Agenda item

The Board considered a report of the Strategic Director – Adults and Community which informed the Members of the future options for the Cheshire and Merseyside Treatment Centre.

The Board was advised that since June 2006 InterHealth Care Services (UK) Ltd (part of the InterHealth Canada group) had been providing orthopaedic surgery from The Cheshire and Merseyside Treatment Centre on the Halton Hospital site in Runcorn.  These services had been delivered as part of a five year fixed term contract, known as the GC5W contract.  These services had been used by all eight Primary Care Trusts (PCTs) in Cheshire and Merseyside.

The Board was further advised that this contract would come to an end  on 31 May 2011   During the last 15 months under the guidance and supervision of NHS Western Cheshire and the Department of Health, NHS Halton and St Helens and other Cheshire and Merseyside PCTs had been preparing for the closure of this contract, whilst seeking to minimise service disruptions and ensure patient continuity of care.

It was reported that the CMTC currently had 44 inpatients beds, 12 day case beds, 4 theatres, outpatient facilities, therapy facilities and a diagnostics suite that included CT, MRI and ultrasound.  This equipment would be retained as part of the transfer of the asset to NHS Halton and St Helens and the premises must be retained as a health care facility.  In addition, the land on which the asset was located was the property of Warrington and Halton NHS Foundation Trust and the building had 55 years remaining on a 60 year lease.

In addition, on 1 June 2011 the ownership of the building and the physical assets therein would transfer to NHS Halton and St Helens from the Secretary of State for Health.  NHS Halton and St Helens had three options in regard to the CMTC:

·        Divest – sell the building on the open market;

·        Lease – seek through a procurement process an organisation that was willing to take on a lease for the building; and

·        Utilise –if costs including capital charges, depreciation and running costs could be recouped - use the asset for local health care provision.

In conclusion, it was reported that working with Runcorn Practice Based Commissioning Consortium, NHS Halton and St Helens would be engaging an independent commissioning support organisation that, within no more than 28 working days, would be able to review the viability of these three options.  A business case to support an options appraisal for the NHS Halton and St Helens Board would be delivered from this work.  The intention was to engage with Halton Borough Council as part of this process.  A decision from the NHS Halton and St Helens Board was expected in April 2011.

         The following comments arose from the discussion:-

·              It was noted that when the ownership of the building transferred to NHS Halton and St Helens the physical assets would remain in the building.  It was also noted that the land on which the building was located was owned by Warrington Hospital Foundation Trust and the building would be unoccupied on 1^st June 2011 but the equipment would still need to be security in the building and the equipment maintained;

·              Clarity was sought on whether there had been many expressions of interest for the building.  In response it was reported  that there had been none at present as the building was not on the market.  However, it was highlighted that it was important to ensure that the building was used for local people so that there was an affordable legacy for the community.    It was also reported that it was believed that it would be sustainable through a surgery delivery element and other outpatient activity such as dermatology services.  It would serve Halton and surrounding areas such as Warrington and Frodsham and would be ideal to fit the Government’s announcement of having Community Base Services; and

·              The Board agreed that they were disappointed that Warrington and Halton Foundation Trust had not taken over the facility and the building.  It was highlighted that it was a large, modern and clean building with all the facilities and it was felt that someone would take it over and provide a health service for Halton and the surrounding areas.

RESOLVED: That the contents of the report and the work that is ongoing in regard to the options appraisal for the Cheshire and Merseyside Treatment Centre building be noted.