Agenda and minutes

To identify items which have been admitted to the agenda by the Chair for consideration.

(The special circumstances shall be specified in the minutes.)

There were no late items as such, however, the following information was supplied at the meeting:

• Minutes of the meting held on 14 March 2011
• Agenda Item 8 – Patient Flow Analysis figures.
• Agenda Item 9 – Draft Timetable of Activity

To declare any personal/prejudicial interests for the purpose of Section 81 (3) of the Local Government Act 2000

The following personal declarations of interest were ,ade:

• Councillor S Fraser in his capacity as a Member of the Governing Council of York Hospital Foundation Trust and as a retired member of UNISON and TGWU.
• Councillor B Rhodes in her capacity as a retired member of Unison.
• Councillor J Hewitt as a retired member of GMB and UNITE.

To receive any apologies for absence and notification of substitutes.

It was reported that Councillor C Mills of Doncaster Council had been replaced by Councillor G Mullis.

To confirm as a correct record, the minutes of the meeting held on 14 March 2011. Minutes to follow

RESOLVED – That the minutes of the meting held on 14 March 2011 be confirmed as a correct record.

To receive and consider the attached report of the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development

The report of the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development introduced and presented details provided by the Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust (LTHT) as an initial response to the Reconfiguration of Children’s Congenital Heart Services in England options for consultation, published in early March 2011.  Appended to the report was a presentation from LTHT which showed the options proposed for reconfiguration of services.

The Chair welcomed the following to the meeting:

• Maggie Boyle, Chief Executive, LTHT
• Mr Kevin Watterson, Paediatric Cardiac Surgeon, LTHT
• Dr Mike Blackburn, Paediatric Cardiologist, LTHT
• Dr Mark Darowski, Paediatric Intensivist, LTHT
• Debra Wheeler, Children’s Services Directorate Manager, LTHT
• Alison Conchie, Children’s Services Business Manager, LTHT
• Mrs Lois Brown, Parent

Maggie Boyle introduced herself to the meeting as Chief Executive of LTHT which also incorporated the Leeds Children’s Hospital.  She informed the Committee that further information had been sought on the specifics of the consultation for the proposals as LTHT had concerns regarding the process involved.  Further concern was expressed regarding the effect ion the wider population of the region if services were not located in Leeds and this needed bringing to the attention of the public and Primary Care Trusts across Yorkshire and the Humber.

There was a view that some of the information considered in the consultation was not clearly understood and as a result of this, it was felt that the options proposed didn’t logically reflect the case for not retaining services in Leeds.  Contact had been made with the chair of the Joint Committee regarding the proposals and a response had not yet been received.

The Board heard representations from Mrs Lois Brown who gave a personal account of her experience of using the services provided in Leeds.  She informed the Committee of her daughter’s treatment throught the services in Leeds and highlighted the following issues:

·  As a resident of Skipton, Leeds was the nearest centre providing cardiac surgery for children and without this it is doubtful her daughter would have survived when first taken ill.

·  Having to travel further would put undue pressure on families particularly when their children were in for long stays.

·  The questions in the survey to parents were vague and unfair – for example a question that asked whether parents would be willing to travel further for their child’s care.  It was felt that the only obvious answer to this was yes and that would give an unclear view as to where services could be provided.

·  The services provided in Leeds were excellent and vital.

Dr Darowski referred to Mrs Brown’s case and mentioned the importance of the integrated services that were available in Leeds in this instance the intensive care and cardiology services.  Other integrated services within Leeds were able to provide care right from the ante-natal stage through to adulthood and also provided maternity facilities for expectant mothers with congenital heart disease.  The services and expertise in Leeds had been nationally recognised and the proposals threatened the future of these integrated  ...  view the full minutes text for item 13.

To receive and consider the attached report of the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development

The report of the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development provided additional information to the Joint Health and Overview and Scrutiny Committee (Yorkshire and the Humber) to assist in the consideration of the proposed reconfiguration of Children’s Congenital Heart Services in England and the associated options for consultation as published in March 2011.

The following information was appended to the report:

• Population flows to the surgical centres described in the 4 consultation options.
• A series of frequently asked questions (FAQs) and the associated responses available from the Safe and Sustainable website.
• A letter from the Leader of Leeds City Council.
• Patient Flow Analysis – further information was requested regarding this as some postcode areas outside the areas included in the figures were applicable.

RESOLVED – That the report and additional information be noted.

To receive and consider the attached report of the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development

The report of the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development asked the Committee to consider the next steps in relation to its consideration of the proposed options to reconfigure Children’s Congenital Heart Services in England, and the implications for the Yorkshire and Humber region.

The following issues were discussed:

• A suggestion to request further time to consider the proposals.
• Suggestions to hear evidence from other sources including the following: 
  • Representatives of the Safe and Sustainable team.
  • Ambulance and Transport providers.
  • Representatives of other hospitals involved.
  • Parents from other areas across the Yorkshire and Humber.
  • The Director of Public Health

• Concern with timescales for the consultation, particularly with the approach of Local Elections.

RESOLVED – That a 3 month extension be requested to the consultation.

To be confirmed

To be confirmed.