Decision details

The Executive resolved as follows:

To agree the recommendations of the Whole Systems of Care final report action plan as outlined below, referring them to the relevant organisation where applicable and working towards their implementation and also noted the observations made by the relevant Cabinet Member:

1. That Blackpool Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust consider introducing a policy to limit the number of family and friends attending the emergency department to one/two associates at a time as per the policy on Wards at the hospital in order to reduce the appearance of a full department and to free up seating for patients.

2. That Blackpool Clinical Commissioning Group review extended access appointments to look at usage, the reasons why the service is not more widely used and how to improve use of appointments to report back to the Adult Social Care and Health Scrutiny Committee in July 2019 including the Cabinet Member’s request for increasing advertising and staff training in addition.

3. Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust to explore the impact of delayed receipt of prescriptions from the pharmacy on discharges from hospital and report back to the Adult Social Care and Health Scrutiny Committee with the reasons for pharmacy delays and a course of action to address those delays at the relevant Scrutiny Committee meeting in July 2019.

4. That Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust identify ways to offer facilitated parking for discharge staff (either Council or NHS and report back at the relevant Scrutiny Committee meeting in July 2019.

5. That Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust work with all relevant partners to review discharge processes and ensure they are efficient, effective and to identify if any parts of the processes could be carried out after the patient has left the hospital.

6. That Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust work to improve relationships and communications with care homes. Also noting the Cabinet Member’s request for better notice provided of discharge to allow residential and domiciliary care staff to better plan for discharge of their residents and patients.

7. That all partners use social media to send out alerts relating to accident and emergency waiting times, walk in centre waiting times and available GP appointments on a day. Each partner organisation to assist the others in disseminating the information.

8. That Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust install signage at an appropriate point prior to the car park entrance alerting people to current waiting times.

9. That Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust consider offering parking refunds to patients attending accident and emergency inappropriately to leave again, preventing having paid for parking being the only reason why a person would wait and not try an alternative, more appropriate avenue.

10. That Blackpool Council consider how available marketing signage around the town could be used to promote positive NHS messages. Noting the Cabinet Member’s concerns regarding how to avoid confusion with roles and responsibilities.