Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee:
7th December 2010
AGENDA ITEM 4
NHS BLACKPOOL
1.0
Matter for consideration
1.1
The Committee to consider an update report on the implementation of Improving
Patient Care, Blackpool’s health priorities and the White Paper “Liberating the NHS:
Equity and Excellence”
2.0
Recommendation(s)
2.1
The Committee is asked to note the update, asking questions and making any
recommendations that are considered appropriate.
3.0
Summary of key issues
3.1
Improving Patient Care/Primary Care Centres Update
3.2
The development of Primary Care Centres in both North and South Shore areas of the
town continue to progress well. The development at Moor Park now has the vast
majority of its external walls in place and the building is now weather-proof and glazing
is also fitted. The laying of concrete floors is completed and the first fit of joinery and
electrical items is underway. To date no major delays have been incurred on the
project and completion date is still expected to be during Spring 2011.
3.3
Planning for service relocations is now a primary focus with detailed work underway
with practices and other services regarding equipment and access requirements.
3.4
South Shore Primary Care Centre is now also watertight, glazed and has its lifts
installed. Decoration is underway as is the detailed planning of equipment locations.
Detailed planning around service relocations is also progressing well. Externally
ground works have commenced in relation to landscaping and access paths to the
building.
3.5
South Primary Care Centre remains on target for completion in spring 2011.
3.6
Whitegate Health Centre, as the Committee are aware, has now been open for over a
year and continues to provide many services such as a GP led Health Centre, dental
and nurse led services. Podiatry, Physiotherapy and Child and Adolescent Mental
Health Services are also provided from the site, along with diagnostic services such as
Ultra Sound and MRI Scanning.
3.7
The September report to the Committee advised that both Staff and Public Open Days
were planned for the Whitegate Health Centre on Friday September 24th for Staff and
Saturday September 25th for members of the public. These events went ahead as
planned and we were pleased to welcome members of the Committee and other
Council representatives to the open day on Friday September 24th. During the visit
attendees were asked to witness the burial of a Time Capsule on the site by the
Worshipful the Mayor of Blackpool Councillor Don Clapham, Chairman of NHS
Blackpool Roy Fisher, Chief Executive of NHS Blackpool Wendy Swift and Richard
Turpin, Director of the Eric Wright Group.
3.8
On both Friday and Saturday tours of the site were undertaken as well as Health
MOTs for those who visited us. Many positive comments were received about the
facility and NHS Blackpool is grateful to all those who supported the events.
3.9
Health Priorities
3.10 Members may be aware that NHS Blackpool, in partnership with Blackpool Council,
has throughout November held a series of Health Road Shows based on the Area
Forum footprints. The seven events were advertised in libraries, schools, GP surgeries,
pharmacists, radio and through the Gazette. Additionally, many former attendees of the
forums were written to, inviting them to the event by Blackpool Council.
3.11 The events consisted of:
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An opportunity for people to access health MOTs and seek healthy living advice;
Opportunities to discuss the work of Overview and Scrutiny in the Council and join
the Local Involvement Network, or become a member of Blackpool Fylde and Wyre
Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust;
A presentation on the Altogether Now partnership between NHS Blackpool,
Blackpool Football Club and Blackpool Council;
A presentation on health priorities in Blackpool;
An interactive voting session to explore residents’ perceptions of our priorities;
An opportunity for residents to tell NHS Blackpool what they perceive to be their
health priorities; and
A question and answer session with staff from NHS Blackpool.
3.12 Approximately 80 people attended the events in total. Despite this low number, initial
feedback from the Health MOT Team is that they were busy and found a number of
people with previously undiagnosed health issues who were referred on to their GP for
further care. With regard to the voting on health priorities, an initial analysis shows a
wide variety of opinions across the Forums on Blackpool’s health priorities. Individual
reports are being produced for each Forum area and a composite report will be used to
inform future commissioning decisions.
3.13 When completed we would wish to share these reports with the Committee, however, it
must be noted that the limiting factor in the reports will be the low number of people
voting with regard to the impact of the 8 health priorities in each locality.
3.14
White Paper “Liberating the NHS: Equity and Excellence”
3.15
As members were informed in the November briefing report, NHS Blackpool is working
closely with General Practitioners, Blackpool Fylde and Wyre Hospitals NHS
Foundation Trust and neighbouring PCTs to understand the implications of the
changes proposed in the White Paper. A Health Bill detailing the changes ahead is
due following the consultation period on “Liberating the NHS” which closed in October
2010. The Bill, which is expected in the very near future, will give more clarity on the
establishment of the GP Commissioning role and the operation of bodies such as the
NHS National Commissioning Board. Working relationships with Blackpool’s GP
Commissioning Consortia remain very positive and we continue to discuss the ways in
which we will be able to support GPs in their new role.
As reported to the November Committee meeting, nationally the NHS is expected to
deliver £20 billion cost savings by March 2014. These cost savings are to be reinvested in frontline services. Our work with colleagues in Blackpool Fylde and Wyre
3.16
Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and NHS North Lancashire continue to explore how
the efficiencies required locally can be delivered whilst improving patient care. We are
hopeful that in the near future we will be in a position to share with the Committee our
proposals on how we can achieve improvements in the quality, effectiveness and the
safety of healthcare whilst delivering the efficiencies required. These proposals, when
completed, will form the basis of a consultation document which will focus on quality,
innovation, prevention and the productivity of NHS services.
4.0
Witnesses / representatives
4.1
As requested by the Committee members, the following persons have been invited to
attend the meeting to speak on the matter:
 Richard Emmess, Director of Partnerships, NHS Blackpool
Relevant officer:
Richard Emmess, Director of Partnerships, NHS Blackpool
Tel: (01253) 651212, e-mail Richard.emmess@blackpool.nhs.uk
Appendices attached:
None.
Background papers:
None.
Websites and e-mail links for further information:
None.
Glossary:
N/A