To receive questions / statements from the public, if any.
Minutes:
The Committee heard from Siri Taylor from the "Save Benjamin Court as a Reablement Unit" Group who asked –
NHS Norfolk and Waveney Integrated Care Board has rejected calls to reopen Benjamin Court as a centre for post-hospital reablement, despite this being the overwhelming view of respondents to the Healthwatch survey they themselves commissioned and has handed the building back to NHS Property Services. As NNDC has spoken up publicly and powerfully in support of Benjamin Court reopening, what steps is the Council taking to challenge the ICB's decision? And will the Council make representation to NHS Property Services to ensure that this important location is secured for health and care services?
The Chief Executive (CEX) advised that he and the Leader of the Council had been involved with the Campaign since the start of the year. A public meeting had been held in March 2024 where it was agreed that there would be a formal consultation on the future of the facility. A further public meeting was held in July and Health Watch had undertaken a public engagement exercise that recommended investigation of the reinstatement of the re-enablement service to Benjamin Court as an option for the future of the building.
The Council had submitted strong representation to the formal public consultation in support of a rehabilitation facility at Benjamin Court. The Council’s position was that in taking a system wide approach there would be efficiencies to be realised by lower care costs being provided in the local community rather than at the Acute Hospital.
The Leader of the Council and the Chief Executive wrote a letter to the new Secretary of State and the Health Minister has responded by referring to the process that has been followed by the Integrated Care Board (ICB).
Councillor Holliday suggested that this issue should go to the November full council meeting to allow time to look at data such as the cost of the delayed discharges to assess the financial efficiencies and the numbers of digitally excluded people in the district where the concept of virtual wards would be very difficult to implement. At the full council meeting there could be a debate as to whether to refer to NHS Property Services, the Norfolk Health and Overview and Scrutiny Committee and the possibility of referring the decision to the Secretary of State.
Councillor Heinrich agreed and added that another factor was the availability of ancillary care that was underpaid and undervalued which meant that getting additional support into people’s homes was highly unlikely.
Councillor Housden asked whether there were financial accounts for Benjamin Court. The CEX advised that the ICB had advised that the cost of reoccupying the facility was £350,000 a year before you added on staff costs. The Council had estimated that £6m would be saved from the overall health and social care system if the facility was reopened.
Councillor Adams commented that he would like to write to the Secretary of State on the current position of centralising services and closing this facility as this seemed to contradict the government’s aim to reduce the pressure on front-line services at acute hospitals. It was also important to ensure that the estate is not disposed of as once it is gone it would be difficult to find a replacement should there be a change in strategy in the future.
Councillor Boyle said time is of the issue and the mobilisation that people can get from physiotherapy and rehabilitation is not possible in an intense way from home based care.
The CEX added that the Health Watch report had stated that the only other health or public sector interest had been for a drop in facility for a team of community nurses but that did not seem to be a good use of the building and it could be better run from the Council offices and could make representations to that effect.
Ms Taylor added that the Group were intending to make an application for the building to be considered as an asset of community value. Councillor Adams stated that was another process that the Council would have to consider separately.
Recommended that (A) the issue of Benjamin Court Cromer be referred to the November full council meeting for decision along with additional data to be provided in the report, where possible, on delayed discharges, the numbers of digitally excluded people and the availability of home-based care staff,
(B) it was noted, with the Committee’s support. that the Leader of the Council intended to write to the Secretary of State as a matter of urgency on the need to retain Benjamin Court, Cromer and to request that NHS Property Services doesn’t dispose of the building, and
(C) it was noted that the Chief Executive intended to make representations on the Health Watch suggestion that a team of community nurses could be stationed at the Council Offices rather than use the Benjamin Court building.