Agenda item

Report of the Director of Service Transformation, East London NHS Foundation Trust.

Members received a report of the Director of Service Transformation, East London NHS Foundation Trust (ELFT) on the proposal to relocate inpatient dementia assessment services to East Ham Care Centre (EHCC).

Members noted that while EHCC was close to public transport options, a travel analysis had shown that the majority of journeys to EHCC were carried out by car. EHCC offers cover for journeys done by minicabs and taxis, and financial support for charges incurred on private journeys. The Committee requested that a letter from the Director of Service Transformation confirming these transport support arrangements.

It was noted that COVID-19 had been a catalyst in relocating the inpatient dementia assessment services to EHCC. The pressures placed on Mile End Hospital to clear bed space and create safe paces meant that the move to empty spaces at EHCC had come before the proposal and consultation. ELFT was now consulting on whether the relocation should be made permanent.

It was further noted that within ELFT there was a drive to reduce waste within NHS space. A number of buildings had been reconciled and repurposed, and they were working towards a point where no space or buildings were unused.

In reply to a question by Deputy Chairman on how secure the capital funding for the investment into Cazaubon ward was, the Director of Service Transformation said that the works would be undertaken and funded by ELFT which had reserves to cover the costs.

It was noted that EHCC was currently working with Hackney Healthwatch but they were hoping to extend this to other branches. Members requested that they approach Healthwatch City of London.

The Deputy Chairman asked if it would be possible for the Committee and Healthwatch City of London to visit EHCC, and the Director was happy for a visit to be arranged.

The Chairman commented that the question options should allow scope for a ‘don’t know’ or ‘no difference’ answer, and also suggested that it would be appropriate to include a question about whether the drawbacks of the location outweigh the advantages for City residents. The Director of Service Transformation replied that he would take these suggestions on board; it is still a draft paper and so can be amended.

The Chairman also commented that it would have been more appropriate to conduct an Equality Impact Assessment (EIA) before the proposal, rather than afterwards. The Director of Service Transformation replied that they plan to prepare a draft EIA to be conducted alongside the public consultation. Feedback from the consultation will be incorporated into the final EIA.

The Chairman suggested that City Matters should be included in the list of Printed Information in the report, and that information should be made available for the City’s public libraries. The Director thanked the Chairman for this suggestion, and said they were in consultation with Healthwatch on how to further publicise information.

RESOLVED, that – the report be received and its contents noted.