Council and democracy

Agenda item

Integrated Medical Centres Progress Report

This item will be presented by Roger Harris / Christopher Smith

Minutes:

This item was jointly presented by Roger Harris, Corporate Director for Adults, Housing & Health and Interim Director for Children’s Services, and Christopher Smith, Programme Manager for Health and Social Care Transformation.  Key points included:

·         The council entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (May 2017) with Basildon and Thurrock Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Essex Partnership University NHS Foundation Trust, North East London NHS Foundation Trust, and Thurrock Clinical Commissioning Group. A dedicated programme management resource, reporting to an alliance of the council and health partners, has recently been commissioned to oversee delivery of the Integrated Medical Centres.

·         The Integrated Medical Centres will serve local populations and will be situated in the following locations:

o   Grays - Thurrock Community Hospital has been designated as the location for the new Integrated Medical Centre for Grays, and is the only site which will be predominantly a refurbishment of an existing healthcare facility rather than an entirely new-build development. 

o   Tilbury/Chadwell - The council, Thurrock Clinical Commissioning Group and health service providers have worked collaboratively to develop a schedule of accommodation that can be provided at Tilbury and Chadwell Integrated Medical Centre. This accommodation includes provision for:

§  Multi-functional consultation and examination rooms;

§  Therapy rooms;

§  Treatment rooms;

§  Interview rooms;

§  Group rooms;

§  Phlebotomy bay;

§  Mobile imaging docking bay;

§  Shared workspace;

§  Library;

§  Community hub; and

§  Public access meeting rooms.

o   Purfleet – this Integrated Medical Centre is at an earlier stage as it is part of the wider Phase 1 development proposal submitted by Purfleet Centre Regeneration Ltd.  The schedule of accommodation is being finalised with partners and detailed design work will then commence. The funding strategy is still to be finalised and delivery is anticipated to be by 2022.

o   Stanford and Corringham - The delivery of the Stanford and Corringham Integrated Medical Centre is being led and funded by North East London NHS Foundation Trust.  Planning consent was secured in 2016 and amended in 2018 to extend the proposed opening hours.   A decision on the Business Case for the development is expected to be taken by the North East London NHS Foundation Trust Board imminently.  The site has consented development plans, therefore there is a lesser dependency on the outcome of the referral of the decision to close Orsett Hospital.  However, there had been a delay in securing primary care input, however this is now progressing.  It is anticipated that this Integrated Medical Centre could be operational from late 2021.

 

During discussions the following points were made:

·         The Secretary of State referral regarding the closure of Orsett hospital would need to be resolved/clarified before Integrated Medical Centres business cases can be approved.

·         Members queried if there was an alternative plan if the Orsett hospital closure did not go ahead or was delayed.  Members learned that the Stanford and Corringham site was less dependent on the Orsett hospital closure as the footprint was fixed due to planning permissions already granted although there would be an element of redesign.  This was similar to Purfleet which could be redesigned quickly.  However, the Tilbury and Chadwell and Grays Integrated Medical Centres would require a fundamental redesign of the buildings due to the proposed services and the minor injuries unit to be located there. 

·         Members observed that travelling to the Integrated Medical Centres would be easier as bus routes were being reviewed to accommodate the locations. 

·         Members were reassured that the building of integrated medical centres benefits Thurrock residents by providing services and buildings that are fit for purpose and easily accessible.

·         If there was a delay in the Orsett hospital closure, it was acknowledged that work on the minor injuries unit needed to be considered as it is not in a good location therefore alternative locations would need to be reviewed.  The need for patient safety and the quality of the estate was reiterated, for example the minor injuries unit is isolated and there are often issues with parking. 

 

RESOLVED: The Health and Wellbeing Board considered and noted the content of this report. 

 

 

Supporting documents: