Agenda item

A paper from King’s College Trust on the acquisition of Princess Royal University Hospital is attached .

Background papers on the implications of the recent Judicial Review of Lewisham Hospital on the Trust Special Administrator are also attached as background information.

5.1  The chair invited Mr Michael Marrinan, Executive Medical Director, and King’s College Hospital (KCH) to present. He explained that the paper was pitched at a high level and subject to final agreement; KCH are expecting a dissolution notice this week. KCH are now jointly managing the Princess Royal University Hospital with the office of the Trust Special Administrator and do not become officially accountable until 2 October - if all goes to plan.

5.2  He explained that King’s College Hospital at Denmark Hill needs to decompress, particularly to relieve pressure of space in Accident and Emergency. There are three specific services that are planned to move out of the KCH Demark Hill hospital: Orthopedic elective surgery, Gynecology elective surgery and Bariatric surgery.  The Orthopedic Centre will be a major elective centre located in Orpington Hospital and will serve a large local population who are elderly. It is hoped that KCH will also be able to entice Southwark patients, and crucial to this is the provision of transport. This will probably be provided in black cabs. Additional provision of transport for family visits is being discussed. The Executive Director explained that the elective surgery centre is not for accidental injuries such as fractures or serious injuries, nor is it for people with co-morbidities who require more intensive facilities. 

5.3  A member asked what Bariatric surgery is and the Executive Director explained that this term describes a number of surgical treatments for obesity, such as bands. The member also asked how many beds would be freed up and the Medical Director said this would be about a 1/17th of the present capacity of KCH at Denmark Hill.

5.4  The Executive Director was asked how people will be ‘encouraged’ to use the elective centre and what would happen if a patient did not want to go. He explained that complex, high intensity work will stay at Denmark Hill so people can opt for this but this will be less reliable.

5.5  A member asked about the cost of taxis and he responded that the service is looking at around 200 trips a year for 70 % or more of the patients. He was asked why hospital transport would not be used and he responded that taxis are often better because they are roomier and can operate door to door, with no requirement to pick up lots of people. The Medical Director explained that the Trust would pick up the bill and this would come out of the margin the hospital is paid. A member asked if  people without family could  nominate neighbours or friends to visit and the Medical Director explained that the Trust would take a pragmatic view , but at the moment the Trust does don't offer transport.

5.6  Members asked who the KCH Trust would be reporting to on the acquisition and management of the Princess Royal University Hospital and he explained that bodies include Bromely Scrutiny, CQC and Monitor.

RESOLVED

The committee asked King’s College Hospital Foundation Trust to share the PRUH Full Business Case and the Executive Medical Director agreed to take the request back to the board.