Deputy Mayor Charmaine Morgan says…
On Thursday, in my role as South Kesteven District Council representative I attended the LCC Health Scrutiny committee.
This important cross party committee oversees decisions and performance of NHS suppliers in our county.
At the last committee an update on East Midlands Ambulance Service (EMAS) was provided.
EMAS have been tackling performance issues working in partnership with other local NHS bodies, in particular focussing on reducing transport to A&E and recruiting more staff
I noted no performance figures for Category 1 most at risk patients, were provided in their report. I have asked for these to be included in future.
On seeing the 999 report for Category 2 patients, only included Lincoln and Boston handover figures,
I called for a report on the use of Grantham Urgent Treatment Centre (following its downgrade from an A&E unit on 31 October 2023) by 999 ambulances where appropriate. This is hugely important given the commitments made by our NHS decision makers to retain patient resuscitation and stabilisation at Grantham’s ‘enhanced’ UTC. We do not want local patients, who could be stabilised, by-passing potentially life saving care in 999 ambulances.
We were advised that changes are still being embedded by EMAS but a future report would include the Grantham UTC.
Given the EMAS focus on avoiding unnecessary journeys to A&E units I also asked how EMAS ensures patients are correctly triaged given errors would impact on patient, potentially with serious consequences.
We were advised that EMAS ambulance crews are using triage backed up by radio consultant support where necessary. They also have access to online patient and medical information following a rollout of new IT equipment which is a great improvement.
We also received an update on Non emergency patient transport. EMAS was recently commissioned to provide this service. Patient transport is only available to those who fall into strict criteria. Their initial report indicated the top priority was to have zero patients returning to hospital beds as a result of failed transport. A complex task with dependencies on other agencies.
The other targets were around delivering patients to/from appointments in a timely manner.
I asked for more details regarding the quantity of patients supported and asked if the service now includes patient transport post A&E visits, where patients can be dismissed in the early hours. The lack of NHS transport is resulting in patients having to pay expensive taxi fares, especially those living furthest from the A&Es. Low income households are particularly affected.
The issue was acknowledged but EMAS have not been commissioned to support A&E patients at night. Given this issue has been raised by hospital campaigners, patients and councillors for a decade or more this was hugely concerning. Clearly those responsible for commissioning transport have not stuck to past commitments made.
The committee shared my concern. As a result patient transport post A&E visits will be added to our work plan for future progress.
We thanked EMAS for their work, managing in difficult circumstances, largely not of their making and acknowledged the important role volunteers play in non-emergency patient transport provision.
Progress made on the Grimsby/ Scunthorpe Acute Service Review (ASR) was also discussed. The outcome is due March 23 but there was concern over the quality of, and, area covered by the ASR Public Consultation. We also noted that, thanks to a change in law which was supported by our local MP Gareth Davies, and against my request, we will no longer refer any concerns to the Health Secretary. Grimsby and Scunthorpe provide vital back up support for Lincolnshire’s A&E units. Whilst Grimsby patients may benefit from the proposed changes the reduction in services at Scunthorpe will have a detrimental impact on all Lincolnshire patients, especially those on the east coast.
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