Archived decisions

REPORT OF THE

HEALTH REVIEW COMMITTEE

PART II

HEALTH SERVICES IN FAREHAM AND GOSPORT

1. Following a request from Fareham and Gosport Primary Care Trust (the PCT) the Health Review Committee gave consideration to the options for configuring for Health Services in Fareham and Gosport prior to the Trust making a formal decision on the proposals.

2. In considering the proposals the Committee sat as a select committee at a special meeting in 26 November 2004 and, in addition to receiving a presentation from the PCT on the various options for health services in the area, it received presentations/representations from Portsmouth Hospitals NHS Trust; Hampshire and Isle of Wight Strategic Health Authority; The Ministry of Defence; Mark Hoban MP; Hampshire Social Services; Fareham Community Action; Fareham Borough Council; Gosport Voluntary Action; Haslar Task Force; Gosport Borough Council and Peter Viggers MP.

3. At the subsequent meeting of the Committee on 30 November 2004 members gave full consideration to the proposals and the presentations and representations received. The following recommendations were made to the PCT:-

      · The additional health needs information referred to by the PCT be made available to the Committee which should include the way in which primary care and community services across Fareham and Gosport will be developed to complement the service provided at Queen Alexandra Hospital and take account of the need to keep as many services as local as possible. In particular people living in Gosport need to have a better understanding of how the commitment made to them in 2000 would be delivered, with as many services as possible being provided in the community.

      · The PCT re-examine the population projections provided to take account of planning assumptions and the policy of the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister with regard to new housing.

      · Additional information, based on postcodes, about the way in which people living in Fareham and Gosport used the Royal Haslar Hospital Accident and Treatment Centre and NHS Trust Accident and Emergency Departments be provided to the Committee.

      · Additional information on the health needs of local people, differentiating between the communities of Fareham and Gosport and further information about the way in which the health needs of those identified as being vulnerable or disadvantaged would be met be provide to the Committee.

      · Agreement be reached between the PCT and Gosport Borough Council on an appropriate methodology for assessing the impact of changes proposed on traffic transport consideration.

      · The PCT Board provides the Committee with a fuller account of the financial implications of the options presented, including a more detailed breakdown of the costs associated with redeveloping the Royal Haslar Hospital and further information on the income to be generated from the sale of assets.

      · The PCT Board provides the Committee with unequivocal assurance that the financial risks identified were being managed to ensure that the acute and community health services planned were affordable and sustainable.

      · The feasibility of reducing or waiving the transfer of assets of the Royal Haslar Hospital be explored as a matter of urgency.

      · Assurances be sought from the Ministry of Defence that, should a decision be made to proceed with the closure of the Royal Haslar Hospital it was able to demonstrate that the only viable option that represented value for taxpayers money was for assets to be transferred on payment of the valuation.

In addition the Committee requested that the following letters be written on its behalf:-

    · To the Secretaries of State of Health and Defence, copied to the Defence Select Committee, requesting additional information with regard to the Defence Medical Services Review and the impact these decisions would have and the impact they would have on local NHS provision, taking account of commitments made in 2001. Also seeking assurances that the Defence Medical Review had been evaluated to ensure that it was able to meet the existing and new challenges facing the armed forces in Hampshire.

    · To the Secretary of State for Defence stating the Committee's view that it would not be in the interests of the Health Service in the area for the Royal Haslar Hospital to close before the redevelopment of Queen Alexandra Hospital was complete. Should this happen the Committee would wish to consider further action in the interests of the health service in the area.

4. On 15 December 2004 the Trust Board met to give consideration to the various proposals and the recommendations made by the Committee and resolved to adopt option 2 of the proposals which in essence is:-

    · The re-provision of all non-inpatients currently provided of the Royal Haslar Hospital to the Gosport War Memorial Hospital and the provision of a new community hospital for Fareham.

    · The buildings at St Christopher's Hospital, Blackbrook Maternity Home and Hill Park Clinic site would be surplus to requirements and close.

    · Expand Gosport War Memorial Hospital to include the Accident Treatment Centre, minor surgery and diagnostics including Endoscopy and scanning.

5. Following the decision of the Trust Board the Trust has commented on the recommendations made by the Committee and representations on the decision have been received.

6. As a result of the representations made the Committee gave further consideration to the proposals and resolved that it was in the interests of the health service in the area that the matter be referred to the Secretary of State for Health with a request that it be referred to the Independent Reconfiguration Panel to formally assess the proposals for future health services in Fareham and Gosport.

7. The consideration of proposals for health services in Fareham and Gosport supports Aims 1, 4 and 5 of the Corporate Strategy.

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