Minutes:
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
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.
Supporting documents: