Alan Quick

THE aim that in-patient beds can be re-instated at Crediton Hospital looks to have moved a step closer.

The Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital NHS Foundation Trust (RDEFT), which bid to run the adult complex needs community service across NHS Northern, Eastern and Western (NEW) Devon Commissioning Group’s Eastern Locality last week gained approval to move to the next step.

NHS NEW Devon CCG made the decision to proceed towards contract award for community services to the Royal Devon and Exeter NHS Foundation Trust for the Eastern locality of Devon.

Whilst this important gateway has been reached, it remains subject to further detailed due diligence, in advance of the final decision.

This is, however, a significant milestone in the procurement process, which initially saw the RDEFT named as the preferred provider in November, 2014.

Now, subject to further detailed due diligence and contract finalisation to meet all the conditions required, the CCG expects to complete this process next year.

Previously RDEFT indicated that if it was awarded the contract, this could include running Crediton Hospital with in-patient beds.

Crediton Town Council is actively supporting the re-instatement of in-patient beds at Crediton Hospital alongside Crediton Hospital League of Friends, the Crediton and District branch of Devon Senior Voice, plus a number of doctors, former patients and individuals.

It is believed that the RDEFT would place in-patient beds at Crediton and possibly some other community hospitals to ease pressures on the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital when beds are full or near capacity.

This decision at the NHS NEW Devon CCG Governing Body sets the path for community services, including the running of community hospitals, community physiotherapy and nursing, in the Eastern part of Devon, to be provided by the RDEFT, and once the process is complete this is currently anticipated to be from April, 2016.

This procurement set out to build on the quality of current community services provided by Northern Devon Healthcare NHS Trust (NDHT) in Eastern Devon, and to plan a new and sustainable model of care for the future.

The latest part of the procurement period involved a review of Value for Money conducted by independent experts. In addition, the CCG has undertaken a strategic diligence process to review RDEFT’s plans to deliver the CCG’s strategy for Community Services. The outcomes of these assessments were presented to the CCG’s Governing Body in advance of this decision.

Dr David Jenner, a GP from Cullompton and clinical chair for the CCG’s Eastern locality, said: “Throughout this process, we have put patients at the centre of our decision-making. This decision now gives us an exciting opportunity to move to the next stage in commissioning the joined up model of services patients in our area have told us they want for the future.”

Rebecca Harriott, chief officer at NHS NEW Devon CCG, said: “We recognise that Northern Devon Healthcare NHS Trust has provided high-quality community services and care to the population of Eastern Devon for five years, and we want to thank them for their achievements over this time. There have been many improvements in community services and we want to build on this.

“We have a rising number of people with complex health needs and now need to look ahead and develop a model of care that is increasingly integrated, personal and sustainable to ensure the whole system of care is ready to cope with the demands ahead.”

Angela Pedder, chief executive of RDEFT, said: “Aligning community services in Exeter, East and Mid Devon with RDEFT is an important step in developing streamlined pathways of care for local people.

“Working closely with Northern Devon Healthcare NHS Trust, we will now develop plans to safely transfer the services over the coming months. We look forward to welcoming and working with the community services staff, who bring with them a wealth of knowledge and experience.

“Sharing and building on this expertise will ensure that, with local communities, we can begin to shape services which meet people’s needs and deliver responsive and efficient care. Em Wilkinson-Brice, deputy chief executive/chief nurse at RDEFT will lead the next stages of this work.”

Now that this milestone has been reached for the CCG’s Eastern locality, the detailed due diligence will include preparations towards the transfer from the current provider, NDHT, to the new provider, RDEFT.

Alison Diamond, chief executive of NDHT, said: “It has been an immense privilege to work with the health and social care professionals in Exeter, East and Mid Devon since 2011. We have achieved tremendous things on behalf of the communities we serve and we are rightly proud of the way we have transformed these services.

“We have enjoyed learning from each other and wish all our Eastern colleagues the very best in the future.

“All our management and professional efforts are now going into effecting a legally sound and clinically safe transfer of staff and services to the RD and E.”

NDHT already provides the community services in Northern Devon. In November, 2014, the Trust was named as the preferred provider for these services in North Devon going forward. A similar assessment of strategic diligence is now being planned and the CCG’s Governing Body will be asked to make a decision in the early part of 2016.

Mel Stride, MP for Central Devon, told the Courier: “It is very good to hear the CCG repeatedly saying that they are putting patients at the centre of their decision making as the overwhelming desire of the community in Crediton including the Town Council and League of Friends is that they want to see the in-patient beds at Crediton Hospital retained.

“I will continue to press the CCG to keep the beds as part of their delivery of local health care services.”

The Northern locality is the geographical area of North Devon and Torridge.

The Eastern locality is the geographical area of East Devon, Exeter and Mid Devon, as well as parts of West Devon (eg Okehampton).