Introduction
I have been keeping a close eye on developments relating to Moorgreen Hospital over the last 10 years. It has been very complicated due to the numerous bodies who have responsibility for the site. Since the General Election in 2010, the decision making body has been the West Hampshire Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG).The future of the hospital does of course closely depend on the overall NHS budget. You might think that having sold off some of the site for housing, there should be some money in reserves for Moorgreen.
The Government plan to devolve various parts of its NHS sites down to local communities, which will give those communities a greater say in public services, but will also reduce Government’s central costs. It has commissioned three CCGs in Hampshire to run separate pilots in developing a new model for care. The West Hampshire CCG’s pilot is being run out of Lymington Hospital. Here, seven GP surgeries have formed a partnership to provide seven day a week 8.00am to 8.00pm medical cover. The findings from this pilot will find their way into the future of Moorgreen Hospital. Already the West Hampshire CCG have promised that no more of this hospital’s land will be sold for housing. Many residents were dismayed when the Bitterne Walk-
I was invited to a key stakeholders meeting in November 2015, where much of this information was supplied. Of the factors taking a high profile in their study is the public transport link to Southampton General Hospital, which is the No.8 to the City Centre and then the No.12 to Southampton General. Changing buses and the lengthy wait in between is not all satisfactory. The next meeting is due very soon and will involve the participation of Clinicians who will have a direct influence on the future plans of the hospital.
In the meantime, the West End GP Surgery forming part of the site has been given a parcel of land to allow expansion and submitted a planning application for permission to expand. The need to expand is driven by the housing development expected within the next 10 years.
Feedback Analysis
The results of the West Hampshire Clinical Group’s listening exercise in July 2015 were drawn from the following sources;-
- 236 responses to the patient questionnaire
- Two written letters received
- Over 150 attendees through the drop in sessions
- General Practitioners
- Results from Eastleigh Southern Parish Older Peoples Forum survey results 2015 where they received 1,135 requests from 112 respondents and further survey carried out July 2105 with 892 responses. Appendix 1 : Eastleigh Southern Parishes Health Action group survey results
Most common points made by the public were;-
- Public and health communities would like to see Moorgreen Hospital used to its full potential
- Voluntary sector and community groups keen to be involved – offering integrated care
- Clear themes emerging ideas for developing/extending health services
- Many GP’s and patients unaware of current services being provided at Moorgreen
- Some misconceptions about the estate and site – clear message that the health owned building will remain; many believed that this had already been sold for new houses to be built. Mixed, inaccurate messages within the media
- Care close to home is important to patients in choosing a hospital.
- Transport concerns noted in relation to accessing health care
Key Themes
These can be broadly divided into five areas:
- Urgent Care – for example : Minor Injuries/Walk In Centre Access to GP
- Further provision of community outpatient clinics –
for example : physiotherapy, audiology, COPD services - Mental Health Services – for example: dementia care, Alzheimer’s support
- Transport
- Enhancing Patient Experiences – Volunteers hub, integration, signposting, advocacy, careers centre
What Next?
The next stage will be to recommend which aspects of service redesign or provision would be appropriate for further analysis taking into account the following;-
Listening Exercise
- Review data from Listening Exercise in conjunction with the Public Health information
- Identify areas of concern, redesign and opportunity
- Articulate the reasoning behind ideas raised from the listening that are and not clinically appropriate.
Clinical Governance
- All services need to satisfy clinical governance requirements in relation to quality, safety etc.
System Compliance
- All services need to fit well within the wider provider system to consider how the service compliments and works with other providers, taking into account pressure points and the desire to have seamless pathways
Affordability
- Services have to be affordable. If a new model is proposed then this must be cost neutral to the health economy
Future Proof
- All services need to be “future proof” – taking into account the changes in demographics, innovation, technology, medicine and best practice.
A key stakeholders meeting will be convened in early January at which clinicians will be present where the West Hampshire CCG’s decision may be given.