Coronavirus (COVID-19): NHS Louisa Jordan Governance Board minutes: 9 April 2020

Attendees and apologies

• Fiona McQueen, Chief Nursing Officer, Scottish Government
• Jill Young, Chief Executive, NHS Louisa Jordan
• Jason Leitch, National Clinical Director, Scottish Government
• Mike Gillies, Scottish Government
• Alan Morrison, Deputy Director Health Infrastructure, Scottish Government
• David Miller, Chief People Officer, Scottish Government
• Colin Sinclair, Chief Executive NSS
• Ian Wallace, Medical Director, NHS Louisa Jordan 
• Ann Gow, Nursing Director, NHS Louisa Jordan 
• Gordon James, Construction and Mobilisation, NHS Louisa Jordan 
• Christine McLaughlin, Finance Director, NHS Louisa Jordan
• Colin McDowall, Director of Clinical Operations, NHS Louisa Jordan
• Jacqui Jones, Human Resources Director, NHS Louisa Jordan 
• Margaret Sherwood, Director of Support Services, NHS Louisa Jordan
• Greg Thomson, Programme Director, NHS Louisa Jordan
• Sandie Scott, Comms Lead, NHS Louisa Jordan
• Matt McLaughlin, Unison
• Joyce Davison, BMA
• Michael Kellet, Scottish Government 
• Calum Henderson, Scottish Government

Items and actions

Introduction

The Chair welcomed everyone the second meeting of the NHS Louisa Jordan Oversight Board. The attendees are noted above.

Minute

The minutes of the meeting held on 2 April 2020 were accepted.

Governance

The terms of reference had been altered to reflect that this was now a Governance Board and reflects the NHS Louisa Jordan’s position as a direct delivery arm of the Scottish Government. The terms of reference was agreed subject to amendment:

• the membership in the terms of reference to be updated to include Colin Sinclair as Board Member; and that Matt McLaughlin and Joyce Davison to be added as attendees

Jill Young presented a paper with showed the draft internal governance structure for the NHS Louisa Jordan and the Governance Board confirmed they were content with the structure subject to comments from Michael Kellet.  Revised version to be tabled for information at next meeting.   .  

Jacqui Jones updated on the delivery of an APF (Area Partnership Forum) structure within the NHS Louisa Jordan and that engagement is underway with the trade unions. There is also ongoing development of a pastoral staff care framework. 

A quality and safety framework is under development and it was agreed that a quality and safety report would be tabled at subsequent Governance Board meetings.

Programme update

Christine McLaughlin spoke to the proposed financial governance for the NHS Louisa Jordan. The Governance Board were content with the financial Governance proposal. The final costing for fitting and equipping are in the process of being confirmed but expect to be around £45m. Operational costs will take longer to determine.  

The Board noted the programme update presented by NHS Louisa Jordan. Equipment remains at red but steps are being taken to mitigate these risks. The current timescale is that construction work should be completed by the 19 April and, should it  be necessary, the hospital will be able to accept the first patient on 20 April.

The workforce risk is ongoing. However, there is confidence that to provide for the first 40 patients, staff will be identified and ready to train for those patients. There has been positive engagement with Boards in the East and West and Scotland. Induction and training expected to begin next week. 

Organisational readiness

Board members to review the organisational readiness document and provide comments to NHS Louisa Jordan Team. 

The clinical model is still being developed. Iain Wallace was clear that, in order to be able to care for patients who deteriorate, the hospital would need at minimum to have 24/7 resuscitation capacity on site and arrangements in place to transfer patient to intensive care off site.  

The Governance Board noted the first oxygen tank has been installed on site and there is confidence that the NHS Louisa Jordan will be well equipped with regards to the levels of oxygen required to treat patients. That might mean the NHS Louisa Jordan would be called on if there were oxygen supply challenges in other acute settings.   

Clinical model to be shared with Mike Gillies for comment.

Key decisions

Jill Young spoke through the key decisions paper. The Governance Board noted this paper was helpful and will be tabled at each Governance Board as a standing agenda item. 

Soft facilities management staff will be provided by contractors to allow continuity across other NHS Health Boards.  

Communications strategy

There has been various news releases over the past week highlighting significant milestones for the project. The Board noted the positive engagement with contractors with regards to sharing of content of media releases. The senior team are continuing to note the donations being received and will consider the communications for this. 

The communications plan for NHS Louisa Jordan to be tabled at next meeting.

AOB

The Scottish Government to provide extend the dates of the Oversight Board for another four weeks from the 23 of April. 

The next meeting will be Thursday 16 April 2020. 

Actions points

• the membership in the terms of reference to be updated to include Colin Sinclair as board member; and that Matt McLaughlin and Joyce Davison to be added as attendees 
• revised version of Internal Governance Paper to be tabled for information at next meeting
• quality and safety report would be tabled at subsequent Governance Board meetings
• clinical model to be shared with Mike Gillies for comment
• key decisions to be tabled at each Governance Board as a standing agenda item
• the communications plan for NHS Louisa Jordan to be tabled at next meeting
• the Scottish Government to provide extend the dates of the Oversight Board for another four weeks from the 23 of April