Yeovil District Hospital NHS Foundation Trust

(asked on 29th January 2018) - View Source

Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask Her Majesty's Government what estimate has been made of the additional time spent by the Yeovil District Hospital NHS Foundation Trust Board discussing clinical matters as a result of establishing a wholly-owned subsidiary company to run estates and other support services.


Answered by
Lord O'Shaughnessy Portrait
Lord O'Shaughnessy
This question was answered on 8th February 2018

On 25 January 2017, the Yeovil District Hospital NHS Foundation Trust board approved work to examine the case for establishing a wholly owned subsidiary for estates and facilities management. On 20 December 2017, after staff consultation had taken place, the Trust board approved the formation of a wholly owned subsidiary.

NHS Improvement has reviewed key relevant documents including the Trust board paper evidencing informal staff engagement about the proposed changes during October 2017, as well as a formal 30-day staff consultation during November 2017. Following the staff consultation, the Trust made changes to its proposal which benefitted the staff transferring to the new company. The Trust has confirmed to NHS Improvement that it took legal advice in relation to its duty to consult staff on the changes.

The Trust did not establish the wholly-owned subsidiary prior to consulting clinical commissioning groups (CCGs). NHS Improvement has seen correspondence from Somerset CCG on 19 December 2017 giving permission for the wholly-owned subsidiary to be a permitted subcontractor. NHS Improvement has seen similar correspondence from NHS England Specialised Commissioners on 22 November 2017 approving the wholly-owned subsidiary as a permitted subcontractor. The Trust board took the decision to approve the formation of the wholly owned subsidiary on 20 December 2017.

Yeovil District Hospital NHS Foundation Trust has told NHS Improvement that it has not been necessary to spend additional time beyond normal Board business discussing clinical matters as a result of establishing a wholly-owned subsidiary company.

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