SaHF DMBC Volume 1 Edition 1.1.pdf - Shaping a healthier future

7.36.1 National Clinical Advisory Team feedback
The National Clinical Advisory Team is a collection of independent clinicians working on
behalf of the Department of health. Their advice is sought when there are proposed
significant reconfiguration of services are proposed.
NCAT supported in principle the proposals outlined in Shaping a healthier future. Two
separate reports, for emergency and urgent care services, and for maternity and paediatric
services, were received. Both reports acknowledge that the case for change focuses on
delivering better care more effectively, and that wider changes in the NHS will have an
impact on the timing of the proposals.
The NCAT maternity and paediatrics report acknowledges the rationale for the proposed
change from nine acute units to five and the change from seven obstetric-led maternity units
to six maternity units and from six paediatric units to five paediatric units. It highlighted the
importance of the following:
Medium to long term proposals for maternity and neonatal services
Development of an overall strategic direction for maternity and paediatric services
with a supporting workforce strategy to support the proposals
Workforce modelling to ensure support staffing of five paediatric units and six
neonatal units
The need to ensure that community services are in place before closing acute
services
Developing primary care to support the reconfigured maternity and paediatrics
services
Further engagement with public and patients regarding the maternity and paediatric
reconfiguration proposals.
The Out of Hospital Programme is addressing the issue of community and primary care
services and there has been engagement during and post consultation. A more detailed
response to the other areas highlighted is below.
Figure 7.50: Feedback from the National Clinical Advisory Team considered by the Maternity
CIG
NCAT
Original Programme
Actions
recommendation response
Medium to long term We have:
proposals for maternity
and neonatal services.
Development of an
overall strategic
direction for maternity
and paediatric services
with a supporting
workforce strategy to
support the proposals.
Established the Maternity
and Paediatric Clinical
Implementation Groups
to explore in more detail.
We have:
Established the Maternity
and Paediatric Clinical
Implementation Groups
to explore in more detail
Had wider dissemination
and discussion of the
maternity and paediatric
strategies, at Clinical
Board and discussion at
Two Clinical Implementation Groups
were formed: Paediatrics (including
Neonatology) and Maternity. These two
groups have worked closely together to
ensure there is coherent model of care
and standards.
The Maternity CIG has met five times
with other work happening throughout the
consultation and post consultation period
Papers were regularly submitted for
discussion at Clinical Board, with the CIG
Chairs attending. Programme Board is
also updated on progress as a matter of
course
A comprehensive workforce strategy is to
be put in place by the NW London
7d. Work of the Maternity CIG 205