Agenda item

9.1

A presentation, which had been published as a supplement on the Council website, was introduced by Kate Gleave (Deputy Director Children and Young People and Urgent Care, South Yorkshire Integrated Care Board).

The presentation gave information about how activity and waiting times had changed since before COVID, how the service was performing against the four-hour A&E target and what the main challenges were to performance.

9.2

A discussion took place regarding patient expectations of the service, which Kate Gleave had advised had increased since the pandemic. Some Members felt that in fact patients had very low expectations e.g. that it was pointless trying to make a GP appointment as it was impossible.  It was suggested that this idea should be reframed and that maybe the issue rather than expectations was that patients tended to be in the wrong place for whatever they needed at the time.  It was also felt that services in the City needed to improve the communication between them.

9.3

Members asked for the current position regarding waiting lists for testing for general conditions.  Michael Harper advised that waiting lists had grown due to the pandemic but this was being tracked as part of the recovery plan.  There had also been a move to Patient Integrated Follow Up Care, rather than giving people an arbitrary return appointment for a check-up.

9.4

Members asked whether patients had been moving across to private care.  Michael Harper stated that in Adult Acute Care it was difficult to track.  The number of patients accessing care had remained the same and referral numbers were back to pre-Covid levels. Walk in Centre demand was down.

A streaming nurse system had been implemented in the reception of Northern General A&E to see which patients could be diverted to another service at the hospital.

9.5

Members asked whether the health inequalities between the East and West of the City had worsened since the pandemic.  Michael Harper advised that the demographics of waiting lists had not changed.

9.6

It was agreed by Members of the Health Scrutiny Sub Committee to extend the meeting by 15 minutes.

9.7

The Chair advised that the reason for bringing this item to the Committee was because there had been a plan in 2017, which had not been carried out, to relocate some services to the Northern General Hospital, however there had been strong public feeling in support of keeping them in the city centre.  She asked whether there were any plans contrary to this at present.

Ian Atkinson stated that he could not definitely say “no”. Future pathways for the next 5-10 years of same day urgent care, were beginning to be considered and would be discussed with Members at the appropriate time.  It could not be guaranteed at this stage that everything would stay the same.  The Chair requested that engagement with Members take place as early as possible in the process and in a way that was collaborative.

9.8

RESOLVED: That the Sub Committee notes the update.