Agenda item

To consider a report from Leeds City Council’s Head of Governance and Scrutiny Support introducing a report from the West Yorkshire and Harrogate Health and Care Partnership which provides an outline of the activity taking place within the Partnership relating to its identified acute care collaboration priority and West Yorkshire Association of Acute Trusts (WYAAT) collaborative forum. The report also includes a description of the WYAAT collaborative forum, alongside a summary of each of the current 12 programme areas that contribute to the acute care collaboration priority.

The Joint Committee received a report of Leeds City Council’s Head of Governance and Scrutiny Support introducing an update report from West Yorkshire and Harrogate Health and Care Partnership on acute care collaboration and the West Yorkshire Association of Acute Trusts (WYAAT). The report detailed the WYAAT collaborative forum and a summary of each of the 12 current programme areas that contribute to the acute care collaboration priority.

The following were in attendance:

Matt Graham, WYAAT Programme Director

Ian Holmes - Director, West Yorkshire & Harrogate Health & Care Partnership.

Matt Graham, WYAAT Programme Director, presented the report and highlighted the following:

-  The focus of WYAAT was collaboration and standardisation of provision to improve and sustain care services throughout the 6 member Trusts.

-  WYAAT provided a forum for partners to discuss the 12 programmes of work which were fully aligned with West Yorkshire Health and Care Partnership.

-  Decisions on service provision remain vested with the partner Trusts.

Joint Committee discussions focussed on the following:

·  How the WYAAT programme outcomes were monitored, measured and reported. Members emphasised the importance of public accountability. Using pharmacy as an example, the response was noted that each programme had a clear set of metrics to evaluate benefits – such as financial benefits, stock control and freeing-up pharmacist’s time to conduct clinical work. Additionally, WYAAT was developing a website where programmes and outcomes would be available in 2019.

·  Whilst acknowledging the assurance that WYAAT itself was not a decision making body – all decisions remain with the partner Trust’s Boards and clinicians, Members also noted the influence that discussions at WYAAT level could have on future service provision and the decisions that were made when considering a business plan for each programme of work.

·  Noting that the detail of the 12 programmes was not yet available; it was agreed that the current position in terms of progress against anticipated outcomes for each of the programmes would be provided directly to Members of the Joint Committee.

·  The need to identify a timeframe for the delivery of each of the 12 programmes.

·  The need to provide the Joint Committee with case studies of how WYAAT’s work benefits both patients and the NHS and to inform the Joint Committee when a programme delivery aim had been achieved.

·  The links between WYAAT partners and primary care providers.

Specific matters were identified for further consideration –

-  Clarity on the aim of “optimising estates” within the Elective Surgery work stream was requested.

-  How the Workforce transformation has been consulted on and is being implemented and managed.

-  How risks are identified and managed, particularly in respect of the Procurement programme; and WYAATs role/influence should the expected benefits of any programme area not be fully achieved.

-  The role of mutual accountability between the representatives of the 6 Trusts.

-  The costs associated with the establishment of WYAAT and any financial benefits brought through closer collaboration.

-  Service provision within the more rural areas covered by the Partnership and how this was reflected within the work of WYAAT.

In conclusion, the Chair acknowledged the reassurance provided that the work of WYAAT linked through to the West Yorkshire and Harrogate Health and Care Partnership (the Partnership) and primary care providers. The Chair reiterated the importance of the role of the Joint Committee in monitoring the success of that partnership – and therefore the work of WYAAT. The Chair also reiterated the need for app partners within the Partnership to have regard to patient flow through health and care services and the needs of patients to access the right services across the individual Trusts and the wider Partnership areas.

On behalf of the Joint Committee the Chair thanked representatives for their attendance, presentation and contribution to the discussion.

RESOLVED -

a)  To note the West Yorkshire Association of Acute Trusts’ aims and principles of collaboration;

b)  To note the West Yorkshire Association of Acute Trusts’ role within the West Yorkshire and Harrogate Health and Care Partnership; and,

c)  To note the 12 programmes within the identified acute care collaboration priority (Hospitals Working Together portfolio).

d)  To note the contents of the discussions which identified any specific scrutiny actions and/or future activity associated with the details presented.

e)  To note the intention for the relevant officer to provide the current position in terms of progress against anticipated outcomes for each of the 12 WYAAT programme areas to Members of the Joint Committee.