Issue - items at meetings - '3T' redevelopment of the Royal Sussex County Hospital

Update from Duncan Selbie, Chief Executive of Brighton & Sussex University Hospitals Trust (BSUHT), and Duane Passman, 3T Project Director, on the progress of the 3T initiative (verbal)

51.1    This item was introduced by Duane Passman, 3T Project Director, and by Duncan Selbie, Chief Executive, Brighton & Sussex University Hospitals Trust (BSUHT).

51.2    Mr Passman told members that the 3T Outline Business Case had been endorsed by the South East Coast Strategic Health Authority (SHA) board and was currently being considered for capital funding by the Department of Health.

51.3    In answer to a query regarding plans to move some ‘standard’ services off the Royal Sussex County Hospital (RSCH) site in order to facilitate the development of tertiary services, Mr Passman told members that breast screening had already been re-located in a community setting, and that plans to move elements of musculoskeletal services were well advanced. BSUHT was working closely with NHS Brighton & Hove (NHSBH) on this and other planned re-locations. Darren Grayson, Chief Executive of NHS Brighton & Hove, confirmed that this was the case and reminded members that it had long been the PCT’s aim to re-provide a range of hospital services in a community setting.

51.4    In response to questions regarding the deliverability of the 3T project given the current financial climate and a potential change of Government, Mr Passman informed the committee that BSUHT still intended that the 3T project should be publicly funded. 3T has been designed in three stages: the main build, the cancer centre, and a car-park. This means that it may be possible to go ahead with 3T without having secured funding for the entirety of the project (although stage 1 is by far the largest element of the build in cost terms). Mr Passman also pointed out that the 3T project would take approximately 10 years to complete, with annual funding requirements never exceeding £100 million. In terms of NHS capital funding (which current stands at around £4 billion p.a.) this is a relatively small amount, given that the development of a regional tertiary care and trauma centre is the major capital priority for the South East Coast SHA region. Even if the NHS capital funding programme were to be significantly cut (and there has been no intimation that this is being considered), the 3T project would still be affordable.

51.5    In answer to a question about the degree to which the design of the RSCH re-build had been finalised, Mr Passman told members that the designs currently being circulated were purely indicative: the final design of the re-build would only be determined after extensive consultation with the wider public, local residents and trust staff. The trust is also in discussion with council officers and full cognisance will be taken of the council’s Core Planning Strategy. Mr Passman noted that a Hospital Liaison Group had been established for local residents, with the second meeting due to be held on 1 February. Mr Passman thanked the relevant ward Councillors for their input and support in establishing the group.

51.6    Mr Passman told members that the schedule for 3T envisaged stage 1 being completed in 2015, stage 2 in 2019 and stage 3 in 2020.

51.7    Asked whether he had discussed with the leader of the council the possibility of having the planned monorail link stop at the RSCH, Mr Passman told members that he had not yet had the opportunity to have this conversation.

51.7    The Chairman thanked Mr Passman and Mr Selbie for their contributions.