Issue - meetings

That the update be noted.

The Chair welcomed and introduced Mr. John Darlington, Assistant Director of Planning (BCUHB), and Jon Falcus, Operational Manager, Wrexham Maelor Hospital.  She invited them to provide an update on service change/developments and respond to the issues which had been raised by Members in advance of the meeting

Mr. Darlington and Mr. Falcus thanked the Committee for the opportunity to provide an update about key areas of public health practice in the County and gave a brief overview of the structural changes and developments which had taken place in BCUHB.

In response to the question on the removal of services from Flintshire, including Deeside Hospital, Mr. Darlington and Mr. Falcus said they were not aware of any services withdrawn from Flintshire.  Mr. Darlington referred to the importance of Deeside Hospital and  explained that significant capital development had been made in Deeside to expand the range of services for the area and population.  Mr. Falcus commented on the work being undertaken to re-establish links with the Authority’s Social Services department to develop a closer working relationship between Deeside Community Hospital, BCUHB, and the Countess of Chester Hospital. 

Mr. Falcus referred.to the changes put in place at Deeside Hospital to maintain quality of care and referred to the secondment of a senior charge nurse, and the allocation of an additional 8 beds from May 2014.  He also commented on the need to recruit nursing staff as a result of the increase in the number of  beds at Deeside Hospital and whilst this had presented a challenge it was anticipated that appointments would be made by September 2014.  He advised that since March 2014 a range of measures had been introduced  to assess the quality of services delivered in Deeside Hospital and significant improvement had been made in terms of quality of care which should be sustained.

During discussion Mr. Darlington and Mr. Falcus responded to the additional  comments and queries raised by Members around the increased pressure on main hospitals due to closure of local cottage/community hospitals, demands of a future ageing population and the new Deeside Enterprise Zone. 

Concerning the question on the hearing clinic being discontinued at Deeside Hospital, Mr. Darlington advised that BCUHB continued to provide an audiology service at Deeside Hospital, however, the Countess of Chester had withdrawn its audiology service from the site.    

                        The Chair expressed congratulations, on behalf of the Committee, to

Mr. Darlington and Mr. Falcus, for the recent award received by Deeside hospital.

                        Concerning the question on cross boundary issues Mr. Darlington commented on the ongoing collaborative work  with the Countess of Chester in terms of managerial and clinical matters.  Regarding Flintshire residents accessing treatment at Gobowen, Mr. Darlington advised that access to Gobowen was the same for Flintshire areas as elsewhere in North Wales and that  all patients in North Wales received the same treatment and standard of care.  BCUHB had a contract with Gobowen to provide a range of services and was an important partner in terms  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4