Agenda item

To receive a presentation from the Transformation Director, University Hospitals Dorset.

Members received a presentation from the Transformation Director, University Hospitals Dorset which is attached as an annexure to these minutes.

Areas of discussion/questions

Reference to the Portland Community Hub and what that would look like.  There would be a £30m investment to remove the backlog.  The proposal did not deviate from the original one that was in the CSR. There was a commitment to have something on Portland.

Consideration to any cross-border working.  Integrated care services constantly talked to each other on a regular basis.  The difference between hubs and new hospitals was explained.  There was an opportunity for a new part of a hospital to be opened with investment in particular areas. This was the only scheme being carried out across a number of providers.

The reconfiguration of the Yeatman Hospital and relevant consultations.  The current proposal included the development of the site including primary care and community services, this was the preferred way forward to also incorporate third sector partners. In terms of consultation, the aim was to deliver what the CSR stated.

Reference to utilising part of the site at the Yeatman Hospital for housing, and the lack of consultation. The site was about redevelopment not housing provision.

Consultation and engagement with key partners highlighted. Attracting key workers by developing key worker housing highlighted.  Communication was key for members of the public to have understanding of what was being proposed.

Could key worker housing for social care staff also be looked at?

In respect of the Local Plan – not engaged with this in relation to the Yeatman Hospital as not thought appropriate but had on other locations i.e. Forston.

Different solutions and different provisions would look different for different areas. 

With reference to the community and how that fitted with the understanding of locations, work was ongoing with various stakeholders to try and meet the needs of the people concerned.

In respect of Hubs, following Covid there had been a lot of learning about how communities could work differently

Plans for Purbeck area - Not part of New Hospital Programme.  This area was addressed through Building Better Lives Programme.

Welcomed the investment in new hospitals but felt that Weymouth was losing hospitals. Reference to public sector housing in the area - advised still at strategic outline case to enable opportunities to bid for money to do this.  Intention for any land released to be used for key worker housing or to help the community, no deviation/view that anything different would be done.  Aiming to make good and wise decisions around investment. 

Following a reference to zero carbon there was a need to ensure patient journeys were also measured.

Has the entire patient journey been considered? A digital stream was being looked at. Professionals in the field of data sites had been engaged to see how best to serve residents of a particular area. Net zero carbon was still very early in its development. The aim was t try to reduce construction carbon as low as possible and to make buildings as efficient as possible. Environmental impact was also looked at.

Was the funding for Forston earmarked for the acute unit? Still at the strategic outline stage and looking at options. Stakeholder and working groups would be set up at the appropriate time.

The Chairman thanked the representatives from the New Hospitals Programme for a very informative presentation and invited them to return to provide an update for members at an appropriate time.