The Chair stated that an activity from the Terms of Reference was to undertake a site visit to Orsett Hospital which had been undertaken on the 10 February 2020. Members thanked Tom Abell and his team for a very informative site visit which enabled Members to see the current layout, services available and how those services worked now.

Councillor Muldowney questioned whether a decision had yet been made as to which IMC the eye department would be relocated to. Tom Abell stated there was two elements, the first being the eye clinic where outpatient appointments were broadly available would remain local. Work was being undertaken with the CCG on patients being referred to eye clinics and community opticians. The second element, eye theatre, would have a dedicated space which would be on the Grays site.

The Chair stated there was concern from residents on how Orsett Hospital would close, how it would look as services were decanted and how the hospital would remain to work for those residents that still visited up to the time the hospital closed. Margaret Hathaway stated this was a huge concern but patients would not notice any deduction in services until the Grays IMC had been built. There may be areas that may need to be closed off but those services would be moved into one area. Margaret Hathaway stated that once they were in that phase it would become more clear as to where and when those services would be moved.

The Chair questioned as part of the decommissioning plan and with the ongoing complex planning when Orsett Hospital would officially close. Tom Abell stated there was a business case for each IMC with timeframes on when the transitions would be delivered. With the current plan, which would be subject to many factors, would be for Orsett Hospital to be disposed of in 2025 with a contingency plan in place were the IMCs to be completed sooner than planned. Mandy Ansell stated at the IMC meeting held last week it had agreed some investment to bring in a significant senior Project Manager, to lead on this project and present what the project would like look time wise.

Councillor Ralph questioned the plans for expanding the car park at Basildon Hospital. Tom Abell stated that the site currently housing the laundry had been vacated with the aim to clear the site so this could service further car parking. Conversations were being undertaken with Basildon Council on a further piece of land to be made available for staff parking. Longer term regeneration plans of Basildon Council would be to locate an IMC in Basildon which would alleviate some parking spaces.

Councillor Redsell questioned whether having an IMC in Basildon would alleviate the pressures that are currently being put upon Basildon Hospital.  Tom Abell stated that work was currently being looked at the outpatient services which Thurrock residents used at Orsett Hospital and those outpatient services used at Basildon Hospital with a view to identifying those services which could be moved out to the IMC. This would be helpful and improve the services for Thurrock residents as part of that plan.

Councillor Redsell stated that the business case should include that smaller procedures could be undertaken more locally to save residents having to go into hospital. Mandy Ansell stated from the view of the IMCs it was the intention to seek to do these more locally either through general practitioners or through NELFT services.

The Chair stated that although Orsett Hospital was not serving 100% of Thurrock residents there was always some confusion as to what it meant when there was mention of services being moved and questioned when the activity analyse would be carried out. Also how would Members be able to scrutinise what had become before in Orsett Hospital against what comes after to ensure that Thurrock residents get better services and that services had not been moved out of the borough.  Margaret Hathaway stated that once the activity analysis had been undertaken at Orsett it would present an opportunity to look at services and activity. That some services had morphed over a number years in terms of being delivered at Orsett Hospital where others had been at Orsett Hospital because there was space for them. When services are to be split amongst multiple sites assurance needed to be given that those people who use those services are the local people that use that centre. A clear indication can be provided as to what services Thurrock residents are currently using in Orsett, what services residents are using at Basildon Hospital that could come locally and then the destination of where these activities would go. That activity was available now and a review could then be completed once the IMCs were running and activity analyse could be completed again to demonstrate that the transferred activity was now carrying on in the IMCs.

The Chair stated the information was helpful and would be useful to have that activity analysis now and useful for Councillors to understand which services would be going where.

Councillor Ralph questioned whether the plans had been future proofed for population growth. Margaret Hathaway stated that the formula had been based on population with signification growth allocated into this requirement and how facilities could be used differently. Roger Harris stated that this was an opportunity to have centres of specialism offering a more holistic approach with an integrated way of offering services.

Councillor Muldowney questioned whether once the primary care services were in place in the IMCs should this provision be improved. Mandy Ansell stated that better facilities would attract more general practitioners, to increase the ability to have bigger patient lists, shorter waiting times and open hours being increased.

The Chair questioned the future of the Orsett Hospital site and whether there would be a provision for a medical centre to be built on there. Tom Abell stated that the site would be sold. From the engagement events it was clear that residents visited Orsett Hospital for blood tests and this formed part of the aims to provide this facility locally. Planning approval for an extension had been approved for the general practitioners practice in Orsett with the facility for blood tests to be undertaken there.

The Chair questioned whether the building belonged to the NHS and how the proceedings from the sale be used. Tom Abell stated the monies would remain within the Basildon Trust and would be used to reinvest into the IMCs. The Chair stated that this was a considerable amount of money which would impact positively on other areas and Councillors would fight hard to keep.

Councillor Redsell questioned why residents had to go to Basildon, Southend or Thurrock to get blood tests. Tom Abell stated this facility was being looked at to expand the services more locally with the on-line booking facility working well. Tom Abell agreed to provide a list of where blood tests could be undertaken within the borough.