Agenda item

The Chairman invited Caroline Clarke, the Deputy Chief Executive and Chief Finance Officer, Debbie Sanders, the Director of Nursing, and Maggie Robinson, the Head of Property, at the Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust to the table.

Responding to a previous question from a Member, Ms. Sanders advised the Committee that Barnet Hospital had snack boxes available for patients who hadn’t been in time to request a meal, as well as a stock of extra Steamplicity meals. 

Referring to a comment made during the consideration of the previous agenda item (Healthwatch Barnet Enter and View Reports), Ms. Sanders stated that the Trust wanted the Protected Mealtimes process to work as effectively in the evening, but commented that this was difficult when combined with the shift pattern.  Ms. Sanders advised the Committee that she had been pleased with the enthusiasm of the “Enter and View” volunteers.

The Committee noted that hygienic hand wipes were being made available on wards and that the Trust was undertaking a piece of communication work to ensure that patients were aware that they could ask for snacks and request that friends or relatives provide them with food. 

At the invitation of the Chairman, Ms. Clarke provided the Committee with a financial update on the Trust.  Ms. Clarke informed the Committee that the acquisition of the Chase Farm Hospitals NHS Trust had taken place approximately 160 days ago.  The Committee noted that the Trust was financially a very large Trust with a transitional funding package of £263 million over a five year period.  The Committee noted that this money was in effect deficit funding and that the money would go towards re-building Chase Farm Hospital and paying off debt. Ms. Clarke advised the Committee that the Trust would be in reasonable shape for 2015/16.

Responding to a question from a Member, Ms. Clarke advised the Committee that the Department of Health would provide funding in order to help the Trust to eliminate any deficit.

A Member questioned if the use of agency staff had increased and, if so, why.  Ms. Clarke advised that in an average year, the Trust would spend more than £60 million on agency and bank staff and that the financial split between the two would be relatively even.  Ms. Clarke advised that, if the staff were directly employed, then the cost would be approximately 7-10 % (or £10 million) lower.  Ms. Sanders advised the Committee that the Trust was finding it difficult to recruit and that, for example, there were less nurse places being commissioned resulting in a knock-on effect.

A Member of the Committee noted that the Trust had an annual turnover of £951 million, and questioned if they expected to end the year with a deficit.  Ms. Clarke advised that the Trust expect to post a surplus of £1-£2 million.  The Committee noted that whilst the Royal Free balance was reasonable, the Chase Farm net liability was £20 - £30 million but, if transitional funding was also considered, the figures looked more acceptable.

Responding to a question from a Member, Ms. Sanders advised the Committee that the Trust expected to continue recruiting from abroad for a few more years.  The Committee noted that the Trust was not currently recruiting from outside the European Union. 

The Chairman invited Ms. Robinson to provide the Committee with an update on the redevelopment of Chase Farm Hospital.  The Committee noted that the London Borough of Enfield’s Planning Committee would consider the planning application for the 30 acre site on 24 February 2015.  The Committee noted that the existing Chase Farm Hospital site was in bad condition and that the parameters of the Planning Application were to deliver a modern healthcare facility. 

The Committee noted that consultation letters had been sent out with a feedback period of 28 days.

Ms. Robinson informed the Committee that it was intended that enabling works on the site would begin in March 2015. 

A Member questioned if the Trust would have enough land to expand services in the future if there was a need.  Ms.  Robinson informed the Committee that the Trust would retain land that it could utilise later and that the design of the hospital was flexible enough to allow for expansions. 

A Member questioned if the hospital would be able to ensure that there would be adequate parking for staff and patients in ten years’ time.  Ms. Robison advised the committee that detailed studies and engagement work was being undertaken throughout the process.  The Committee noted that the hospital would retain the existing multi-storey car park with the provision to increase spaces as well. 

The Chairman invited Ms. Sanders to provide the Committee with an update on the Dementia training that the Trust had undertaken.  The Committee noted that over 4,900 staff had received dementia training in 2013/14. 

Ms. Sanders requested permission from the Chairman to provide the Committee with an update that she felt would be of interest relating to a Care Quality Commission report.  Ms. Sanders informed the Committee that a CQC report was due to be published the following day which highlighted non-compliance at Olive Ward, Barnet Hospital and which stated that improvements to training needed to be made.

The Chairman advised the Committee that she had recently written to the Chief Executive of the Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust, Mr. Sloman, in relation to the new automated parking system that involves those with 'disabled' badges registering their number plate at reception in order to park in the hospital car park and expressing concern that the signage is not very clear.  The Chairman noted that in her letter she had requested that leaflets were put under the windscreen wipers of cars and that the signs in the car park were lowered to make them more visible to motorists.  The Chairman requested to be updated on the progress of these actions.  Ms. Robinson advised the Committee that she had just signed off the text for the leaflets and that the Trust were due to lower the signs.  The Committee noted that the Trust had been communicating with the staff on reception in order to ensure that they were able to communicate this information to patients and visitors who came by car. 

A Member of the Committee advised that she had been contacted by a resident who had received a parking ticket whilst using the hospital car park and noted that the resident had been extremely distressed.

The Chairman requested that the hospital remove the £100 parking fine until the actions highlighted in her letter had been implemented.  Ms. Clarke advised that she would consider the suggestion.

The Chairman suggested that the Committee invite the Trust to their next meeting in February 2015 in order to provide them with an update report to include the actions that the Trust have taken in relation to the removal of the Liverpool Care Pathway.

RESOLVED that:-

1)    The Committee request that the Trust provide an update report to include the actions that the Trust have taken in relation to the removal of the Liverpool Care Pathway

2)    The Committee note the report. 

3)    The Committee request that the Trust provide an update on leaflets, signage and communication to the public regarding the new parking scheme.