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Agenda item

Margaret Pyke Centre - Update

Minutes:

Dr. Sarah Marriot, Mark Maguire, Chris Wilkins and Simon Edwards of CNWL were present for discussion of this item and outlined the report.

 

During consideration of the report the following main points were made –

 

·         The Chair referred to the discussion at the last meeting in relation to options appraisal and engagement with stakeholders and also in relation to the small group that had been established to look at options with a representative of Margaret Pyke Centre being on this group. The Chair stated that the report now prepared only presented two options for consideration

·         CNWL responded that given the financial savings to be made the options were limited. There was a need to maintain access and quality of service. The options meant a reduction of 45/60 staff  in order to meet the £2.7m  Given the historic underfunding and need to cross subsidise the services delivered at Margaret Pyke there are difficulties in continuing to deliver a service from this site

·         The changes to the sexual health provision income were quite significant and the current levels of provision could not be maintained from the 3 sites

·         CNWL added that they wished to retain the Margaret Pyke brand and the service would be reconfigured from the ‘bottom up’

·         The Chair stated that the Committee had previously been informed that there had been a lot of money spent on Margaret Pyke building and that there is a body of knowledge there that is valued by the community and enquired the process for Member and public involvement in the consultation process

·         CNWL responded that public consultation meetings were being held until 30 March and that public meetings and events and stakeholder meetings will be taking place and publicised

·         There is a major challenge to CNWL as to how best to use resources and the staff at Margaret Pyke would be involved in the consultation process

·         In response to  a question CNWL stated that the Margaret Pyke Centre would remain open until the new proposals were implemented

·         In response to a question it was stated that although some care pathways could be operated remotely there would still be a need for certain procedures to take place it was stated that one of the challenges is to look at the model of care to be provided and to match staff requirements to this and there is no intention to deny women access to clinicians if they require this

·         Reference was made to the fact that there had been significant changes in recent years in the delivery of HIV and hepatitis services and that there is a need to look at delivering sexual health services in a more similar remote manner by developing IT systems. The whole service, not just Margaret Pyke, had to adapt to these new methods of working and the intention was to develop a better service overall

·         In response to a question it was stated that there was a representative of Margaret Pyke centre on the transformation group

·         It was felt that the details of the 8 month consultation process should have been made clearer to staff and CNWL stated that they wished to also involve patients and families in this dialogue. CNWL added that it was felt preferable to reduce funding on buildings rather than staff and maintain the quality of service provided

·         CNWL stated that the recommended approach was to maintain services but patients at Margaret Pyke would be asked if the wished the site to remain with a reduced service or to move the services with increased access and longer opening hours. It has been clear to date that patients favoured increased access and longer opening hours and that the results of patient surveys could be provided at a future date

·         In addition there were a number of events coming up where the public and campaign groups could put forward their views and in addition there is an event for GP’s to capture patient ‘facing’ views. It is also planned to look at the needs of the diverse sections of the community and to continue with staff consultation

·         The Chair stated that the scrutiny committee would wish to keep updated on developments with regard to the proposals. The Chair added that whilst understanding the financial constraints it was felt important to maintain the excellence of the Margaret Pyke centre

·         The Committee were of the view that they needed to be informed of the results of the consultation and the resulting proposals to make comments prior to implementation

·         The consultation process finishes on 23 March and the results will be analysed by the CNWL Board at its meeting in May 2016 and CNWL stated that they would be willing to share the results of the consultation process but not the outcome of the transformation process

·         In response to a statement from the Chair CNWL stated that they could give an update on progress and the results of the consultation process in May. In addition the Committee would like to be informed of the final proposals for the service in order that the Committee can consider if these are felt appropriate

 

RESOLVED:

That a further report be submitted to the May meeting of the Committee outlining the results of the consultation process and once the proposals for the transformation of the service are formulated these be reported to the Committee for consideration

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