Issue - meetings

Val Aherne, Director of Strategy and Deputy Chief Executive Officer, East Cheshire Hospital Trust, briefed on proposals to undertake a consultation process on the permanent closure of the Tatton Ward, Knutsford and District Community Hospital. 

Ms Aherne referred to her written report which gave the background to the proposals – the ward had been closed initially on a temporary basis due to the inability to recruit an appropriate senior clinician.  Patients had been moved to the Langley Unit, Macclesfield District General Hospital (MDGH) which was a superior environment with improved access to therapy.  The MDGH Trust Board acknowledged the inconvenience and potential hardship to patients and carers who would have to travel from Knutsford.  However, some financial provision had been offered to the voluntary sector to assist with transport to Macclesfield but there had been no uptake.

The report also referred to the Vision for Health and Social Care for Knutsford which was a joint project between various health and social care partners to transform the services in Knutsford; the new service would see primary and secondary care clinicians working in a local team to promote health, prevent illness and aid the management of existing long term conditions.  This redesigned service would be provided in new shared accommodation.  The Committee had received a number of reports on the Knutsford project including the forthcoming engagement and consultation process.

At the meeting of the Committee on 6 September, Members had supported the consultation on the proposed closure of the Tatton Ward being undertaken as a separate consultation rather than waiting for it to be included as part of the overall engagement and consultation on the Vision for Knutsford.  

Ms Aherne circulated a schedule of consultation and engagement which would begin on Monday 19 November and would include on line consultation; paper copies of consultation documents being made available in a number of locations such as GP surgeries, supermarkets, petrol stations; consultation meetings in each GP surgery in Knutsford and public consultation events at a number of venues.  The consultation period would run for 14 weeks to take account of the Christmas period. 

Finally, Ms Aherne referred to the application for Foundation Trust status which would commence on 12 November and advised that people who had expressed an interest previously would be contacted. 

In discussing the item, Members raised the following points:

      What facilities were available at the Langley Unit that were not available at the Tatton Ward?  In response, Members were advised that therapies available at MDGH included physiotherapy, occupational therapy and speech therapy and these therapies were available 7 days a week;

      Whether the option to reopen the Ward was a real and viable option?  In response, the Committee was told that re-opening was an option but the Trust Board was recommending closure;

      Where would the new provision be sited?  Members were advised that the existing Community Hospital site was the proposed site but if developers could suggest an alternative site, this would be considered;

      Would the new provision include some  ...  view the full minutes text for item 61