Agenda item

Non-Emergency Patient Transport Service - Update

(To receive a report from the NHS Lincolnshire West Clinical Commissioning Group, which provides the Committee with an update on the Non-Emergency Patient Transport Service. Sarah-Jane Mills, Chief Operating Officer, Lincolnshire West Clinical Commissioning Group will be in attendance for this item)

Minutes:

The Committee gave consideration to a report from the NHS Lincolnshire West Clinical Commissioning Group, which provided the Committee with an update on the Non-Emergency Patient Transport Service.

 

The Chairman welcomed to the meeting Sarah-Jane Mills, Chief Operating Officer, Lincolnshire West Clinical Commissioning Group (LWCCG) and Wendy Martin, Executive Lead Nurse and Midwife – Quality and Governance, LWCCG.

 

The Committee was advised that since the previous update provided to the Committee at its March 2019 meeting; and following representations by Thames Ambulance Service Limited (TASL) to the Care Quality Commission (CQC) following the publication of their report in October 2018, the CQC had started a programme of further inspection visits to TASL, the results of which were expected to be published in the late summer of 2019.

 

It was reported that there had been some month on month improvement in the achievement of Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), however, performance remained below acceptable levels, as too many journeys had been subject to being unacceptably late; and some transport not arriving at all to collect patients for their appointments;

 

Detailed at Appendix A to the report was a summary of activity and KPI performance position for the period to April 2019.  It was highlighted that for April 2019, TASL had achieved the contracted level of performance for 1 out of 12 KPIs (call handling) and had delivered month on month improvement for 7 KPIs.  It was highlighted further that fast track journeys were much improved in April at 81.8%, following unacceptable performance in March of 50.0% against the target of 100%. 

 

The Committee noted that TASL had also used a number of third party providers who had been sub-contracted by TASL to supplement employed crew capacity for journeys, which including renal and out of county journeys. The report highlighted that third party resources were expected to continue to be engaged by TASL, as the additional capacity provided flexibility to respond to fluctuations in demand and in-house capacity. 

 

The Committee was also advised that the CCG continued to commission third party capacity outside of the TASL contract to support discharges at Lincoln and Boston hospitals.

 

In conclusion, the Committee was advised that the CCG would continue to closely monitor the delivery of the contract.  The Committee was advised further that the CCG was not intending to give notice to exit the contract at this time.

 

A discussion ensued, from which the Committee highlighted the following points:-

 

·         Confirmation was given that good working relationships were continuing with voluntary car drivers;

·         Some concern was expressed to the lack of improvement across the performance indicators, and how much longer the CCG was prepared to continue with the contract.  It was reported that the assessment of risk of termination of the contract remained as previously reported;

·         Cost of TASL to the service of missed appointments – The Committee was advised that modelling had been done to identify the cost to the patient and also to the cost of the service delivery.  Reassurance was given that all risks were being looked at in an integrated way;

·         Concerns were expressed regarding the inconsistency of the service and the impact on patients;

·         The additional cost to the CCG for funding the third parties.  The Committee was advised that information relating to the percentage put in by the CCG would be made available to them after the meeting;

·         Were adequate governance arrangements in place?  The Committee was advised that there had been changes to the governance team and that the CCG had confidence in the governance managers currently in place;

·         Type of Contract – The Committee noted that the contract was a block contract; and that the contract provided for penalties when performance had not reached the required standard.  Confirmation was also given that TASL had received penalties;

·         With regard to KPIs, what the reasons were behind cancelled journeys; and what monitoring was being done.  It was reported that monitoring was happening on a daily basis, and that when journeys were cancelled as a result of no capacity, then mitigation was put in where this was happening.  It was noted that the situation was improving; and

·         Initial feedback - CQC report – The Committee was advised that there had been some improvement, but the required level had not yet been reached.

RESOLVED

1.    That the Non-Emergency Patient Transport update report be noted.

 

2.    That the Committee's frustration be recorded that there had been insufficient service improvement from Thames Ambulance Service Ltd.

 

3.    That a further report be received from the Lincolnshire West CCG in three months' time.

 

4.    That the Committee's view that the Lincolnshire West CCG should strategically exit the contract with Thames Ambulance Service Limited be noted.

Supporting documents:

 

 
 
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