Trust Board approves Reform & Modernisation proposals

The Board of the South Eastern Health and Social Care Trust have approved final reform and modernisation proposals put forward by the Trust.

Following a thorough and extensive consultation process with user groups; the public; local representatives; clinicians and staff, the Trust has made a number of amendments to its original proposals.

Chief Executive of the South Eastern Health and Social Care Trust, John Compton, thanked the public for the high levels of attendance at the public meetings, the active engagement by the public and their representatives during these meetings, as well as the written responses which have helped shape the Trust’s final proposals:

"The aim of this process was to ensure that we had the opportunity to listen to the public and their concerns and to take these into account in developing our final document for presentation to the Trust board today."

The revised proposals for the provision of residential care for older people in the Trust area now recommends a phased approach to the proposed closure of a number of residential homes. Plans to proceed with the closure of Loch Cuan will be progressed by offering residents the opportunity to transfer to Ravara House until a new, purpose built housing with care scheme is developed on the Loch Cuan site. This process will be sensitively managed to minimise disruption and to take account of the needs of the seven residents affected.

Grove House, where there are currently 10 residents, is now proposed for closure in 2010 to allow suitable alternative care arrangements and alternative respite / intermediate care arrangements to be put in place. The Trust has also revised its proposals regarding Ravara House, which has 23 residents, and has decided that this residential home will not be considered for closure as part of this comprehensive spending review period 2008-2011. Ravara House will continue to provide its current services. Senior managers of the Trust are meeting with the residents of the three homes today to brief them on the revised proposals and advise them of the Board’s decision.

With regard to maternity services on the Lagan Valley site the revised proposals now include a recommendation to provide a midwifery-led unit. The Trust recommends the transfer of inpatient obstetric services, with the retention of all ante and post natal care, and in addition, as part of the transition, the Trust will now prepare a business case for a midwifery led unit to be established on the Lagan Valley site. This will be subject to approval by the new commissioning board.

The remaining two proposals which recommended changes to opening hours for the Ards Minor Injuries Unit and the restructure of inpatient mental health services have been agreed as originally proposed in the consultation.

All the proposals agreed by the Trust Board have now been sent to the Minister for approval.

The South Eastern Trust completed a period of public consultation, which began on the 19^th November 2008 and closed on 12^th February 2009. Examples of activities included within the consultation process include:

Public meetings: some 250 people from local communities together with political and community representatives attended a series of public meetings across the Trust area.
Residential home meetings: meetings at the three residential homes were attended by 44 members of staff and 85 residents and relatives.
Staff meetings: the Trust consulted with over 200 staff with regard to a number of areas including the vision and values of the organisation and the reform and modernisation of services.
Letters of advice: 900 organisations and individuals including statutory organisations, voluntary and community groups and GP practices were contacted in writing and advised of the consultation documents and process. Trade Unions participated fully in all aspects of the process.
Presentations to local representatives: Ards Borough Council, North Down Borough Council, Downpatrick District Council and Lisburn City Council attended meetings. Further meetings also took place with representatives from DUP, Alliance, Green Party, UUP and SDLP.
Presentations to the Assembly Health Committee: the Trust presented proposals to the all party Department of Health Social Services and Public Safety Committee.
Review of responses: the Trust received written responses from 24 organisations, 9 political representatives, 7 members of staff and 36 members of the general public. In addition, the Trust received a petition signed by 41 midwives from Lagan Valley Hospital and two standard letters, one relating to Consultant-led In-patient Services at Lagan Valley Hospital which was signed by 37 residents from Blaris Fold and one relating to Ravara House which was signed by 98 members of the general public.