Minutes:
GQ1 from Councillor Carpenter:
"There have been a lot of press reports and media coverage over the last few weeks which have said that A&E Departments in London cannot now cope. This raises questions about what will happen this winter. I understand that £7 million has been allocated to the Barking and Dagenham, Havering and Redbridge health economy to support A&E this winter.
"Does the Cabinet Member know how this will be spent?
"Finally, does the Cabinet Member believe that this will be sufficient to support Queen’s and King George Hospitals this winter?"
Response from Councillor Worby, Cabinet Member for Health:
Councillor Worby thanked Councillor Carpenter for asking this very important question and said that negotiations had taken place with BHRUT, NELFT, the local Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) and the boroughs of Havering and Redbridge as to how the funds would be spent.
Councillor Worby went on to say that the question should not just be about A&E because if that was not working efficiently, the rest of the service could seize up.
She advised that:
· 50% of the funds had been allocated to BHRUT in support of seven day working;
· just over £1 million had been allocated to NELFT not only to support seven day working but to improve community bed capacity and rehabilitation at home work;
· the three local CCGs had been allocated approximately £1 million in support of continuing healthcare, hospital discharge and nursing homes; and
· the Council expects to receive £410,000, which would be used to have our hospital social work team available seven days a week with effect from 1 November 2013
all of which measures were to ensure that no one should have to stay in hospital longer than necessary or over a weekend.
Councillor Worby voiced her concern as to:
v BHRUT consistently under-achieving on the 4 hour target at Queen's A&E which had been agreed to be at 95%; the last quarter had been at 90% and the latest data for week commencing 8 September showed the Trust had only achieved 85%;
v King George's had shown under-achievement in August and September but on the whole were achieving their targets.
Councillor Worby stated that this under-performance was critical in terms of what would happen in the winter if the Trust could not achieve their targets in the summer.
She advised the Assembly that in this connection, the Health & Adult Services Select Committee had agreed at its meeting on 1 October to write to the Care Quality Commission (CQC) ahead of CQC's impending inspection later this month.
Referring to the government's announcement that GPs' surgeries should be available from 8 am to 8 pm, seven days a week, Councillor Worby advised that Havering GPs would be taking part in a pilot but that our GPs would not.
Finally, Councillor Worby spoke of the impact that the closure of the Broad Street Walk In Centre would have on local residents in that there would be no alternative for them but to go to A&E.