The Committee considered three update reports from Wirral University Teaching Hospital (WUTH) in relation to their:

·  Cost Improvement Plan

·  Compliance with the 4 Hour Standard (A&E Target)

·  Financial Position up to November 2014

Mr Anthony Hassall, Director of Strategic and Organisational Development introduced the reports and indicated that in relation to the financial position up to December 2014 the WUTH was reporting a deficit of £5.2 million; the planned end of year deficit was £4.2 million. Mr Hassall indicated that although the Hospital was currently “off plan”, the Cost Improvement Plan measure would improve this. Mr Hassall explained that over 80% of NHS organisations had reported a deficit; this was due to the increase in demand.

Mr Hassall reiterated that the Trust was working alongside their partners to ensure that the hospital was maximising its efficiency and savings whilst ensuring it delivered a high standard of excellent care with patient safety a priority. All measures and savings schemes implemented were rigorously tested to ensure there was no risk to either quality or patient safety.

In relation to A& E targets, Mr Hassall explained that the Trust were working alongside partners and met regularly with members of the Urgent Care Network to discuss the issue and gain a better understanding of Urgent Care.

There had been nation-wide press coverage of the A&E pressures which had been heightened during the Christmas and New Year period. Mr Hassall reported a quarter three performance position of 92.24% against the 95% standard. The hospital’s priority was to deliver a safe and high quality care, and where possible manage patient’s conditions within the community to ease the pressure on the A&E service.

In response to a Member, Mr Hassall indicated that the variation in year often related to receipt of grants relating to education i.e. training of junior clinicians throughout the year.

In response to a Member’s question in relation to the future of A& E at Arrowe Park, Mr Hassall indicated that the Board were very clear that it was critical that Arrowe Park needed to deliver an A&E service. WUTH had made significant investment in staffing to help deliver a high quality service. This year and last year WUTH had improved the infrastructure through investment.

Mr Hassall reiterated the need for a strategy for Urgent Care to identify best use of resources and services such as GPs and community based services.

In response to a Member, Mr Hassall indicated that consultation was on-going in relation to staff restructuring.

The Chair thanked Mr Hassall for his attendance and requested that a quarterly update and a report from the Ambulance Service on their performance targets be brought back to a future meeting of the Committee.

RESOLVED: That

(1)  Mr Hassall be thanked for his attendance and update reports; and

(2)  Wirral University Teaching Hospital be requested to provide a quarterly progress report to a future meeting of the Committee and the North West Ambulance Service be requested to provide a performance report to the next meeting of the Committee.