Agenda item

Presented by: Lyn Simpson and Vince Connolly

To update the Committee on the role of NHS Improvement

Lynn Simpson and Vince Connolly were welcomed to the meeting to provide information to the Committee on the role and remit of NHS Improvement.

The presentation included information on the NHS Improvement operating model and objectives, areas of focus and information on the local organisation.

Members were advised that in relation to improvement capability, NHS Improvement were reported to be working with academies, clinical networks and have improvement programmes running.  This was being evaluated on an ongoing basis to measure impact.

The four sub-regional teams were reported to be integrated to best support providers in their area and work with around 16-20 organisations per area.

Members were advised that NHS Improvement was in the process of establishing their role within the health service and were structuring teams to support providers to deliver improved services and to embed their role as a critical friend to support providers through the inspection process.

Members of the Committee were invited to comment and raise questions and asummary of the discussion is set out below:

Members highlighted the need for robust challenge and were assured that there were a number of processes in place to support this which included:

·  Board training programmes for non-executives. 

·  Sharing best practice through provision of a buddy system to provide additional support to the non-executives in organisations to challenge the executives.

·  Regular meetings held with executives and have rigorous challenge which would then be fed back to organisations. 

·  Provision of other routes to challenge. 

·  In addition there was reported to be a need to look at triggers which could prompt a review and improvement support.

In addition, members were advised that there was a need to look at collaborative working and bringing organisations together.  And although it was clear that there continued to be a need to hold providers to account, there was also a need for balance.

A question was raised in relation to information on the scrutiny of NHS Improvement.  It was confirmed that although there was currently no scrutiny function in place, feedback would come from partner agencies.  Further to this, measuring the impact of the service to organisations would provide some of this information and mechanisms would need to be established around this.

Members requested further information with some examples of improvement.

In relation to the model for improvement for Accident and Emergency (A&E) service provision, it was reported that a number of A&E providers have met to look at performance, quality of care and to share best practice through meetings and site visits to be finalised in December.  Members were informed that this was planned to be replicated to look at other aspects of quality of care.

The situation around the temporary closure of Chorley A&E was highlighted and the plans in place to ensure improvement in quality.  It was acknowledged that around 10,000 patients were displaced as a result of this temporary closure and continues to be monitored. 

On the subject of the number of training places, it was advised that numbers were modelled on future projections but demand and standards change which can impact on this.  Members were informed that there was a need to look at where current roles could change to support service and patient needs and design staffing around that.

In response to the question around local services such as the First Responders Team who support the ambulance service – it was agreed there was a need to promote and replicate these local services in other areas across Lancashire.

Resolved: That the presentation be noted.