Decision details

The Chair welcomed Professor Mark Pugh, Medical Director from the Lancashire Teaching Hospitals Foundation Trust, to the meeting. Professor Pugh provided the Committee with an update on the mobilisation of Chorley and South Ribble Hospital's Emergency Department and Urgent Care Centre and the issues faced with recruitment and retention. A copy of the presentation is set out in the minutes.

The presentation provided the background to the circumstances, key findings of an independent review, the current situation, recruitment issues, use of locums and key messages.

The Committee expressed concerned with recruitment figures and policies. It was reported that there was no delay between an interview being conducted and a job offer being made. The majority of delays involved visa applications and the English language tests. It was noted there was capacity within the system to allow individual Trusts to undertake their own individual English language assessments. On the use of locums it was reported that the Trust was limited to paying £120 per hour and the Trust was not allowed to break this cap in accordance with the regulator, NHS Improvement.

Resolved: That:

  i.  The update on the mobilisation of Chorley and South Ribble Hospital's Emergency Department and Urgent Care Centre be noted; and

  ii.  Further updates on the mobilisation of Chorley and South Ribble Hospital's Emergency Department and Urgent Care Centre be assigned to the Health Scrutiny Committee Steering Group.