Agenda item

10:40

To report back on the OCCG and the HOSC Task and Finish Group on the roll out of the Local Health Needs Assessment Framework in OX12 (JHO7).

Prior to consideration of this item the Committee was addressed and petitioned by the following members of the public:

Councillor Jane Hannaby welcomed the Task and Finish Group’s report which she said provided an accurate record of the issue.  She stated that Wantage Community Hospital will soon be closed to inpatients for 3 years.  Given that it will be next spring before proposals can be brought forward it seems likely that it will be closed for 4 years in all.

Cllr Hannaby stated that the Save Wantage Community Hospital (SWCH) Group had worked hard to ensure that the OCCG’s survey reached as many people as possible given the OCCG’s limited resources.  This was despite the SWCH Group’s reservations about the survey, noting that only one question was about the hospital.  She expressed hope that the two groups could work together to solve the problem.

Maggie Swain of the SWCH Group and the Stakeholder Reference Group expressed concern about reports that there would be an emphasis on care in the home rather than in hospital and stressed that both were needed.  A Community Hospital is easy for people to visit patients, whereas people are often more reluctant to visit in the home and loneliness can result.

Volunteer drivers have problems accessing the JR Hospital in Oxford and many JR employees commute from Wantage and would much rather work closer to home.  She also criticised the fact that physiotherapy services were supposed to be up and running but had not yet started.

Terry Knight of the SWCH Group stated that he had been born in the hospital and had received treatment there.  He said that the lack of consultation on the survey was disappointing.  There was talk that nursing homes could be used but it was not clear why they would be more efficient that the hospital.

He also criticised the survey for researching current use and stated that this is not a reliable guide to future need.  There would be 5,000 new families in the area contributing £9 million towards the NHS in taxes.  He asked what had happened to the idea of the money following the patients.  He noted that the Health and Wellbeing Board advocated treatment closer to home but this is not what is happening in reality.

Councillor Mike Fox-Davies, Chairman of the Task & Finish Group, introduced the group’s report and stated that it was an interim report as they had not fully discharged their duty.  It had become clear around their second or third meeting that the original three-month timeframe was impossible.  He anticipated that actions will be identified by December 2019.

Councillor Fox-Davies stated that he supported the Population Health and Care Needs Framework which was being used for the first time.  There will need to be an evaluation process when completed.  He welcomed the improved transparency and suggested that an extra HOSC meeting may be needed in December to discuss the proposals.

Jo Cogswell, Director of Transformation OCCG and Senior Responsible Officer (SRO) for the OX12 Project spoke to her report and responded to the points made.  She accepted that the hospital had been closed for too long.  She stated that the issue was not just about beds but about all services.

She regretted that there was dissatisfaction with the content of the survey and agreed that it could have been explained better how the “front-end” worked but said that the results gave a good picture of needs.  The data will inform other pieces of work too.  There were gaps remaining and different statistics on new homes which need to be settled as population growth is a key factor.

There will be a range of events to assist in the distillation process.  The real pressure is in relation to Primary Care and the OCCG is talking with general practices regarding the next stages.

District Councillor Paul Barrow expressed frustration that decisions on the hospital had been held up because it was decided to do a broader review of all services.

Jo Cogswell responded to this and other timeline issues raised by Members of the Committee as follows:

·         Initially work focussed on infrastructure but then the Health and Wellbeing Board agreed that there should be a needs-based assessment.  There has also been an estates review.

·         Regarding the timeline for decisions, it is expected that the options will be finalised by the end of November so that discussion can take place in December.

·         The degree of consultation required on proposals will depend on the nature of the options.  There will be some small-scale proposals but any changes to the use of the hospital will require consultation.  A timetable will be agreed together as soon as possible.

The Chairman noted the commitment to have options developed by the end of November and reminded Members of the Committee of the possible need for an extra HOSC meeting in December as a result.