Community Care North, Worcestershire Health and Care NHS Trust

Simon Trickett, Interim Chief Officer of Redditch and Bromsgrove and Wyre Forest Clinical Commissioning Groups

The Committee was reminded that the Wyre Forest Integrated Intermediate Care Programme was a multi agency programme, established in 2014, to look at how best to provide intermediate care for the population of Wyre Forest. 

Currently, the Wyre Forest Community Unit, based on the Kidderminster Hospital site (Block A) has 20 beds and is managed by Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust (WAHT).  It is able to take referrals direct from GPs to support admission avoidance and also support, often elderly patients, who are not ready to return home.

Due to a number of factors, including a shift towards a more integrated community model, the condition of the building and a view from WAHT that they no longer wanted to manage the provision of the service, the current model was unsustainable.

Stakeholders were keen to retain a presence on the Kidderminster Hospital site and the Alliance Board and GP Practices favoured a 16 bed proposal, in the Robertson Centre, which would provide increased integration with community teams.

Following an appropriate procurement process, it was agreed that this new provision would be managed by Worcestershire Health and Care NHS Trust starting 1 October 2016.

A number of Stakeholder engagement events had been held to listen and further understand any concerns patients may have.  In addition, newsletters had been published and widely circulated.   

Unfortunately, construction delays to some necessary building work have meant that the new Unit will not be operational on 1 October, although the new service will be provided by Worcestershire Health and Care NHS Trust from that date. 

In the ensuing discussion, the following main points were made:

·         There was concern that the number of beds was being reduced from 20 to 16, however, it was noted that the length of stay would also reduce due to increased support in the home

·         Some Members suggested that there had been a degree of concern locally, especially with older patients, who were worried they would be discharged before feeling fully confident, however, the Members were pleased to report that the level of public and patient engagement was high

·         It was clarified that this move had full clinical support and was not a cost saving initiative.  However, any savings would be reinvested in the community teams, including night sitters for example

·         When asked about the deterioration of GP Premises in Wyre Forest, it was stated that this was a Clinical Commissioning Group priority with almost all GP Practices now enhanced.  Funding had been sought for Stourport through a national funding scheme for primary care premises, which would close the gap locally

·         In relation to Community Hospitals, such as Evesham, a different medical model was in place, however, the ethos of rehabilitation was the same.  Members were informed that there was a shift towards seven day therapy, with therapists being recruited to cover early and late shifts, enabling staff to work with patients at key times, such as getting up and preparing breakfast

·         Members learned that Community Nursing Teams would have increased technology by the end of the year, enabling more fluid communications between health and social care

·         When querying the level of help in the house, it was suggested that technology had a huge part to play and advancements were occurring constantly

·         GPs in particular were confident that 16 beds was the right number, although the new premises do not allow for more, and it was seen as a positive move that the beds can be kept on the Kidderminster Hospital site

·         Members had confidence in Worcestershire Health and Care NHS Trust as they operate other County Community Hospitals.

The Chairman thanked everyone for a useful discussion and wished for an update in due course as it was important to monitor the impact of these changes on the local community.