Professor Andrew Rhodes, Chair of the Children’s, women’s diagnostics therapies and critical care division, gave an overview of the report stating that they suspended the Urogynaceology services in June last year as there were concerns about the safe running of the service.  A consultation was conducted with patients and staff and this is still on-going and they are still actively listening to all views.  A proposed decision will be taken to the Trust Board in March.

Professor Rhodes apologised on behalf of the Trust for the consultation. They recognise mistakes have been made and many lessons have been learnt from the process which will inform future consultations.

The purpose of the current consultation is to determine if the service should be re-configured and re-opened or closed. They need to address if there is safe provision for the nine hundred patients, it was agreed that they should be referred to Croydon because they have the required expertise, people had the option to go to other areas if they wanted to.

The Chair allowed the following speakers to address the panel;

Barbara Bohanna  - lead of the women’s campaign group which includes 22 Merton patients

In June people were informed that the service would be discontinued. The consultation was carried out in a shambolic way as the decision to end it was already taken before the consultation began. People had five days to respond to the consultation. People felt demeaned especially as phone calls were not answered or responded to. Patients were discharged back to their GP and they were deprived of the service. One patient who was dealing with incontinence had to take her three children on the bus to access the service at Croydon hospital.

Stephanie McPherson – Sulaman

The campaign has received 26,000 signatures to keep the service open, the service is a sham and people were given five days to respond to the consultation. It has also come to light that this service is stretched at Croydon so people are being referred to Purley hospital which is an even further travelling distance for most people. The Clinic at Croydon was set up in an emergency and is next to a Sexually Transmitted Infection clinic, which is inappropriate. Councillors are called upon to ask St George’s to keep clinic open.

A panel member asked if Croydon has the capacity for patients and specialist staff the run the Urogynaecology Clinic. Professor Rhodes said Croydon is well placed to run the service and is the only Trust in the sub region with a quality stamp accreditation.

A panel member asked why the consultant post was not re-advertised if the Trust was unable to appoint the first time. The consultation has clearly been a disgrace, and would like clarification about who has been involved in the decision making process.

Professor Rhodes said there has been a problem with the service and a difficulty in recruiting quality staff. The Trust was advised by an external colleague that the service was not safe. Attempts have been made to recruit but this will remain difficult until the long term future of the service has been determined.

A panel member asked if the Trust were satisfied that the consultation was run to an acceptable standard and the legal requirements were met. Given that a standard consultation is 28 days and the panel were informed that people had five days to respond. Professor Rhodes said the lawyers were happy with the consultation and had advised that the Trust were not required to carry out a public consultation.

A Panel member asked if the concerns about the safety of the clinic were a sudden incident. Professor  Rhodes  said the concerns were raised as result of a number of sickness and behavioural issues. There was an attempt to create a team structure and the clinical lead from Croydon joined the team on a temporary basis, when they left  the service became unviable.  The Trust then began discussions with Croydon to create care for patients in another environment.

A panel member asked if the changes to the clinic are financially driven. Professor Rhodes  said the Trust is facing financial challenges but the decision on this clinic is based upon safety concerns and it has cost the Trust a consideration sum to move the service.

A panel member asked what factors would influence the Trust’s decision to keep the service open. Professor Rhodes   said factors will include if it is viable, how quickly it can get up and running, how well does it fit within the structure of the hospital as well as cost effectiveness.

A panel member queried the proportion of patients who are being referred to Purley hospital from Croydon and the number of people who are being referred to a GP.  Professor Rhodes said was unaware of the referrals to Purley and will find out and report back to the panel. Some transferred to St Helier, GP’s refer people closer to home. One of the concerns for the service was that too many people were being followed up within the service rather than through their GP.

The chair queried the proximity to the STD clinic. The professor said it was the first he had heard of it and will look into it.

The Chair said the panel will accept the Trust’s apology for failure to consult however the confidence in the organisation has been undermined. 

The Chair set out a resolution which was unanimously supported by the Panel;

RESOLVED

The Panel are dissatisfied with the consultation into the closure of the Urogynaecological clinic. Specifically  with the length of time that people had to respond which gave the impression that a decision had been made and the Trust were simply going through the motions.

The Healthier Communities and Older People Overview and Scrutiny Panel ask St Georges to re-open the Urogynaecology clinic for local people as a priority.