Notes from Health & Social Care Group meeting 23rd January 2015
This session followed a presentation given to explain the proposals to reconfigure services at Sandwell and
West Birmingham hospitals
The proposal is to deliver faster treatment for patients. It would ensure that consultant led services are
available 24 hours a day 7 days a week.
The new Midland Metropolitan Hospital would bring services together.
The Right Care Right Here programme aims to bring services closer to home, patients would benefit from a
healthier lifestyle. These proposals fit that approach.
The Journey so far:
Urgent Cardiology is mainly ambulance patients. Dedicated ambulances would not be on standby in the
event of transfer from Sandwell but patients would still receive faster treatment than going through the
emergency department. The transfer would take around 8 or 9 minutes. Clinical care is paramount and
patients would always be stabilised before being transferred.
Comment: Are we having a cardiology team at Sandwell 7 days a week?
Response: The main cardiology team will be based at City hospital. Will confirm. Some cardiology will be
planned. By ambulance, you will be taken to City not Sandwell.
Comment: You will need to make sure that the ambulance service are aware of this.
Response: Ambulances will know where the specialist teams are. You are taken to both hospitals at
present because there are teams at both hospitals.
Comment: A similar thing has been done with stroke patients and this is very good, but currently with
cardiology emergencies, ambulances are told to take patients to the nearest hospital.
Response: Regular meetings will take place with the ambulance service about this. They will know where
the nearest specialist is. We are writing to them to make sure they are clear about this. All of the resources
etc will be agreed. It is good that, as part of the listening exercise that we are discussing the ambulance
service.
Comment: How much will this cost and how long will it take?
Response: We are not sure of the exact cost. This is not a cost-saving exercise.
Comment: There are only 3 years left until the new hospital is completed, is this worth doing cost wise?
Response: This is part of the listening exercise. It is why we are asking the questions. It is something we
need to have ready when people ask the question.
Comment: You didn’t tell us any of the difficulties, only the benefits.
Response: We are also looking at how easy it will be for people to visit patients, but admission will only
be for a short time. How do we make the journey easier? We will be discussing with other partners.
Comment: All staff, particularly nurses, will need to receive training before they are transferred to City.
Response: We will be moving both the current teams onto the one site – will help with resilience. We will
be talking to our staff.
Comment: If you are bypassing A&E what is in place to ensure there will be no pressure on Cardiology
like there is in A&E?
Response: We are looking at how health needs may change – work force planning and capacity. We will
take into account our workforce requirements.
Positive Story: We should feel lucky with the NHS in Sandwell. In Carlisle you have to travel 60 miles for
a routine appointment. Here we are lucky to have several excellent hospitals within easy reach. We have to
remind ourselves of that.
Other Story: I went to see the GP but could not see a doctor for half an hour. Told to have a heart
monitor but the nurse said that she hadn’t got time and so I had to get a paramedic to hospital.
Comment: Are clinicians going to be in the health centres i.e. closer to home?
Response: This has already been happening, unfortunately these sessions are poorly attended, and a lot
of DNA’s (did not attend). Is this the right thing to do based on current experiences?
Comment: Close to Rowley, it’s getting through to the staff to give you an appointment – communications
issue. Staff don’t know that they have x-ray facilities at Rowley.
Response: Very good point, we will have to take on board.
Comment: Don’t mind where I go as long as I get good care.
Response: We know that urgent cardiology is best delivered in one place. We are not moving all
cardiology, just urgent care.
Comment: Will there be cardiology services at Sandwell?
Response: Will have to check.
Comment: You need to communicate with the community. You can’t just expect people to go where you
want treatment. You have to take people with you.
Comment: This has been raised at the hospital trust board. You need to involve patient’s right from the
start.
Response: We like to think that all the work we put into this is genuine and we do listen to Healthwatch.
We expect Healthwatch to keep an eye on the changes. If we listen to people and take on board what they
are saying. If we take a different decision, we need to explain to people. We need to continue to learn. We
are getting better. We need to inform people why we make the decision we do.
Comment: Can people to to the nearest hospital for their follow up?
Response: It is something we can take on board. In terms of patient involvement, this has worked with
patient groups to develop these issues.
Comment: Would it be a good idea to send copies of the feedback to libraries to place in the reference
section?
Response: Good point.
Comment: What about transferring patients?
Response: Patients will only be transferred when stabilised and it is clinically appropriate to do so. In
terms of the availability of ambulance, protocols will exist based on clinical need.
Comment: Regarding the new clinic at Rowley hospital, thought this was the same as seeing a GP?
Response: This clinic is provided under PCAT (Primary Care Assessment and Treatment). The purpose is
to keep people out of hospital. Clinical staff are on site, this is a ward carrying out observations on
patients. Patients can be referred by a GP. It is a pilot, usage has been very positive. If this is successful
we are looking to rolling it out across Sandwell and West Birmingham. It does need referral from a GP.