Agenda and minutes

The Chairman welcomed everyone to the meeting.

Apologies were received from Councillors Lynn Denham, Sue Baxter and Kit Taylor.

Previously circulated

The Minutes of the meeting held on 13 January 2023 were agreed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

None.

Members of the public wishing to take part should notify the Democratic Governance and Scrutiny Manager in writing or by email indicating the nature and content of their proposed participation no later than 9.00am on the working day before the meeting (in this case 9 February 2023). Enquiries can be made through the telephone number/email listed in this agenda and on the website.

None.

In attendance for this item:

Herefordshire and Worcestershire Integrated Care Board (ICB)

Mari Gay, Managing Director

Worcestershire Acute Hospitals Trust (WHAT)

James Avery, Interim Associate Chief Nurse

Herefordshire and Worcestershire Health and Care NHS Trust (H&WHCT)

Rob Cunningham, Associate Director, Integrated Community Services

Worcestershire County Council (the Council)

Rebecca Wassell, Assistant Director for People

The Chairman advised that a representative from the West Midlands Ambulance Service (WMAS) was not attending the meeting. However, additional information on demand, hospital delays and performance had been provided and was tabled at the meeting and would be published with the Minutes.

The Interim Associate Chief Nurse (IACN) from the Worcestershire Acute Hospitals Trust introduced himself to the Committee.

The Managing Director (ICB) introduced the report and advised that December 2022 had been one of the most challenging months on record for the NHS nationally. This had resulted from a culmination of Covid, Influenza and Strep A (in children) and the extended use across the whole range of urgent care services. Primary Care saw some of the highest levels of demand and 111 calls tripled during this period; there were also serious concerns regarding the rising infection rates. Added to this, there were other factors such as the ambulance handover delays and the industrial action at this time.

The Panel was informed that just after New Year, the spike in demand reduced considerably and that from early January, there had been improvements with less ambulance delays and significantly reduced ambulance waiting times, which was allowing for the improvement work to be embedded.

The same day emergency care (SDEC) units were now fully functioning on the Worcestershire Royal Hospital (WRH) site, and the following week regional clinical experts would be working with the Trust and the ICB to carrying out a ‘walk through’ of the units to assess patient movement and to provide advice as to how to progress things forward. The Committee was reminded that the patients using the SDEC Units did not need emergency care but required a medical opinion.

The Managing Director (ICB) highlighted that there were still some areas to work on, including the high numbers of patients being discharged too late in the day after 6pm. The national initiative ‘home before lunchtime’ was being discussed and if successfully implemented would considerably reduce pressure on staff. The Committee was informed that progress on achieving the discharge targets had improved particularly for Pathway 1. Extra community surge beds had been made available in December and January and were proving to be very helpful. Some additional nursing home capacity had been spot purchased, resulting in a good nursing home capacity at present, which had increasingly been made use of. The Committee was informed that national winter funding had been received to assist with this extra provision.

The Associate Director, Integrated Community Services (ADICS) outlined details of the Urgent Community Response (UCR) service implemented 2 years ago, which had had significant impact during the past year. The service offered planned and responsive, simple and  ...  view the full minutes text for item 1116.

The Chairman drew Member’s attention to a couple of alterations to the Work Programme that he had agreed as part of the agenda planning process:

1.    Hill Crest Mental Health Ward would be added to the Work Programme and considered at the March Panel meeting.

2.    Community Pharmacies, which was already on the work programme, would be considered at the April meeting.

At the request of a Committee Member, it was agreed to add Podiatry services to the Work Programme.