Decision details

The Board received a presentation from Mr. Chris Knights from St Helens and Knowsley Hospitals Trust regarding its application for Foundation Status. The presentation outlined:

 

·        how foundation trusts were different;

·        the benefits and risks;

·        the reporting arrangements;

·        the governance arrangements; and

·        the next steps.

 

Under the Health & Social Care Act 2003, St Helens and Knowsley Hospitals NHS Trust had applied to become an NHS Foundation Trust (often called Foundation Hospitals). The consultation period of 12 weeks commenced Monday, 27 February 2006 and ended on Monday, 22 May 2006, with a decision to be taken by the Summer 2006.

 

St Helens and Knowsley Hospitals NHS Trust provided the full range of general treatments to its local population covering St Helens, Knowsley, Halton and South Liverpool. The Trust also operated Regional Burns and Plastic services across the North West of England and the Isle of Man.  There were two principle sites, Whiston Hospital, comprising 724 beds, and St. Helens Hospital comprising 232.

           

As part of being controlled and run locally, governance and accountability would be improved by the establishment of:

 

·     a Board of Governors made up of elected patient/public governors (14), representatives from key stakeholders/partner organisations such as Local Authorities, PCTs and Universities (9) and staff (4); and

·     a membership community made up of local people. It these members who elect the patient/public governors.

 

            The Board of governors would be able to influence decisions about spending and service development as well as ensuring the Trust carried out its duties in line with NHS values and principles. The proposal in the consultation document was to have the 9 stakeholder/partner organisations evenly split between:

 

·        St Helens PCT

·        Knowsley PCT

·        Halton/South Liverpool PCT

·        St Helens MBC

·        Knowsley MBC

·        Halton Borough Council/South Liverpool

·        Mersey Regional Ambulance Service

·        Strategic Health Authority

·        University of Liverpool/Edge Hill/JMU

 

            This would mean that Halton Borough Council and Liverpool City Council would share a place on the Governing Body, however, it did not describe how the two councils would identify one Elected Member to represent the two Councils.  Given South Liverpool (4%) constituted less than half the income of Halton (9%), there was a strong argument that HBC should have a dedicated governor position. The case for this was all the greater given the proposed creation of St Helen’s and Halton PCT which would serve to strengthen the links in the public sector economy across the two boroughs.

 

The Trust believed that flexibility and freedoms arising from Foundation Status would enhance their ability to shape healthcare services in response to the above average levels of chronic diseases arising from the severe health inequalities, social disadvantage and social exclusion evident in the population it serves.  The Trust was also committed to strengthening its links with the local community through the introduction of members and governors.  There was also a financial benefit in being able to retain or build up surpluses as well as borrow monies to develop services.

 

Arising from the discussion the Board made reference to a number of issues in relation to:

 

·        linkages with Warrington Hospital;

·        how services would be split between Whiston and St. Helens Hospitals;

·        how the selection processes for choosing the Executive and Non-Executive Directors would work;

·        transportation and access problems, which were especially important to Halton due to the difficulties in crossing the Silver Jubilee Bridge during peak times;  

·        the lack of public knowledge regarding the consultation, how this could be improved and engagement problems; and

·        what type of services would be provided within the local community in particular the new Health Care Resource Centre.

 

The Board requested that the Transport Team from the Trust be invited to submit a report to a future meeting to give an outline of the Transport Strategy in relation to Halton.

 

RESOLVED: That

 

i)        the application for Foundation Status and the opportunities this will bring for the people of Halton and the issues surrounding poor transport links for patients and visitors be noted;

 

ii)      support be given to the Council’s proposal to have a dedicated Elected Member from Halton Borough Council;

 

iii)    a report on transportation issues be submitted, by the Transport Strategy Team from St Helens and Knowsley NHS Trust, to a future meeting of the Board; and

 

iv) updates on the application for foundation status be submitted to the Board.