Hampshire County Council Joint Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee - Hampshire Together Meeting

Apologies were received from Councillor Barrie Margetts.

Members were mindful that where they believed they had a Disclosable Pecuniary Interest in any matter considered at the meeting they must declare that interest at the time of the relevant debate and, having regard to the

circumstances described in Part 3, Paragraph 1.5 of the County Council's

Members' Code of Conduct, leave the meeting while the matter was discussed, save for exercising any right to speak in accordance with Paragraph 1.6 of the Code. Furthermore Members were mindful that where they believed they had a Personal interest in a matter being considered at the meeting they considered whether such interest should be declared, and having regard to Part 5, Paragraph 5 of the Code, considered whether it was appropriate to leave the meeting whilst the matter was discussed, save for exercising any right to speak in accordance with the Code.

The minutes of the previous meeting held on 8 March 2021 were agreed.

There were no deputations.

There were no announcements.

The Joint Committee received a presentation from Hampshire Hospitals NHS Trust (the Trust) setting out the background to the Hampshire Together programme. As part of the presentation, the following was noted:

• Modernising the Trust’s Hospitals and Health Services programme had the opportunity to deliver a new hospital to serve the people of north and mid Hampshire, as well as many other healthcare benefits, as part of the government’s New Hospital Programme.
• Two potential sites were in scope for the new hospital – one near to Junction 7 of the M3 motorway (J7 site) with the second site being the existing Basingstoke Hospital footprint.
• The case for change included the changing population, ensuring clinical sustainability, financial resilience and the current building estate requiring maintenance.
• Members considered the views of patients and what was important to individuals via video link and agreed that the Trust’s public engagement activity to date had been extensive and thorough.
• Since the introduction of Integrated Care Board and integrated working with a wide range of organisations at all levels, collaborative delivery of Hampshire Together had been achieved more naturally. Co-creation, co-location and developing a connected centre to access health needs was a key theme – a ‘Hampshire Healthcare Campus’.
• The Trust were working with others on the New Hospital Programme to ensure analysis and learning took place on a variety of factors and to share best practice.
• The Committee reviewed the Hampshire Together timeline and noted that the programme business case was going to the Treasury in the Autumn with the aim of getting the capital funding agreed. The Trust were part of Cohort 4 of the Government’s New Hospital Programme.
• Members were also presented with recent work to the Trust’s existing sites and buildings including Winchester Hospice, Winchester Pharmacy, the proposed elective hub and Basingstoke cardiac labs.

Members welcomed the positive presentation from the Trust and praised the significant work that had so far been undertaken. The Committee recognised that, until funding had been agreed by Government, planning could only reach a certain stage.

In response to Members’ questions, it was noted that:

·         The location of a new hospital and transport links to access was a crucial consideration. The Trust were working closely with the County Council’s Transport teams regarding connectivity and learning from travel innovations and solutions which already existed. The Trust were also linking with the Space Agency over the use of satellite to inform transport network decisions.

·         Even with an extensive and proactive public engagement programme, it would not be possible to reach every individual depending on how they self-identify (for example, some carers do not term themselves as such) or how they prefer to engage and communicate. The Trust was planning to continue face-to-face sessions and working closely with charities and local organisations to engage with the population as creatively as possible.

·         The Trust noted their focus upon designing a hospital where mental health provision was integrated throughout, not necessarily via a dedicated mental health unit.

·         The Trust were liaising with Frimley and with Reading regarding locations for any new hospital builds as this could influence which site was selected.

·         Public perceptions regarding the length of the programme were noted but that until funding had been secured from Government there were limitations which remained. It was noted that the public consultation was extremely important to ensure that as much public opinion as possible could be incorporated into planning.

·         The Trust had been working with the primary care team regarding the future bed requirement and discussing how best to provide care for individuals where this might not necessarily mean in a hospital bed. The demands on social care were noted and the implication that this had for increased hospital bed occupancy.

RESOLVED:

That the Joint Committee note the update and that the next meeting of the Joint Committee be scheduled as required as the programme develops.