Agenda item
Engagement by NHS Borders
Update report by Dr Sheena MacDonald, Medical Director, NHS Borders.
Minutes:
The Chairman welcomed Dr Sheena MacDonald, Medical Director and Dr Jonathan Kirk, Associate Medical Director, from NHS Borders who were present at the meeting to update the Forum on matters of interest and concern within Teviot and Liddesdale. Dr MacDonald began by highlighting the Clinical Services Review - to ensure the provision of services that were sustainable within existing resources met the requirements of an ageing population, living with chronic conditions. The in-patient service was presently being reviewed which included home care to allow discharge from hospital as soon as possible.
The Chairman reported on the lack of consultation and effectiveness of communication between NHS Borders and local communities with regard to the closure of Crumhaugh House. It was hoped that in future decisions affecting the community would be open and transparent with an explanation of the rationale. Dr MacDonald responded that there was no intention of closing community hospitals and that they would be utilised for services that could be delivered locally. Dr Macdonald added that last year there had been over 1,300 minor injuries dealt with by Hawick Community Hospital. Mr Grieve, Burnfoot Community Council, asked if the pharmacy would be part of the review, delays in discharge often caused by patients awaiting medication. Dr Kirk responded that the pharmacy was not part of the review but would be considered separately. He explained that it was often that the pharmacy was awaiting information from a junior doctor that caused delays.
Dr MacDonald went on to discuss the Out of Hours Service. There was a national shortage of GPs and the Borders General had to change the model for providing out of hours service. The service was now running with fewer doctors but with more nurses, the result being that response times had improved. Dr Kirk added that results had been positive with in excess of 80% of service users completely satisfied. Councillor McAteer highlighted that there appeared to be tension in that the service was treating more people at home but there were considerable fewer GPs to administer treatment.
Dr MacDonald went on to discuss the A&E department which had performed well above average. During December, January and February there had been a slight dip in performance but this had now picked up and only 32 patients, out of 544, had waited more than four hours to be treated and discharged. Dr MacDonald concluded her report by advising that there was now an additional car park at the BGH, with 38 spaces. The Forum highlighted the danger to vehicles exiting the BGH on to the A6091, due to the excess speed vehicles were travelling.
The Chairman thanked Dr MacDonald and Dr Kirk for their informative report. Dr MacDonald advised that a representative would attend Forum meetings on request andthat it would be useful to receive advance notification of any issues which the Forum wished to discuss as this would allow time for the correct representative to attend to present a report.
DECISION
(a) NOTED the presentation.
(b) AGREED to notify NHS Borders of any issues which the Forum wished to discuss in advance to allow time for a correct representative to attend and a meaningful response to be prepared and presented at meetings.