Decision details

Dr Gary Francis, Secondary Care Medical Director (Interim) introduced the joint report prepared by Phil Gilroy and Helen Wilkinson (previously circulated) which provided information on the current status of the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board (BCUHB) Heart Failure Services provided in Denbighshire and across North Wales.

Dr Francis explained that historically some aspects of BCUHB Heart Failure Services had been subject to temporary funding streams; this had caused some uncertainty for the public around the future provision of these services and had resulted in the request for the Services’ future viability and the potential impact of their withdrawal on the Council’s social care services to be examined by Scrutiny.  Dr Francis confirmed that the Health Board had secured funding for heart failure services from April 2020 for the foreseeable future.

BCUHB fully recognised the value of the Heart Failure Services across North Wales, and would continue to support the development of them with no plans to reduce the current provision.  The Health Board recognised the key role fulfilled by community based health services in supporting health and well-being across the region, and viewed them as an integral part of their service delivery.  It also acknowledged the need to sufficiently fund such services and provide them with short to medium term assurances that funding would be provided.

The Committee discussed the following points in more detail –

·         The challenges posed by community based caring, it was queried whether more information could be shared with carers when patients were discharged from hospitals. BCUHB acknowledged the challenges in delivering care in the community.  It was currently working on improvements with community care and was keen to hear from carers on how services could be improved.

·         The Health Board acknowledged that there were some instances of delayed hospital discharges, but it was working hard to address any delays but the utmost priority would be to ensure the safety and well-being of the patient/individual concerned.

·         The amount of funding available for the Heart Failure Service was queried and how long would the funding be available. BCUHB representatives stated that the funding would be available as long as the services provided met the needs of the community and were the best solutions available to deliver those services in a viable way.  Medical advancements may in future require service provision and delivery methods to be reviewed and amended.

The Chair thanked representatives from BCUHB for attending.  She confirmed that t the details provided in the report and communicated by Health Board representatives at the meeting had alleviated concerns which were previously raised when the matter was requested to be scrutinised.

The Committee:

Resolved: - subject to the above observations to receive the information provided and

(i)   welcome the reassurances given by Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board in relation to current and medium term funding for Heart Failure Services in Denbighshire; and

(ii)  the Health Board’s recognition of the importance of community based health services and the need to adequately fund and support them.