Mr Simon Banks, Chief Officer NHS Wirral CCG introduced his report that provided an update with regard to the recent decision to temporarily suspend the walk in centre (WIC) service at the Eastham clinic to facilitate a joint system wide response to the urgent patients’ safety concerns at the Arrowe Park Hospital Emergency Department.

Mr Banks’ report informed that the NHS Wirral Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) Governing Body had discussed the Eastham clinic WIC service at their public meeting on 7 November 2017 with representation from local residents and Alison McGovern MP. The Governing Body had agreed that, just over two months after the suspension of the WIC service, a plan to resume the provision needed to be agreed with Wirral Community NHS Foundation Trust, as a matter of urgency, whilst also maintaining clinical streaming at Arrowe Park.

The Chief Officer NHS Wirral CCG updated the Overview and Scrutiny Committee that over the past two months, significant whole system progress for A&E had been made in the achievement to ensure that over 90% of emergency patients were treated, admitted or transferred within 4 hours. He also reported that there was still further progress and improvement required to meet the 95% mandated standard.

Members were keen to question the Chief Officer on the relationship between the initial transfer of staff from Eastham clinic WIC, the impact on waiting times and the proposals for the re-provision of WIC services at Eastham. Mr Banks informed that although the treatment times for A&E patients had stabilised, there were significant challenges expected to maintain the levels through the coming winter period. He added that the challenges were exacerbated by the difficulties experienced in the recruitment and retention of qualified staff, both nationally and locally.

Karen Howell, Chief Executive Wirral Community NHS Foundation Trust informed the Overview and Scrutiny Committee of some of the complex issues associated with the retention of trained staff and the direct impact on local service provision.

An extensive debate took place, with Members questioning Mr Simon Banks, Chief Officer NHS Wirral CCG and Karen Howell, Chief Executive Wirral Community NHS Foundation Trust on the specific key problem area of NHS staff recruitment and retention. Members questioned Mr Banks and Ms Howell on the actions being taken to address the staffing shortfall, and methods used to avoid key members of staff moving to larger city NHS Trusts that had been identified as more attractive employment career options.

The Chief Officer NHS Wirral CCG informed the Overview and Scrutiny Committee of the direct link and shared challenges associated with the Eastham clinic WIC and that of the next agenda item on the subject of transformation of urgent care on the Wirral.

Members questioned Mr Banks and Ms Howell on the initial decision to close and how the relocation of staff had impacted the Eastham clinic WIC budget i.e. the transfer of staff to WUTH A&E (a potential saving) and the expected return or replacement of staff. Members further questioned the estimated costs of the re-provisioning of staff.

A Member highlighted that removal of public transport provision that had coincided with the change to WIC services, that given the proposed dates for reintroducing the WIC service, would result in a reduced public transport service for in the region of 9 months total, with no guarantee of its return. 

Following further debate, an amendment was tabled:

Proposed by Councillor Phil Gilchrist

Seconded by Councillor Moira McLaughlin

[insert additional recommendation]

That, “this Committee calls on the local NHS organisations to continue to resolve the outstanding issues in order to reinstate, in full, the service previously afforded by the Eastham Walk In Centre to the southern end of the Borough and neighbouring areas. The proposal on offer can be seen as only a further temporary measure and its impact should continue to be monitored.”

The amendment was put before the Committee, and carried unanimously.

Resolved - That

(1)  the report be noted;

(2)  the formal request made by the CCG to Community Trust to submit a plan to reinstate the Eastham WIC service on 15 November 2017 be noted; and

(3)  the Adult Care and Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee calls on the local NHS organisations to continue to resolve the outstanding issues in order to reinstate, in full, the service previously afforded by the Eastham Walk In Centre to the southern end of the Borough and neighbouring areas. The proposal on offer can be seen as only a further temporary measure and its impact should continue to be monitored.