Health Scrutiny Committee - 9 November
Items of interest:
Item 5 - Acute Trust Cuts
The Government is claiming there are currently only 903 actual redundancies across the entire NHS. I suspect much of the other cuts will impact on temporary and Bank staff, which could led to pressure on existing staff. This may present a quandary for health unions who want to see permanent jobs protected whilst recognising that some of their members and many potential members prefer these short-term jobs for personal, work/life balance or short-term economic reasons.
Item 6 - The Bereavement Service
Most new Councillors will be unaware that this was a controversial issue a few years ago, when the Council ceased its grant to this service and expected the PCT to pay for it. I suspect the PCT may now want to see a return to joint funding?
Item 7 - PCT Turnaround Plan
As I have said in earlier postings, the financial postion seems to be forcing the PCT to develop a revenue-led BHCH programme (ie moving the staff to the right places in the clinical pathway) rather than the slower and more controversial capital-led one (ie choice of buildings). it will be interesting to see how things are developing, but I think all this will be much less controversial than previous proposals and in the longer term PCT led services at St Helier Hospital, will be joined by a Local Care Hospital at Shotfield and improved clinic facilities at Robin Hood Lane, with the new Middleton Circle Clinic already operating.
Item 8 - Better Healthcare Closer to Home - (BHCH)
Presumably we are awaiting the London SHA review, but I suspect the maternity consultation is likely to be the main change locally in the short-term as the 1800 birth a year Epsom unit is merged into the 2600 birth a year St Helier unit. I suspect any further moves of high level services to St Georges will be dependent on how Patient Choice flows play out in the next few years. In the mean time I suspect there will be small improvements to St Helier and a review of usage of the Epsom site. The Denbies vinyard owners £66 million bid to take over the Epsom site and develop a cardiac centre of excellence may be resisted by the Epsom and St Helier Trust who want it to provide an income stream for their Foundation Trust bid, though the Secretary of State may be willing to accept it either on its own or as part of a Foundation Trust if it is supported by Chris Grayling and Surrey County Council. However it is likely this may split the campaign in Epsom as the unions and some local campaigners will see this as just privatisation of the service.
Item 5 - Acute Trust Cuts
The Government is claiming there are currently only 903 actual redundancies across the entire NHS. I suspect much of the other cuts will impact on temporary and Bank staff, which could led to pressure on existing staff. This may present a quandary for health unions who want to see permanent jobs protected whilst recognising that some of their members and many potential members prefer these short-term jobs for personal, work/life balance or short-term economic reasons.
Item 6 - The Bereavement Service
Most new Councillors will be unaware that this was a controversial issue a few years ago, when the Council ceased its grant to this service and expected the PCT to pay for it. I suspect the PCT may now want to see a return to joint funding?
Item 7 - PCT Turnaround Plan
As I have said in earlier postings, the financial postion seems to be forcing the PCT to develop a revenue-led BHCH programme (ie moving the staff to the right places in the clinical pathway) rather than the slower and more controversial capital-led one (ie choice of buildings). it will be interesting to see how things are developing, but I think all this will be much less controversial than previous proposals and in the longer term PCT led services at St Helier Hospital, will be joined by a Local Care Hospital at Shotfield and improved clinic facilities at Robin Hood Lane, with the new Middleton Circle Clinic already operating.
Item 8 - Better Healthcare Closer to Home - (BHCH)
Presumably we are awaiting the London SHA review, but I suspect the maternity consultation is likely to be the main change locally in the short-term as the 1800 birth a year Epsom unit is merged into the 2600 birth a year St Helier unit. I suspect any further moves of high level services to St Georges will be dependent on how Patient Choice flows play out in the next few years. In the mean time I suspect there will be small improvements to St Helier and a review of usage of the Epsom site. The Denbies vinyard owners £66 million bid to take over the Epsom site and develop a cardiac centre of excellence may be resisted by the Epsom and St Helier Trust who want it to provide an income stream for their Foundation Trust bid, though the Secretary of State may be willing to accept it either on its own or as part of a Foundation Trust if it is supported by Chris Grayling and Surrey County Council. However it is likely this may split the campaign in Epsom as the unions and some local campaigners will see this as just privatisation of the service.
posted by Charlie Mansell at 5:54 pm
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