Agenda item

Report of the Director of Community and Children’s Services

This report set out the approach the Corporation had taken in scrutinising the Bart’s Health Trust Quality Accounts, as part of the Inner North East London Joint Overview and Scrutiny Committee for Health (INEL JOSC).

The Chairman had attended the last meeting and noted that the Trust’s financial position had worsened.   Members also noted that Barts had not bid for urological cancer services and University College had won the tender.  However, Barts had bid for gastro oncology, thoracic, lung and blood cancer services and submitted a non-competitive bid for head and neck services.  A Member was concerned about changes to urological cancer services but was reassured that patients would return to Barts for their on-going treatment following their surgery.

Further concern was expressed about the Royal London’s appointments system, as the telephone response times had been poor since the service was transferred to a call centre in Milton Keynes.  It was also noted that referral letters did not state the nature of a patient’s condition.  The Head of Nursing at Bart’s advised that, since 1 May, calls were being managed by a new centralised team.  Members were reassured that 69% of outstanding queries had been cleared and, whilst the more complex cases had been taking a little longer, they would also be cleared in one month’s time.  Members were reminded that the Sub Committee had scrutinised appointment systems about 18 months ago but, at that time, the trusts had not merged. 

It had also been noted that the ‘choose and book’ system might be flawed.  Members were advised that Deputy Billy Dove had arranged to meet Sir Stephen O’Brien to discuss these issues. 

RESOLVED – That:

1.      The approach taken to scrutinising the Bart’s Health Trust Quality Accounts be endorsed; and

2.      The written submission to the Barts’ Health Trust from the Chair of the INEL JOSC (at Appendix B to the report) be noted.