LLICÈNCIES D’ÚS DE L’ESPAI PÚBLIC

Devon County Council Health and Adults’ Services Overview and Scrutiny Committee

Devon County Council’s Health and Wellbeing Scrutiny Committee has been invited to comment on the South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust’s (SWAST) Quality Account 2012-13. All references in this commentary relate to the reporting period 1st April 2011 to 31st March 2012 and refer specifically to the SWAST’s relationship with the Scrutiny Committee.

The Scrutiny Committee believes that the Quality Account 2011-12 is a fair reflection and gives a

comprehensive coverage of the services provided by SWAST, based on the knowledge the Scrutiny Committee has of SWAST.

Since being awarded foundation trust status by Monitor in March 2011, the scrutiny committee is pleased to see that the Trust has plotted a course of continuous improvement, exceeding all of the national targets in 2011/12. The Scrutiny Committee is content with the level of patient involvement detailed in the Quality Account and welcomes the quality priorities for improvements 2012/13.

Overall, the Scrutiny Committee is content with the level of the Trust’s public engagement which

demonstrates that SWAST values stakeholders’ views and is committed to partnership working. For example, SWAST invited comments on the reporting priorities for its 2011-12 Quality Account early on in the process. The Committee also fully supports the Trust’s strategic goals as well as its corporate objectives.

Torbay Council’s Health Scrutiny Board

Statement from Torbay Council’s Health Scrutiny Board on South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust’s Quality Account 2011/2012

South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust’s Quality Accounts for 2011/2012 has been considered by Torbay Council’s Health Scrutiny Board. The Board welcomes the clarity with which the Trust has explained how it has met its priorities for 2011/2012 and what its priorities are for the forthcoming year. The Board is pleased to note the range work which is ongoing to reduce the impact on acute services; not only those offered by the Ambulance Service but by other agencies as well. The Board would encourage both health and non-health partner agencies to continue to work together given the reducing resources available within the public sector.

The Health Scrutiny Board considered the establishment of regional networks of trauma care at its meeting in September 2011 when councillors were able to hear from representatives of the Trust as well of those from NHS Devon and South Devon Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust. Councillors questioned the rationale for the threshold of forty-five minute travel time to a Major Trauma Centre, especially given the rurality of the region. The Board welcomes Trust’s the aim of increasing the availability of major trauma specialist care in the South West by ensuring that patients are transported to the most clinically appropriate centre for their needs. During the course of the year, members of the Health Scrutiny Board raised concerns about the level of ambulance cover within Torbay. A representative of the Trust accepted the Board’s invitation to brief them on the issue and, as a result of a very insightful presentation, the members of the Board were reassured that appropriate levels of ambulance cover are in place in Torbay and South Devon. At the same time, the Board gained an appreciation of the rationale behind the changes to ambulance provision in the area and a greater understanding of the operation of the Trust in South Devon. The Board were assured of the Trust’s continuing commitment to delivering high quality, patient-centred, innovative and timely care in South Devon.

The Board commends South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust for its openness and transparency of its operations and hopes that the Trust will continue to work closely with the Board and Torbay Council as a whole especially on the changing Public Health agenda.

Cornwall Council’s Health and Adults Overview and Scrutiny Committee (HAOSC)

Cornwall Council’s Health and Adults Overview and Scrutiny Committee (HAOSC) agreed to comment on the Quality Account 2011-2012 of South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust. All references in this commentary relate to the period 1 April 2011 to the date of this statement.

The Committee has concern about the lack of detail within the account regarding response times and the outcomes of ambulance activations, particularly with a geographical breakdown.

The Trust is commended on the work it has taken regarding benchmarking. Additionally, the HAOSC wishes to recognise the significant impact that ambulance activations in respects of people falling has on the workload of the Trust.

The Committee wishes to thank the staff of the trust in relation to the general high standard of care provided to patients when attending to them.

Isles of Scilly Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee

The Council of the Isles of Scilly Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee wishes to endorse the Quality Accounts for 2011/12.

The islands value the services provided by the local team and appreciates its efforts in supporting the transfer of patients between, to and from the islands. We welcome an opportunity to develop further our working relationship.