AT A MEETING of the HAMPSHIRE, SOUTHAMPTON, PORTSMOUTH AND ISLE OF WIGHT HEALTH SCRUTINY JOINT COMMITTEE held at The Castle, Winchester on Monday, 5 December 2005

PRESENT

Hampshire Councillors Dr. R.J. Ellis (Chairman) Denise Holden

Southampton Councillor D. Simpson Martin Day

Portsmouth Councillors F. Charlton (Vice-Chairman) Saskia Kiernan

Isle of Wight Councillor Mrs E. Oulton Louise Biggs

21 MINUTES

The Minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 26 September 2005 were confirmed as a correct record.

22 PLANNING FOR AN INFLUENZA PANDEMIC

John Henley, Emergency Planning Officer, Hampshire and Isle of Wight Strategic Health Authority gave a presentation on preparation in hand for a possible influenza pandemic. He outlined the plans proposed by the World Health Organisation and said that the possible bird flue pandemic was currently at level three which was a pandemic alert with no or very limited human-to-human transmission. He gave details about the virus, human pandemic influenza, the impact, vaccinations, treatment and prophylaxis, national level planning, planning in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight and health plans. He also alerted Members to the Department of Health website which provided more information.

23 MATERNITY SERVICES IN PORTSMOUTH AND SOUTHEAST HAMPSHIRE

Councillor Charlton reported on the recent meeting of the Portsmouth, Southampton and Isle of Wight Joint Maternity Committee and said that the Trusts had been given until 28 February 2006 to provide the detailed draft option appraisal including a financial baseline for each option.

24 PROPOSALS RECEIVED FROM THE NHS TO VARY OR DEVELOP PAEDIATRIC SPEECH AND LANGUAGE SERVICES

Saskia Kiernan presented a report outlining proposals that had been received from the local NHS to vary or develop paediatric speech and therapy services currently provided in schools across Portsmouth and Southeast Hampshire. The Patient and Public Involvement Forums and Local Education Authorities affected had also been contacted and asked for their comments. She had taken the view that the proposals did not constitute a substantial variation to services.

RESOLVED:

That it be agreed that adequate Section II engagement had taken place and that this was not a substantial service change.

25 IN VITRO FERTILISATION (IVF)

Les Judd and Sally Nelson from the Strategic Health Authority gave a presentation on IVF treatment. They gave details of the current provision for IVF treatment and fertility problems and the proposed changes to the current provision to ensure a common policy across local Primary Care Trusts in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.

Under the proposed new policy the NHS in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight would fund In Vitro Fertilisation for local women and couples for the treatment of sub-fertility. The service would accept referrals for women aged 34 to 39, with the IVF cycle starting from age 36 (36th birthday) to age 39 (before 40th birthday). It would be provided in line with the infertility care pathway recommended by the National Institute of Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) and in the context of guidance from the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority which regulated and inspected all UK clinics providing IVF, donor insemination or the storage of eggs, sperm or embryos. The service would normally be provided on the recommendation of an NHS consultant gynaecologist. It would provide one fresh cycle of IVF where this is clinically indicated and where criteria for access criteria are met.

It was proposed that the policy be implemented early (no later than 31 December 2005) for those women and couples who would be eligible if the policy were in place immediately but who would cease to be eligible by 1 April 2006 because of their age.

26 THE FUTURE OF HEALTH AND ADULT SOCIAL CARE

Councillor Ellis reported that this was currently a key issue and Health Overview and Scrutiny Committees would play an important role in the well-being agenda. In Hampshire the Leader had taken responsibility for the well-being agenda and it was proposed that scrutiny would take place before the event not after.

27 PROMOTING HEALTH, INDEPENDENCE AND WELL BEING OF OLDER PEOPLE

Denise Holden reported on the community engagement initiative across Southwest Hampshire that had been commissioned by the County Council and undertaken by the Older People's Programme in October 2005. The initiative had proved a great success and had provided a different way of working with local people. As a result of the initiative the Alliance Primary Care Trusts had agreed to re-look at the Community Strategy for Older People and had confirmed that there would be no further closures of hospital beds.

28 THE REVIEW OF SERVICES FOR OLDER PEOPLE IN SOUTHEAST HAMPSHIRE AND ASSOCIATED BED CLOSURES

Gail Byrne, Director of Nursing, Portsmouth Hospitals NHS Trust and Ann Smith, Director of Operational and Corporate Services Southeast Primary care Trust Cluster gave a presentation on the review of services for older people in Southeast Hampshire. At present 30% of patients in the Trust were in the wrong place as they were not actually ill. There was a need to utilise beds more efficiently, improve day care beds and reducing the lengths of stay in hospital. Details were given of current bed closures and assurances were given that there would be no further closures. Members were concerned that the closure of beds and reduced time in hospital would increase the burden on Social Services.

29 UPDATE FROM LOCAL AUTHORITIES

Hampshire

Denise Holden reported that she and the Chairman had recently attended a meeting of Southeast England Health Overview and Scrutiny Committees, Carolyn Regan, Chief Executive of Northeast London Strategic Health Authority and Department of Health Lead for Partnership Working had given a thought provoking presentation. Other issues raised included collective concerns about the amount of inherited debt that NHS Services in the southeast were having to deal with and the need for the public health/well-being agenda to be managed corporately by each authority.

Southampton

Councillor Simpson reported that consideration was being given to the trends of health inequalities and issues relating the Children's Health. Smoking policies were progressing with no major problems identified since the staff smoking ban commenced in July 2005 and a survey going to schools about smoking policies relating to staff smoking, children caught smoking on and off school premises, how schools engage with parents when children are caught smoking and the use of quitters groups for pupils. An update had been received from Mark Hackett on the Single Surgical Services Project, the proposals were supported by the Panel and they had been reassured by information on assistance with transport arrangements for day surgery.

Isle of Wight

Councillor Mrs Oulten reported that they had only had two meetings of the Committee and a Patient and Public Involvement Forum representative had been
co-opted on to the Committee in an effort to try and engage more with the public. The integrated Trust was progressing.

Portsmouth

Saskia Kiernan reported that the scrutiny of dentistry was nearing an end and that there would be a presentation on bed closures to the next meeting of the Committee when consideration would also be given to the public Health White Paper

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