Agenda item

To consider a report of the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development on consultation on proposals for the provision of Urgent Care Services in Leeds, which have been categorised as a level 4, ie major/substantial service change

(report attached)

The Board considered a report of the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development introducing NHS Airedale Bradford and Leeds’ public consultation around the future provision of urgent care services in Leeds. 

The purpose of the item was to provide an opportunity for the Scrutiny Board to submit an informed response to the consultation.

The Board welcomed the following NHS Airedale, Bradford & Leeds representatives to present and discuss the consultation options:

·  Nigel Gray (Deputy Director of Commissioning)

·  Martin Ford (Head of Commissioning – Urgent Care Lead)

The consultation document presented three broad options, as follows:

·  Option A – retaining the current configuration of urgent care services;

·  Option B – reconfiguration of provision, with potential use of current A&E sites;

·  Option C – reconfiguration of provision, with potential use of a new urgent care centre in or near to the city centre and in the east of the City.

The consultation document also presented information around the national NHS 111 service, due to replace the West Yorkshire Urgent Care telephone service from April 2013.

In presenting the options, it was reported that the current arrangements for the provision of urgent care services across Leeds were, at times, confusing for patients.  It was highlighted that the public consultation closing date was 4 March 2012, which represented a 14-week consultation period – 2 weeks beyond the statutory 12-week period required, recognising the potential impact of the Christmas period.

It was reported that a range of public consultation meetings and events were planned and there was an intention to present the analysis of the consultation and a business case to the NHS Airedale, Bradford and Leeds Board as soon as possible after the close of the consultation period, hopefully in March 2012.

A discussion on the options presented in the consultation document followed and a number of matters highlighted, including:

·  Confirmation that urgent care relates to both physical and mental health;

·  While much of the focus of the consultation document was around the geography or location of future urgent care services across the City, it was important to ensure sufficient consideration of the future quality of services in all urgent care settings across the City;

·  The potential differences in interpretation of ‘urgent’ between professionals and patients/ the public;

·  Potential to improve the current signage around Lexicon House;

·  Some support for Option C with future provision in East Leeds and the City Centre to replace current provision at Lexicon House.

In summarising the discussion, on behalf of the Board the Chair welcomed the consultation and, in particular the extended consultation period.  The Chair recognised that within the Scrutiny Board, there had been no clear consensus on a preferred option and therefore a formal consultation response could not be submitted.  However, the Chair encouraged all members of the Scrutiny Board to submit individual consultation responses.

RESOLVED –

(a)  That the information presented be noted and the representatives in attendance be thanked for their contribution to the discussion;

(b)  That in the absence of a formal consultation response from the Scrutiny Board, all members of the Board be encouraged to submit individual consultation responses by 4 March 2012.

Cllr. C Fox left the meeting during the discussion of this item at 11:10am (approx.).

Cllr. A Hussain left the meeting during the discussion of this item at 11:30am (approx.)

J Fisher left the meeting following conclusion of this item at 11:45am (approx.)