The Positron Emission Tomography – Computer Tomography (PET-CT) item had previously been presented to this committee as an item of urgent business on 13 October 2015 and referenced in the Specialised Commissioning East of England Overview Report presented to Members on the 9 June 2016.

Ruth Ashmore presented the report to Members with a background overview of the reports already presented, the reactions received and a summary of issue which included:

•           PET(CT) was a diagnosed scan used mainly to support the diagnosis and staging of cancer.

•           Approximately 0.17 per cent of the population in South Essex use this service.

•           Provided by an independent provider 2 to 3 days per week and had asked NHS England for permission to move the service to Southend from Basildon.

•           An increase in demand to meet service and move it to a purpose built fixed facility.

•           There would be no financial difference to NHS England of either Basildon or Southend option.

Jessamy Kinghorn updated members on the patient, public and clinical engagement work that had been carried out and provided the results of the bus travelling times analysis which had been undertaken.

Ruth Ashmore provided members with information on the mitigating actions that would have an impact if the service were to be moved.

NHS concluded that following a lengthy process of additional analysis and engagement, Southend remained the preferred option for the long term PET(CT) service for South Essex.

Councillor Snell thanked NHS England for a more comprehensive report but asked who had commissioned this service. Ruth Ashmore stated that the service had never been commissioned by NHS England and had an agreement with Southend that the scanner may be required in the near future and that costs were being incurred whilst the decision was being made.

Councillor Fish stated that the focus should be on the proposal and not the service.

Councillor Collins asked for clarity on the different provider times as quoted in the summary of issue as 2 to 3 days whilst Claire Panniker quoted 7 days a week in the Analysis of PET CT Engagement Activity report. Ruth Ashmore stated that there would be an increase over the next 6 months in the downtime of patients as the mobile site was less reliable, more preparation time was required and clinicians were constantly trying to catch up with cancelled appointments. Catherine O’Donnell stated that the concrete pad that the scanner sat on was available 7 days a week

Councillor Watkins asked NHS England if the consultation was fair as the report appeared very Southend heavy and suggested that further consultation should have been undertaken within Thurrock and also in Basildon and Brentwood.

Jessamy Kinghorn stated that additional events had been undertaken with patient focus groups rather than individuals but recognised that more work could be done to re-engage with those harder to reach patients.

Councillor Watkins asked that these consultations take place now. Catherine O’Donnell stated that far more consultations had taken place than would normally have been done and that the decision was not clear cut but based on own intelligence and views for the future.

Councillor Snell commented that Basildon clinicians would not agree that the service should be relocated and that statistics showed that far more patients came from South Essex which would entail further travel times if the service were to be relocated.

Councillor Snell asked NHS England if it is possible to have a PET(CT) scan in the morning and then receive treatment on the same day. Ruth Ashmore commented that this could be a real possibility for the future.

Councillor Ojetola, a member of the Basildon & Thurrock University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust  governors was invited by the Chair to speak. Councillor Ojetola stated his surprise that this report had come back to the Health and Wellbeing Overview and Scrutiny Committee again after the same report had been rejected. Councillor Ojetola stated that when the decision was made a balanced view from all would be required.

Catherine O’Donnell stated that NHS England were confident that the right decision had been made and assured Members that they had listen to everyone, justified all the challenges and that the decision remained the same.

Ian Wake commented that cancer pathways were already fragmented and relocating the service to Southend would fragment this even more and that this would be bad news for Thurrock patients.

Kim James agreed with the comments made by Officer and Members and stated that better consideration should have been given to the location of the consultations and that communication with HealthWatch could have assisted the process.

The Chair thanked members from NHS England for attending but stated that the committee would not be agreeing to the recommendation of moving the PET(CT) Scanner from Basildon Hospital to Southend and proposed the following recommendation:

That the Health and Wellbeing Overview and Scrutiny Committee did not support the decision made by NHS England to move the PET(CT) scanner away from Basildon Hospital and would be referring the matter to full council with a view to referring the decision to the Secretary of State.

All members agreed.

RESOLVED

That the Health and Wellbeing Overview and Scrutiny Committee did not support the decision made by NHS England to move the PET(CT) scanner away from Basildon Hospital and would be referring the matter to full council with a view to referring the decision to the Secretary of State.

JessamyKinghorn, Ruth Ashmore and Catherine O’Connell left the committee room at 8.00pm.