Councillor N A Dugmore

Co-optees:  D Saunders, S Fogell and L Cawley

None

RESOLVED – that the minutes of the meeting held on 27 February 2024 be confirmed and signed by the Chair.

To receive a verbal update on Urgent & Emergency Care and preparedness for Winter Pressures across Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin.

The Committee received an update from the Director of Delivery & Transformation, Shropshire, Telford & Wrekin Integrated Care System (ICS) on Urgent & Emergency Care (UEC) and Winter Planning preparedness at its last meeting held on 27 February 2024. In light of representatives who were unable to attend the meeting, the Committee requested for an additional meeting of the JHOSC to be arranged to continue the discussions on UEC.

Following brief introductions, the Committee posed the following questions to the Director of UEC, Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin Integrated Care System (ICS) and the Deputy Chief Operating Officer, Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust (SaTH) who attended the meeting:-

There continues to be large numbers of ambulances waiting outside A&E departments at hospitals for up to 8hrs at a time. When will residents begin to see improvements in ambulance handover times?

The Director of UEC, Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin ICS advised the Committee that hospitals had recently signed up to the Minimum Care Standards (MCS) for patients as provided by NHS England. Escalation processes to offload ambulances quickly had also been implemented to evidence full commitment to MCS.

Could a breakdown of the improvement plan and proposed timescales be provided to the committee?

The Committee were advised that the improvement plan was underway and was projected to see 6 new areas. Considerations had been made with regards to the Hospital Transformation Programme to avoid setting up services that would not be aligned. Subject to sign off from NHS England, a copy of the improvement plan would be circulated to the Committee at a later date.

Historically, hospitals have not been able to engage with GP practices to ensure patients are directed via the most appropriate pathway. How did hospitals continue to work with GP practices to ensure patients are referred to the most appropriate care pathway considering access for patients living in rural areas of Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin?

The Committee were informed that the monthly Clinical Advisory Group had been well attended and GP practices had been involved in designing the winter plan. The Director of UEC, Shropshire Telford and Wrekin ICS informed Members that they had been a regular attendee of the GP Board to discuss UEC.

Following the closure of Bishop’s Castle Community Hospital, did the impending reopening of the impatient ward alleviate bed pressures at Royal Shrewsbury Hospital?

The Director of UEC, Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin ICS informed the Committee that an update on the status of Bishop’s Castle Community Hospital would be provided at a later date.

What services were available at the Princess Royal Hospital and how were services communicated publicly?

The Committee were advised that residents could access information relating to services available at both Hospitals online, by calling 111 or speaking to their local GP practice who could direct them to the most suitable service. Patients had been encouraged to use 111 online or call 111 if they require urgent care but do not need  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.

The Chair informed the Committee that the next informal meeting of the Joint HOSC would take place on Monday 22 April 2024 via Microsoft Teams with representatives from the West Midlands Ambulance Service in attendance.

The meeting ended at 12.58 pm