Health Scrutiny Panel – 20 February 2018
PRESENT:- Councillor Mumby-Croft in the Chair.
Councillors Armiger, Ogg, O’Sullivan and Wilson.
The panel met at the Civic Centre, Ashby Road, Scunthorpe.
448 DECLARATIONS OF DISCLOSABLE PECUNIARY INTERESTS AND PERSONAL OR PERSONAL AND PREJUDICIAL INTERESTS AND DECLARATIONS OF WHIPPING ARRANGEMENTS (IF ANY) – Cllr O’Sullivan declared a personal interest as a Lead Governor for RDaSH.
No whip was declared.
449 PUBLIC REQUESTS TO SPEAK– There were no requests received.
450 OUTPATIENT CLINICAL LETTERS – DICTATEIT. The Chairman welcomed Dr Peter Reading, Dr Kate Wood and Jackie France, Northern Lincolnshire and Goole NHS Foundation Trust (NLaG), to the meeting. The Chairman informed the panel that the representatives from NLaG had been invited to the meeting to discuss concerns and recent correspondence on a delay and resultant backlog of clinical letters. Jackie gave a presentation on the issue, explaining the background and contributing factors, actions to date, preventative measures and the risk of clinical harm, and the longer term plan.
The Chairman and other panel members asked a range of questions, seeking assurances that the proposed actions would resolve the issue, minimising the risk to patients. Members explored issues such as remedial actions, the testing and piloting arrangements, training for staff, patient information, and how the issue was identified.
Resolved – (a) That Dr Peter Reading, Dr Kate Wood, and Jackie France be thanked for their attendance and for providing answers to members’ questions, (b) that a further meeting be arranged in due course to discuss ongoing activity to reduce the potential for clinical harm, and (c) that the scrutiny panel be kept informed of progress on resolving the issue.
451 ADDED ITEM – There was no added item for consideration at the meeting.