Agenda item

Non-Emergency Patient Transport Service - Update

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

Minutes:

The Chairman welcomed to the meeting Wendy Martin, Executive Lead Nurse & Midwife, Lincolnshire West Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) and Tim Fowler, Head of Contracting, Lincolnshire West CCG.

 

The report presented provided the Committee with the background surrounding Thames Ambulance Service Limited (TASL).  The Committee was reminded that at the January 2019 meeting the CCG had stated that they would continue to work with TASL to address the earlier concerns raised by the Committee regarding TASL's unacceptable levels of performance and to the fact that the CCG were of the view that there would be an unacceptable level of risk of giving notice to exit the contract and move to a new provider at that time.

 

Representatives from TASL had then attended the February meeting of the Committee, at which disappointment had been expressed concerning the CQC results and to the lack improvement.

 

The Head of Contracting Lincolnshire West CCG advised that the CCG was working with other CCGs that commissioned TASL and NHS England to co-ordinate oversight of TASL's response to the findings of the CQC report. 

 

The Committee was advised that following the publication of the CQC report the CCG had issued to TASL a Contract Performance Notice for breach of Service Condition 1.1 of their contract in that TASL had failed to deliver the Fundamental Standards of Care.

 

The Committee was advised that the CCG teams had recently undertaken quality visits to TASL sites in order to seek assurance that issues and requirements of the CQC report were being addressed.  It was highlighted that these visits had observed improvements in training compliance, the use of equipment and some improvement in the visible cleanliness of vehicles.  It was highlighted that the CCG still had concerns relating to journey planning, sharing of learning from complaints and incidents, reliability of Personal Digital Assistant devices and engagement between staff and senior management.  The Committee was advised that these concerns had been raised with TASL, and TASL were developing actions to alleviate these issues.

 

Detailed at Appendix A to the report was a summary of the activity and KPI performance for the contract for the period up to January 2019 for the Committee to consider.  The Committee was advised that call handling performance had exceeded the contract requirement of 80% and had achieved significant improvement from the December 2018 figure of 36%.  It was highlighted that no other KPIs had been achieved for January, although improvement had been seen on the December position for seven of the remaining KPIs.

 

The Committee was advised that the decision by NHS Hull CCG to give one year's notice to TASL of the termination of their contract with the CCG would not adversely impact the Lincolnshire service; and that reassurance had been received from TASL to that effect.

 

In conclusion, the CCG confirmed that it would continue to address the concerns raised by the Committee with regard to the unacceptable level of performance by TASL.  The CCG also reiterated that it was still of the opinion that there would be an unacceptable level of risk of giving notice to exit the contract and moving to a new provider at this moment in time.

 

A discussion ensued, from which the following points were raised:-

 

·         The previous optimism the Committee expressed regarding the reinstatement of the  voluntary car drivers;

·         One member asked whether there were other providers available to be able to take on the service.  The Committee was advised that what had to remain in mind was the service to patients; and that now was the wrong time to consider exiting the contract due to the unacceptable level of risk;

·         Performance improvement – The Committee were reminded that TASL were not happy with the CQC report and had asked for the CQC to reassess them.  It was highlighted that the CQC had agreed to reassess between now and the summer; and the CCG was waiting to see that outcome.  The CCG was continuing to work with other CCGs.  The Committee was advised that the CCG at the time of the meeting had not received the February data.  The CCG acknowledged that the performance was inadequate; and consideration was being taken if or when that exit should be implemented.  One member asked whether there would be a point when that decision would be taken.  The CCG advised that the concerns of the Committee were taken very seriously and that in the next two or three months a decision might be made;

·         Procurement process - The CCG was asked whether during the procurement process due diligence had been taken, for example taking account of the CQC report on TASL's operations in Milton Keynes.  The CCG advised that as soon as the CCG became aware of the report it had been shared with NHS England; and extensive monitoring had commenced; and

·         Some concern was expressed as to how long the CCG should wait prior to any decision on the contract as the performance was not being achieved.  The CCG appreciated the Committee's concerns and advised that there had to be a balance; as TASL might walk away from the contract; if that was the case the CCG would have to work with TASL on a planned exit and a contingency plan would have to come into operation.  All things had to considered, but ultimately, what was best for the patient was the primary motivation.

 

The Chairman on behalf of the Committee thanked the two presenters for their frankness; and again raised the Committees disappointment in TASL's delivery of the NEPTS contract; and that the Committee wished it to be recorded that their recommendation was to end the contract as soon as possible; and that a further update should be received in three months' time.

 

RESOLVED

 

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

 

2.    That the disappointment of the Committee in TASL's delivery of the Non-Emergency Patient Transport Service contract be recorded.

 

3.    That the Committee's recommendation to the CCG to give notice to terminate the contract as soon as strategically possible be recorded.

 

4.    That a further update be received on the Non-Emergency Patient Transport Service in three months' time.     

Supporting documents:

 

 
 
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