Agenda item

A report from the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development presenting an update on the long term plans for renal services in Leeds from the Department of Renal Medicine, Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust.

The Head of Scrutiny and Member Development submitted a report which gave the Board an update on Renal Services in Leeds following the Boards previous scrutiny of this issue.  Appended to the report was a letter from Leeds Teaching Hospital Trust (LTHT) regarding long –term plans for Renal Service in Leeds.

The Chair welcomed the following to the meeting:

• Dr  A Mooney, Consultant Renal Physician, LTHT
• Mr F Griffiths, Kidney Patients Association
• Paula Dearing, Leeds PCT
• Judith Lund, Directorate Manager, Specialist Medicine, LTHT

Dr Mooney addressed the Board and gave further information on issues highlighted in the letter submitted by Dr Newstead, Head of Renal Services.  He reported that the main issue was the reconfiguration of services at the Leeds General Infirmary (LGI) site and accommodation had been identified for the re-provision of dialysis.  It was hoped that this would be operational before the end of 2008.  Reference was made to other provision across the City and further to a question of provision at Wharfedale Hospital, it was reported that this possibility was being considered.  It was previously felt that there had not been a high enough demand for services at Wharfedale and a further survey was to be carried out.  Further issues highlighted included expansion of pre-dialysis services and donor programmes.

Frank Griffiths of the Kidney Patients Association (KPA) addressed the Board.  He acknowledged that the scrutiny process had been effective and had enabled the KPA to voice their concerns in public.  It was also felt that the scrutiny process had been successful in enabling objectives to be achieved.  The KPA still had some concerns which included the following:

• Facilities at Seacroft Hospital breaking down.
• Demand for services at St James and the ability to meet this demand.
• Transport – although the KPA had been actively involved in the tendering process, only one suitable bid had been received.  Problems had been encountered with the transport of patients and examples of patients not being collected for treatment and the adverse knock on effects were given.
• The timescale to implement new provision at Leeds General Infirmary

In response to Mr Griffiths’ comments the following was reported:

·  The LTHT shared concern regarding the timescale over the re-provision of services at LGI. 

·  With respect to problems with equipment at Seacroft, it was reported that this did need replacing and would be subject to a full tendering process. 

·  Where patients received treatment was constantly under review through patient surveys and by the Renal Services Strategy Group which covered Yorkshire and Humberside.

·  There was shared concern and disappointment regarding the lack of suitable tenderers for the transport contract and over difficulties that had been experienced.  There was a Service Level Agreement between LTHT and the transport providers (West Yorkshire Metropolitan Ambulance Service - WYMAS) and LTHT engaged closely with WYMAS.

RESOLVED –

(1)  That the report be noted.

(2)  That WYMAS be contacted and requested to supply the Board with   information regarding the transport of patients accessing Renal   Services.

(Councillor Rafique and Ewens joined the meeting at 10.15 a.m. and 10.25 a.m. respectively, during discussion of this item.)