Issue - meetings

Consideration was given to a report which gives an update on Urgent and Emergency Care for Oldham Paediatrics. This report was submitted to the Health Scrutiny Committee meeting on 7 March 2023 but was deferred to the this meeting due to the lateness of submission to Members.

Mike Barker, Strategic Director of Commissioning/Chief Operating Officer, made reference to the winter of 2022, referred to post Covid and 2023 winter pressures on Children’s Services and Paediatrics services with the added current pressure of the medical professions strikes. He informed the Board these pressures combined with the regular fluctuations in demand emphasized the challenges and objective to provide the best quality care.

Members were advised that this year has shown an increase in A and E attendances. It was also emphasized that attendances were difficult to predict due to random virus outbreaks.

Members attention was drawn to the 4 hour target for childrens admissions and the previous target of childrens attendances of 95 per cent at A and E alongside adults. This had now been reduced nationally by NCO (National Casemix Office) down to 76 per cent by April 2024 with this committed target by NCO of September this year . The target should be complimented by the fact that queues for A and E had been nullified.

The Board was informed that although the paediatric workforce was difficult to source the workforce establishment is at its highest but is hampered by industrial strike action.

In response to a question regarding the improvement in A and E attendances and the Health and Wellbeing Strategy, the Board was informed that the balance of risk was being managed and the much improved performance progress was having the desired affect on A and E attendances.

Mike Barker advised that the previous unplanned activity approach had been replaced by a planned activity approach which had resulted in better efficiency. There is a structure in place at hospitals to enable care homes to be aware and ready to admit patients being discharged from hospital.

Jayne Ratcliffe, Director of Adult and Social Care informed the Board that the current positive timely discharge rate at Oldham has attracted the attention of other health authorities in the way that this has been achieved.

RESOLVED that the report and current update on urgent and emergency care for Oldham Paediatrics be noted.

The Committee considered an update report on Urgent and Emergency Care for Oldham Paediatrics.

Members were informed that the Urgent and Emergency Care system, both locally and nationally has been under severe pressure throughout winter and during this time we have seen surges of paediatric demand. This is the case in both Oldham and across Greater Manchester. In the last 9 months, Oldham paediatric A&E has managed the usual September (return to school) respiratory illnesses, then the outbreak of the Strep A virus (also known as ‘scarlet fever’) and following that, the typical seasonal winter pressures.

A graph showing the activity for both adults and paediatrics A&E attendances from March 2019 to Jan 2023 was included in the report.

The report referred to additional services in A and E and Secondary Care, Primary and community care for paediatrics, and Urgent Care Hub which had been put in place to manage demand.

Members expressed concern at the lateness of receiving the report. It was suggested that consideration of the report be deferred for consideration to the next meeting of this Committee and the report author be requested to attend and present the report.

Resolved: That consideration of the report be deferred to the next meeting of this Committee and a that representative of NHS Greater Manchester Integrated Care be requested to attend the meeting to present the report.