To receive a presentation from the Chief Commercial Officer of Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust.

The Committee received a presentation from Jonathan Dunk (Chief Commercial Officer) and Andrew Pike (Chief Operating Officer) of the Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust, with regard to the proposed establishment of a single integrated pathology service model across the Trust’s hospitals, and the increase in diagnostic capacity in Mid and South Essex through the establishment of new Community Diagnostic Centres.

Members were advised that the Trust currently had differing models of pathology service provision across its hospitals and that the introduction of a single service would offer better value for money and a more joined-up service to benefit patient experience. The Committee was assured that the establishment of a single integrated pathology service would not change facilities where patients were currently already able to access tests and that there would continue to be a variety of pathology services available in community and acute hospitals. The Committee was informed that the Trust was preparing a full business case for the establishment of a single integrated pathology service for consideration by the Trust Board during Spring 2023 which, if approved, would enable a competitive market engagement process to be commenced in June 2023 with the aim of moving to a new integrated service by the end of 2024.

The Chief Commercial Officer and Chief Operating Officer of  the Trust reported that work had also been undertaken to increase diagnostic capacity in Mid and South Essex, through the establishment of new Community Diagnostic Centres (CDCs) to provide diagnosis and treatment services that were more accessible and convenient for patients.

The Committee was informed that  business cases were being developed for three CDCs in Mid and South Essex and that a funding decision was currently awaited from NHS England in respect of the largest planned CDC at Pitsea, which would have the capacity to support residents across South Essex. The Chief Commercial Officer and Chief Operating Officer indicated that the Trust recognised the concerns of the Committee that the proposed CDC at Pitsea would not necessarily mean that additional diagnostic services were more accessible and convenient for all residents of Southend-on-Sea and that, subject to the proposed CDC receiving approval from NHS England, consideration would also be given by the Trust to the supplement of CDC diagnostic capacity at existing health care facilities in areas such as Shoeburyness.

At the request of the Committee, Mr Dunk undertook to provide further detail around the likely future provision of bone density scan (DEXA scan) services and whether such services would be likely to be only available to residents of Southend from the proposed CDC at Pitsea. Mr Dunk also offered to provide the Committee with the results of the analysis undertaken by the Trust around issues such as accessibility, travel times, deprivation and areas of need, that had been considered as part of the planning for the proposed establishment of a CDC at Pitsea.

On behalf of the Committee, the Chair thanked Mr Dunk and Mr Pike for their informative and comprehensive presentation.

Resolved:

1.          That the proposals of the Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust for the establishment of an integrated pathology service model across each of the Trust’s hospitals and the increase in diagnostic capacity in Mid and South Essex through the provision of new Community Diagnostic Centres, be noted.

2.          That the Trust be requested to make a further report on the establishment of the proposed integrated pathology service to a future meeting of the Committee, once the competitive market engagement process for the integrated service model has been completed.

3.          That the Trust be requested to make a further report on the proposed establishment of Community Diagnostic Centres (CDC) to a future meeting of the Committee, once a funding decision in respect of the planned CDC to be developed at Pitsea has been made by NHS England

Note: This is a Scrutiny function