1
There was submitted a report by the Lead Officer relative to the Board's review. The report outlined progress since the meeting of the Board held on 25 April 2016 and intimated that the purpose of this meeting was to give members the opportunity to discuss, with representatives from NHSGGC, the services provided at Ward 15 currently and in the future. The report noted that at its meeting held on 25 April 2016 the Board considered information submitted by NHSGGC in relation to the options appraisal exercise carried out by the NHS in 2011/12. At that meeting the Board raised follow-up questions and these, together with the responses by NHSGGC, were detailed in the report. It was noted that option 4 'maintain the current children's inpatient service at Ward 15, Royal Alexandra Hospital (RAH) until 2015 and then transfer inpatient services to the new Royal Hospital for Children, Glasgow' remained the preferred option and that the local delivery plan, including this option, would be published in June 2016 and considered by the NHSGGC Health Board at its meeting to be held on 28 June 2016. This would trigger a process to engage with the public. It was noted that the children's outpatient services would continue to be based at the RAH.
The representatives from NHSGGC gave a presentation in relation to the paediatric services at the RAH, including the number of inpatient beds and details of the workforce; healthcare standards 'dashboard'; accident and emergency and ward 15 activity 2015/16; local and national drivers for change, including Royal College standards, workforce regulations, junior doctor restrictions, the 2016 Scottish Clinical Strategy, the opening of the Royal Hospital for Children and the rights of the child; the options appraisal undertaken in 2011/12 and key messages from the travel survey.
It was noted that the average length of stay was one/two nights; that there was 60% bed occupancy and that 60% of beds were occupied by Renfrewshire residents. The NHS representatives agreed to provide members with a copy of the clinical services review and information in relation to (i) from where the occupants of inpatient beds in Ward 15, RAH came; (ii) availability of car parking at the RAH and the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital and transport links; (iii) the figures set out in the 'dashboard' and (iv) how the further consultation with the public in relation to the preferred option would be conducted.
There followed a question and answer session at the conclusion of which the Convener thanked the representatives from NHSGGC for their contribution to the Board's review.
The report further indicated that individuals or groups who might wish to feed into the Board's review could now access an electronic survey form through the Council's website. The survey had also been highlighted via the Council's Facebook page and Twitter feed. The information collected through the survey would be used by the Lead Officer to document and gather the views of all interested parties to the review.
DECIDED:
(a) That the progress of the review be noted;
(b) That the purpose of the meeting be noted;
(c) That the response provided by NHSGGC to questions raised at the Board meeting on 25 April, 2016 be noted;
(d) That it be noted that the representatives from NHSGGC had agreed to provide members with a copy of the clinical services review and information in relation to (i) from where the occupants of inpatient beds in Ward 15, RAH came; (ii) availability of car parking at the RAH and the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital and transport links; (iii) the figures set out in the 'dashboard' and (iv) how the further consultation with the public in relation to the preferred option would be conducted; and
(e) That it be noted that the review's electronic survey consultation form had been highlighted through the Council's social media pages and feeds.