A senior councillor has said mediation talks with the local NHS Integrated Care Board (ICB) for revision to proposed service changes at Scunthorpe General Hospital have resulted in “no meaningful changes”. It was also suggested the ICB had acted in bad faith.
The Humber Acute Services review organised by NHS Humber and North Yorkshire Integrated Care Board (ICB) proposed a number of service elements to move from Scunthorpe General Hospital to primarily the Diana, Princess of Wales Hospital, Grimsby. This included care for children needing an overnight stay in hospital to have to go to Grimsby.
When the ICB reviewed findings from a public consultation in July, it scrapped moving overnight stay children’s care, but kept most of the rest of the proposals. These include Scunthorpe’s trauma unit going, and adult patients with heart, lung or stomach problems who may need a more than 72 hours stay in hospital will be seen to at Grimsby only.
North Lincolnshire Council has since held talks with the ICB to seek a local resolution. Its council leader, Cllr Rob Waltham called the revised changes in July “a serious downgrade” for Scunthorpe General Hospital.
Deputy council leader Cllr Richard Hannigan told cabinet: “When we received the news on 10 July that our own integrated care board had supported the proposals, we were mortified and couldn’t understand why the ICB flew in the face of their own strategy to support these proposals.”
The council entered a process of “local resolution” to address the major concerns it and residents had. There were three working groups held between the ICB and council officers, and eight different meetings held. Cllr Hannigan said, “I’m sad to report that there’s been no meaningful changes or mitigations offered by the ICB.”
Scunthorpe General Hospital – Humber Acute Services ICB agreed changes, July 2024
Revised proposals to pooling of service elements from Scunthorpe General Hospital to Diana, Princess of Wales Hospital, Grimsby, have been agreed by NHS Humber and North Yorkshire ICB. The changes approved are:
- Trauma unit to be at Grimsby only
- Emergency surgeries are no longer planned to be consolidated at Grimsby only – ophthalmology will be at Hull Royal Infirmary, urology at Scunthorpe General, as is already the case, gynaecology at both Scunthorpe and Grimsby, while trauma and orthopaedics, acute general surgery, and ear, nose throat (ENT) emergency surgeries would be consolidated at Grimsby
- Adult patients with heart, lung or stomach problems who may need a more than 72 hours stay in hospital will be seen to at Grimsby only
- Children needing an overnight stay will remain at both Scunthorpe and Grimsby hospitals. However, there will be “work towards a reduction through implementation of community-based paediatrics model”.
To read the proposals in full and public consultation feedback, follow Humber Acute Services review links here.
He added of the ICB’s frequent highlighting that the changes will affect approximately seven people a day, this translated to “200 people a month having to go to Grimsby that don’t have to now”.
“I’d particularly like to acknowledge the staunch support of Labour colleagues,” said Conservative Cllr Hannigan. All councillors supported a joint motion last year opposing changes and leaving open the option to seek judicial review, if they were proceeded with. Councillors from across both sides of the political divide on the council began the process of negotiation with the ICB about the changes.
(Image: Donna Clifford/GrimsbyLive)
Labour group leader Cllr Len Foster echoed thanks by Cllr Hannigan to council officers for their work on the issue. “Our staff have gone that extra mile.”
He looked forward to Thursday’s full council, where he would say “a lot more” on his thoughts on the ICB, “and believe you me, I will do”. Labour Cllr Max Bell referenced a future NHS review to “tighten eligibility criteria for patient transport”. He asked if it was felt the ICB have been acting in bad faith. Several cabinet members in unison said, “yes.”
Cllr Hannigan said there was a good working relationship with the ICB place director for North Lincolnshire. But he added: “I just feel that at an ICB level, I’m fair to say concerned of the competence and the integrity of the decisions made.”
The cabinet approved the report on the negotiations, with an amendment moved by Cllr Waltham that it opposes any of the Humber Acute Service review changes to Scunthorpe General Hospital.
Contacted for comment, an NHS Humber and North Yorkshire Integrated Care Board (ICB) spokesperson said: “As part of the local resolution process, NHS Humber and North Yorkshire Integrated Care Board (ICB) and Humber Health Partnership have worked closely with partners over the past few months.
“We have listened carefully to concerns and put forward additional mitigations which we’re confident would provide that extra support to the very small number of patients who may be affected by these changes (around seven people a day).”
At full council on Thursday, councillors will decide what action they will take, with appealing to Health Secretary Wes Streeting to call the decision in an option.
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Original artice: https://www.grimsbytelegraph.co.uk/all-about/scunthorpe
