Meetings

PAC(4)-32-13 paper 3

PAC(4)-32-13 paper 4

4.1 The responses were noted and the Auditor General advised Committee that the WAO intends to undertake further work on this issue. The Committee will return to this issue when the results of that work is available.

4.1 The Committee comments on its draft report ‘Consultant Contract in Wales: Progress with Securing the Intended Benefits’.

3.2 The Committee agreed to consider an amended draft report via email with the aim of publishing the report during the summer recess.

5.1 The Committee discussed the evidence received on Consultant Contract in Wales: Progress with Securing the Intended Benefits.

Adam Cairns, Chief Executive, Cardiff and Vale University Health Board

Janet Wilkinson, Director of Workforce, Hywel Dda Health Board

Dr Sue Fish, Medical Director, Hywel Dda Health Board

Richard Tompkins, Director, Welsh NHS Employers’ Unit

2.1 The Chair welcomed Adam Cairns, Chief Executive, Cardiff and Vale University Health Board; Janet Wilkinson, Director of Workforce, Hywel Dda Health Board; Dr Sue Fish, Medical Director, Hywel Dda Health Board; and Richard Tompkins, Director, Welsh NHS Employers’ Unit.

2.2 The Committee questioned the witnesses.

Action points:

Cardiff and Vale University Health Board:

·         Further information on an advert in Bristol Airport promoting private practices at Cardiff and Vale University Health Board;

Cardiff and Vale University Health Board and Hywel Dda Health Board agreed to provide:

·         Clarification on the GP to consultant process to fast-track patients on NHS waiting lists in Cardiff and Vale University Health Board and Hywel Dda Health Board.

Dr Sharon Blackford, Chair, Welsh Consultants Committee

Dr Trevor Pickersgill, Deputy Chair, Welsh Consultants Committee

3.1 The Chair welcomed Dr Sharon Blackford, Chair, Welsh Consultants Committee; and Dr Trevor Pickersgill, Deputy Chair, Welsh Consultants Committee.

3.2 The Committee questioned the witnesses on the findings of the Auditor General’s report ‘Consultant Contract in wales: Progress with Securing the Intended Benefits’.

David Sissling, Director General, Health, Social Services & Children, Department for Health, Social Services and Children

Ruth Hussey, Chief Medical Officer, Department for Health, Social Services and Children

Chris Jones, Deputy Chief Medical Officer, Department for Health, Social Services and Children

2.1 The Chair welcomed David Sissling, Director General, Health, Social Services & Children, Department for Health, Social Services and Children; Ruth Hussey, Chief Medical Officer, Department for Health, Social Services and Children; and Chris Jones, Deputy Chief Medical Officer, Department for Health, Social Services and Children.

2.2 The Committee scrutinised the witnesses.

Action points:

The Welsh Government agreed to provide:

·         A timetable outlining how the NHS in Wales will implement the recommendations made in the Wales Audit Office report;

·         Further information on projects which the NHS in Wales had commissioned CHKS to undertake, and clarification on how the NHS in Wales had concluded that this agreement represented good value for money;

·         Feedback on the discussions between the Welsh Government and the Office of National Statistics regarding fair and meaningful measures of consultant productivity;

·         Clarification on the arrangements in place to evaluate the impact that consultants’ private practice commitments have on their NHS commitments;

·         Further information on how NHS bodies go about recouping costs from consultants where they may be using NHS facilities to undertake private practice, and whether there have been instances where the NHS has purchased a consultants’ time allocated for private practice;

·         Further information on whether the impact of flexible working arrangements arising from the amended contract has increased the number of women consultants.

6.1 The Committee discussed the evidence received on its inquiry into Consultant Contract in Wales: Progress with Securing the Intended Benefits.

7.1 The Committee discussed how it wished to handle the Wales Audit Office report ‘Consultant Contract in Wales: Progress with Securing the Intended Benefits’ and agreed to conduct a short inquiry.

PAC(4) 07-13 – Paper 2 – Consultant Contract in Wales: Progress with Securing the Intended Benefits

3.1 The Chair welcomed Huw Vaughan Thomas, Auditor General for Wales; Dave Thomas, Group Director; and Malcolm Latham, Performance Audit.

3.2 The Chair invited the Auditor General for Wales to brief the Committee on his report ‘Consultant Contract in Wales: Progress with Securing Intended Funds’.