Introduction

Between May 2012 and August 2013 the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health were invited to review paediatric services provision at Weston General Hospital. The reviews centred on the configuration and governance of services in the Seashore Centre which operates as a short stay paediatric assessment centre, the Emergency Department and Community Paediatrics. As a result three reports were produced detailing recommendations designed to enhance the quality and safety of paediatric services. To aid the implementation of those recommendations two groups have been established; an Implementation Group to oversee the operational details of the improvement programme, and a Steering Group to examine issues of strategic importance to local paediatric services.

This paper details the workings of the Steering Group thus far, including its provisional terms of reference.

Paediatric Steering Group

The terms of reference cited below are provisional and likely to be revised in the light of North Somerset CCG’s desire to join with Bristol and South Gloucester in a tendering process for community children’s services which will include community paediatrics, CAMHS and children’s therapies. The likely outcome of the tendering process is that one organisation will be responsible for managing children’s services across the three CCG’s.

Current Terms of Reference

  • Ensure that the action plans arising from the RCPCH reports are being implemented
  • Lead on the strategic review of paediatric care within WHAT and its role in the wider health Community.

Membership

Chair Medical Director, Weston General Hospital

Clinical Director, Emergency and Urgent Care Division

Divisional Manager, Emergency and Urgent Care Division

Clinical Lead for Children’s Services

Clinical Lead for Community Paediatrics

Consultant Acute Paediatrician

Commissioning Lead for Children’s Services for North Somerset CCG

Chief Nursing Officer for North Somerset CCG

Designated Nurse for Looked After Children

Service Manager for North Somerset Council, Children’s Social Care

Progress to date

Minutes of the last two meetings for the Steering Group are included in the consent agenda.

The steering group is assured that those recommendations requiring immediate action, as highlighted in the RCPCH reports have largely been resolved. Current outstanding issues are:

  • The provision of ED middle grade cover in ED
  • The establishment of a robust induction course in emergency paediatrics for new appointees to ED, and the development of a continuous programme of education which allows senior staff to rotate to the ED’s of Bristol Children’s Hospital or Gloucester Royal Infirmary
  • Recruitment of a full complement of Community Paediatricians
  • Work to facilitate the integration of the acute and community paediatric teams.

A Tendering Board lead by Bristol and South Gloucester CCG’s has been established. The Lead Commissioner for Children’s Services for North Somerset CCG will represent the local view which in its turn will be informed by the Steering Group. The tendering process is likely to take the best part of two years. In the meantime, it will be necessary for the Steering Group working through the implementation group to ensure that steps are taken to deliver local paediatric services which are safe and quality assured.