Issue - meetings

At its meeting on 21^st June 2022, the Health and Adult Care Scrutiny Committee considered the Report relating to the South Western Ambulance Service Trust: Spotlight Review, with reference to delays in transfers, response times, impact on patients and personnel, role of NHS 111; and work with key partners within the Devon Integrated Care System. The Committee RESOLVED (Minute *53 referred)

(a)  that the Spotlight Review be commended (subject to the change in Recommendation 1 below) and that the Cabinet and the NHS in Devon endorse the report and recommendations with a response on progress back to Committee in January 2023; and

(b)  that Recommendation 1 be amended to the following:

That the Committee calls for a system wide commitment to substantially improve average ambulance response times urgently.

Recommendation

(a) that the Adult Care and Health Scrutiny Committee be thanked for its Spotlight Review into Ambulance Waiting Times and associated Report;

(b) that the Cabinet Member for Adult Care and Health and the Director of Integrated Adult Social Care (Interim) be asked to take forward the report and co-ordinate progress towards the objectives and recommendations identified therein, engaging the NHS and other partners and stakeholders as necessary; and

(c) that a progress report will be brought back to the Scrutiny Committee in six months’ time.

RESOLVED

(a) that the Adult Care and Health Scrutiny Committee be thanked for its

Spotlight Review into Ambulance Waiting Times and associated Report;

(b) that the Cabinet Member for Adult Care and Health and the Director of

Integrated Adult Social Care (Interim) take forward the Report and co-ordinate

progress towards the objectives and recommendations identified therein,

engaging the NHS and other partners and stakeholders as necessary; and

(c) that a progress report be taken to the Adult Care and Health Scrutiny

Committee in six months’ time.

(Councillors Adams, Biederman, Brazil and Randall Johnson attended in accordance with Standing Order 25(2) and spoke to this item).

The Cabinet noted that at its meeting on 21^st June 2022, the Health and Adult Care Scrutiny Committee had considered the Report relating to the South Western Ambulance Service Trust: Spotlight Review, with reference to delays in transfers, response times, impact on patients and personnel, role of NHS 111; and work with key partners within the Devon Integrated Care System. The Committee had RESOLVED (Minute *53 referred)

(a)  that the Spotlight Review be commended (subject to the change in Recommendation 1 below) and that the Cabinet and the NHS in Devon endorse the report and recommendations with a response on progress back to Committee in January 2023; and

(b)  that Recommendation 1 be amended to the following:

That the Committee calls for a system wide commitment to substantially improve average ambulance response times urgently.

It was MOVED by Councillor McInnes, SECONDED by Councillor Hart, and

RESOLVED

(a) that the Adult Care and Health Scrutiny Committee be thanked for its Spotlight Review into Ambulance Waiting Times and associated Report;

(b) that the Cabinet Member for Adult Care and Health and the Director of Integrated Adult Social Care (Interim) take forward the Report and co-ordinate progress towards the objectives and recommendations identified therein, engaging the NHS and other partners and stakeholders as necessary; and

(c) that a progress report be taken to the Adult Care and Health Scrutiny Committee in six months’ time.

Report of the Spotlight Review, attached

The Committee considered the Spotlight Review Report on the Service and with reference to delays in transfers, response times, impact on patients and personnel, role of NHS 111; and work with key partners within the Devon Integrated Care System. The terms of reference for the review had been:

·         To evaluate the current situation in Devon in terms of SWAST performance and impact on patient outcomes.

·         To consider the factors impacting on ambulance wait times.

·         To review measures to alleviate delays in ambulance wait times.

·         To report back to the Health and Adult Care Scrutiny Committee with recommendations from the findings of the spotlight review.

It was MOVED by Councillor S Randall Johnson and SECONDED by Councillor J Yabsley 

(a) that the Spotlight Review be commended (subject to the change in Recommendation 1 below) and that the Cabinet and the NHS in Devon endorse the report and recommendations with a response on progress back to Committee in January 2023;

(b) that Recommendation 1 be amended to the following:

That the Committee calls for a system wide commitment to substantially improve average ambulance response times urgently.

Councillor J Bailey then MOVED an Amendment, SECONDED by Councillor M Wrigley that urgent consideration be given to Devon Community Hospital beds which have been closed as the closures are a contributing factor in the delays in admissions to acute settings.   

The Amendment was put to the vote and declared LOST.

The Motion (as detailed above MOVED by Councillor Randall Johnson, SECONDED by Councillor Yabsley) was then put to the vote and declared CARRIED.