Agenda item

To consider a verbal update from Dr Ian Davidson, Interim Chief Executive, on current issues including the financial position of the Cheshire and Wirral Partnership NHS Foundation Trust and the development of the Soss Moss site, Nether Alderly, Cheshire.

Dr Ian Davidson, Interim Chief Executive of the Cheshire and Wirral Partnership NHS Foundation Trust (CWP) presented an update report on current issues including:

      Older People’s Service Improvement Programme, Wirral – the upgrade and refurbishment of the 2 older people’s wards at Springview, Clatterbridge Hospital had been completed and now comprised Meadowbrook – a 20 bed assessment and treatment ward for people with a functional illness and Brackendale – 13 bed assessment and treatment ward for patients with an organic illness.  Both wards had all single rooms with ensuite facilities and would replace wards at St Catherine’s Hospital.  The Committee would be invited to the official opening in Spring;

      Greenways Learning Disability Service, Macclesfield – this was a 12 bed purpose built assessment and treatment unit for adults with Learning Disabilities which had opened in November 2009;

      Soss Moss – the proposed work at the Soss Moss site, Nether Alderley, Cheshire had received planning approval from Cheshire East Council and buildings were scheduled to be demolished on 1 March 2010;

      Learning Disability Housing Network Transfer – the network would transfer to new providers by end March 2010, CWP would not register the facilities with the Care Quality Commission;

      Financial and performance issues – CWP was still in an uncertain position in terms of levels of expected funding from commissioners from April 2010, 3 year Mental Health contracts had not been introduced at the moment for national reasons.  If the current contracts were rolled forward and the rules of the operating framework for the NHS for 2010 – 11 were applied CWP was confident that financial pressures could be managed internally and efficiency savings to the level required by the operating framework could be made.  It was likely that NHS Wirral and NHS Western Cheshire would roll forward existing contracts in line with the operating framework.  The commissioning intentions of Central and Eastern Cheshire PCT (CECPCT) remained unclear, Pricewaterhousecoopers, who were working with CECPCT, had presented a report to the PCT Board meeting recommending a 5% cut in income across all major providers, along with a range of services and ways that providers could achieve this level of savings; however, none of this applied to services delivered by CWP. 

      CWP had also not received income for services delivered in Tier 4 CAMHS (Pine Lodge and Maple Ward) since 1 September 2009 due to disputes between PCTs and Specialist Commissioners. 

      Greenfields Ward, Leighton Hospital – CWP decided to close this ward before Christmas as heating was inadequate, sufficient beds were available within the CWP patch to deal with the closure.  The ward remained closed although some work had been carried out with further work to be done. 

      Chief Executive – the new Chief Executive, Sheena Cumiskey, would commence work on 22 February.

During the discussion the following issues/questions were raised:

      The Soss Moss proposals had generated local concern due to the isolated location with little public transport and concern about the type of patients who would be staying at the facility.  The Committee was advised that the proposals did not relate to a change of use but involved bringing derelict buildings back into use, the facility would remain as low secure, patients were not locked up but often left the premises to visit friends; dialogue would continue with the local population to try to address concerns;

      Contracts with commissioners would be agreed by the deadline of end February so CWP would have a better understanding of financial issues then, it was noted that the NHS operating framework required 3.5% efficiencies;

      Patients receiving Tier 4 services would still receive a service, the problems with non-payment to CWP seemed to have arisen from communication problems between the contract negotiating body and the commissioners with some commissioners unaware that the contract had not been paid.

RESOLVED: That

(a) the update report be received;

            (b) thanks be recorded to Dr Davidson, for his contribution to the Joint             Committee’s work,  in his role as Interim Chief Executive; and

            (c) an update on the Tier 4 issues be made to the Mid Point meeting.