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1. Summary and purpose of report

1.1. It was agreed at the last meeting that a report should be brought to this meeting of the Committee setting out progress in considering issues which might be included in the Committee's programme of reviews. That has required consideration of

· how to prioritise those issues and develop a programme

· issues which might be the subject of a review.

2. Establishing criteria for prioritising reviews

2.1 It will be important for the Committee to establish objective principles or criteria by which it will assess the relative priority of different issues suggested as topics for review. This section sets out first suggestions of possible criteria which the Committee should consider adopting and using as interim assessment criteria until more experience has been gained in prioritising and programming reviews and the Committee has the experience and confidence to establish and adopt more definitive criteria.

2.2 Suggested interim criteria are

· That the review should be capable of generating recommendations that will `make a difference' : that the Committee does not review matters which its recommendations cannot change.

· That the review should not examine matters recently considered or programmed to be considered in other ways, and which could appropriately be considered in other ways and by other means.

· That the review should be capable of being undertaken within the resources and capabilities of the Committee and within a set time.

· That the activity of undertaking the review will `add value' to efforts already being made to understand and resolve issues.

· That the topic to be reviewed adds to what the County Council is already doing and complements its performance reviews.

· That the review shall be undertaken with the genuine motive of constructive partnership to address an acknowledged problem and focus on outcomes or results rather than resource inputs.


· That initial reviews should focus on issues and services within the County Council's geographical area until discussions with other authorities are further advanced.

2.3 A later item on the agenda sets out the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Health Authority's (HIoWHA) proposal to arrange a seminar to recognise and facilitate the passing of functions from the 5 Community Health Councils (CHCs) in Hampshire to the overview and scrutiny committees (OSCs) of the County Council and of Portsmouth and Southampton City Councils. Discussion at the seminar is intended to transfer to the OSCs knowledge and experience of the CHCs, and that may include suggestions of further topics and issues for reviews. Attendance of representatives from the OSCs of the other authorities and from NHS bodies would make possible informed debate about the usefulness of suggested topics for review and effectiveness of reviews in identifying possible courses of action.

2.4 The Committee has already resolved to meet further with District Councils to discuss the programme. It is suggested that a progress report be made to the June meeting of the Association of Hampshire and Isle of Wight Local Authorities (HIOWLA) with a proposed date for a seminar in the autumn to discuss health scrutiny and development of the Committee's programme of review.

2 Commencing a review

2.1 It is proposed that whilst preparation of a programme of reviews and evaluation of different proposed topics is underway, the Committee should commence the first review. The Committee will recall that the topic proposed in the consultation paper was supported by a number of respondents and discussion has suggested it commands general acceptance and support. It satisfies the criteria set out in 2.2, with the additional consideration that it will focus as much on activities and responsibilities of the County Council as NHS bodies.

2.2 The proposal in the consultation paper was `The health of our children and young persons,' covering a range of issues over a period of time.

The consultation paper invited views on:

· choice of topic

· those who should be included in the review working group

· how the working group might approach its task (e.g. public hearing, collection of data and views/opinions of service users and providers)

2.3 It is recommended that a report to the next meeting of the Committee (3 June) sets terms of reference and proposals for the membership of the working group to undertake the review.

3 Issues for inclusion in the Committee's programme of reviews suggested by Members

3.1 Members of the Committee were invited to suggest issues for consideration for inclusion in the programme of reviews. The suggestions received from Members are

· waiting times for appointments with General Practitioners

· inequality of access to podiatry and chiropody services

· audit the `adverse incidents'/complaints about clinical incidents recorded in the past 3 years by individual NHS Trusts

· `bed-blocking' : investigate how the NHS intends using revenue from bed-blocking fines of £120/bed/day

· investigation of staff retention initiatives of individual NHS Trusts and effectiveness of individual Trusts in achieving Department of Health targets for staff training

· investigation of PCTs commitment to continuing staff development and training, and resourcing of that training.

3.2 The suggestions from Members will be assessed against the interim criteria for prioritising reviews in drawing up a draft programme.

Recommendations

1. That the criteria set out in paragraph 2.2 of this report be used to assist in prioritising issues for review until experience gained in undertaking reviews allows consideration of whether more appropriate criteria can be defined.

2. That a report be made to the next meeting of the Committee recommending terms of reference and proposed membership of the working group to undertake a review within the scope of the overall issue `The health of our children and young persons.'

Background Information

Section 100D - Local Government Act 1972 - background papers

The following documents disclose facts or matters on which this report, or an important part of it, is based and has been relied upon to a material extent in the preparation of this report.

NB the list excludes:

1. Published works.

2. Documents which disclose exempt or confidential information as defined in the Act.

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