Agenda item

21.1.    The Committee considered a report providing an overview of the proposals for reconfiguring ophthalmology services currently provided by ESHT.

21.2.    The Committee asked what the Trust was doing to attract more specialist nurses and consultants given the growing demand for ophthalmology.

21.3.    Mr Kash Qureshi, Clinical Lead for Ophthalmology at ESHT, said the Trust has been quite successful recruiting consultants because it offers an attractive job specification that allows consultants to focus on operating and seeing patients. The change in model will also provide optometrists, orthoptics and nursing staff with expanded roles that enable them to deliver clinical treatments and eye clinics themselves, which does not usually happen at other trusts and will make the roles more attractive. Mr Qureshi added that all three roles between them already provide the majority of injections for patients with macular degeneration, which patients prefer as it provides continuity of care. The ophthalmology service is also providing opportunities for community optometrists to learn new skills in the hospitals, such as training them to do laser interventions. Very few trusts offer this service and it benefits patients by increasing the skill set of community optometrists. 

21.4.    The Committee asked whether the new one stop clinics established at Bexhill Hospital and Eastbourne District General Hospital (EDGH) will be open seven days per week.

21.5.    Mr Kash Quershi said there is seven-day access for emergency and urgent eye care problems and waiting list activity is currently being carried out seven days per week due to the backlog, however, there are no plans to carry out routine care via a seven day service. The Trust is, however, planning to provide three sessions per day with the addition of an evening slot from 5-8pm, which will provide more capacity for adult clinics.

21.6.    The Committee asked whether the proposals will involve purchasing new equipment and whether this will be funded by additional capital investment.

21.7.    Mr Kash Quershi said rationalising services from three sites to two will mean the service will need less equipment and can use what it has more efficiently.  Joe Chadwick-Bell added that the capital funding is nationally allocated to Integrated Care Systems (ICS), which then allocate it to individual providers based on need. Each provider trust determines its capital needs through an annual process of prioritising investment for digital, medical equipment, and building works. Any replacement of ophthalmology equipment will be considered within this process. The Chief Executive added that charitable organisations also often provide equipment to the Trust, which the Trust is very grateful for.

21.8.    The Committee asked whether Bexhill Hospital will be able to accommodate the additional parking demands of staff from Conquest Hospital.

21.9.    Michael Farrer, Strategic Transformation Manager at ESHT, said a lot of the patients who attend Bexhill are driven there by family or friends, as many will not be able to travel home afterwards. Parking is an issue that will be picked up during the consultation process and possible solutions will be developed with stakeholders as the consultation progresses.

21.10.  The Committee asked whether the whole county will be consulted on both sets of proposals.

21.11.  Jessica Britton confirmed that both consultations will be county wide. The Equality and Health Inequalities Impact Assessment (EHIA) will be used to identify who will be most impacted and the CCG will look to employ tried and tested mechanisms to reach out to these people. Tom Gurney added that the CCG has built up networks of contacts following recent public consultations, although the CCG will continue to work with voluntary and community groups to identify additional marginalised people.

21.12.  The Committee RESOLVED to:

1)         agree that the proposals are a substantial variation to services;

2)         agree to undertake a detailed review of the proposals in order to prepare a report and recommendations; and

3)         agree to establish a Review Board to conduct the review comprising Cllrs Belsey, Robinson, Azad, and Brett, and one additional member of the Committee to be confirmed.