To receive a presentation from Hinchingbrooke Hospital’s Chief Executive Officer, Lance McCarthy, on the Improvement Plan update and collaboration with Peterborough and Stamford Hospitals Trust.
Minutes:
The Panel received a presentation from Lance McCarthy, Chief Executive Officer of Hinchingbrooke Health Care NHS Trust, regarding the Hinchingbrooke Hospital Improvement Plan update and collaboration with Peterborough. During the presentation Mr McCarthy covered the four main areas which were: the Care Quality Commission (CQC) inspection and report, system wide work, collaboration with Peterborough and Stamford Hospitals and the vision for Hinchingbrooke.
The Panel were informed that the hospital had been inspected by the CQC in October 2015. The hospital was deemed to be ‘requires improvement’ and remained in special measures as the new governance structures had not had sufficient time to bed in. The CQC would be inspecting the hospital again on 10th, 11th and 12th May 2016.
During the October 2015 inspection the CQC stated they had seen material improvements since their last inspection. There had been an increase in the number of ‘good’ ratings attained and a decrease in the number of ‘inadequate’ ratings attained. The hospital had no compliance issues but was told that there were 14 must do’s.
Members noted that Cambridgeshire and Peterborough has one of the most financially challenged health economies in England. In order to face the challenge the System Transformation Programme led by Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Clinical Commissioning Group was set up. The 5-year System Transformation Plan would be scrutinised by the regulator in June 2016.
Mr McCarthy acquainted the Panel with Hinchingbrooke Hospital’s role within the System Transformation Programme. The hospital would focus on the areas of maternity and neonatal, elective care redesign and urgent and emergency care.
The Panel was informed of Hinchingbrooke’s collaboration work with Peterborough and Stamford Hospital Foundation Trust and the timetables for the completion of work. The two hospitals agreed to work collaboratively to determine the potential to reduce duplication and cost of back office functions and support the future sustainability of services. In addition the regulator had asked the hospitals to review the potential organisational form.
Mr McCarthy shared Hinchingbrooke Hospital’s vision with the Panel. The primary responsibility of the hospital is to the population of Huntingdonshire and meet their health needs. There will be service redesign to meet the needs of the residents which will include: the development of elective centre for the county, the development of a health campus and improvement of Urgent and Emergency care to meet increasing local demands.
Following a question regarding the collaboration with Peterborough Mr McCarthy informed Members that the collaboration may involve the migration of staff at times of necessity in order to maintain service levels. In addition back office functions may be rationalised.
Members followed up by expressing concern that reducing back office functions could have an impact upon patients. The Panel was told that with every single cost improvement scheme there is a Quality Impact Assessment undertaken which analyses the risks of implementation on quality. Schemes will not proceed if there is a material risk to a reduction in quality. The hospital and health service in general have considerably more back office costs than the rest of the public sector. Mr McCarthy told the Panel of the findings of a recent national assessment by Lord Carter, which show that Hinchingbrooke Hospital’s administration costs are 40% higher than expected and that the total cost of back office functions could be reduced by 15-20%.
The Panel was acquainted with the four different options of collaboration with Peterborough which are: do nothing, remain independent but collaborate with back office functions, maximise collaboration but remain independent or merger. However before a merger would commence both hospital boards would have to agree, before the idea goes to the regulator. If approved, a Full Business Case would then need to be developed.
A question was asked with regards to public consultation for a possible merger as it was noted that technically it would be an acquisition of Hinchingbrooke as opposed to a merger as Peterborough and Stamford Hospitals is a Foundation Trust and Hinchingbrooke is not. This means that there is not a need for public consultation.
In response Mr McCarthy stated that in the event of an acquisition there would be public engagement but not a formal public consultation. The Panel was reassured that Hinchingbrooke would not be acquired without justifying the decision to the public.
There was concern that Hinchingbrooke Hospital remains in special measures and could close however Members were assured that the hospital won’t close and that good very progress has been made in relation to the CQC ratings but the management are disappointed that the hospital remains in special measures. The CQC are returning in May and the management are confident that the hospital will get out of special measures.
(At 7.57pm, on the conclusion of this item, Councillor Mrs P A Jordan left the meeting).