Archived decisions

AT A MEETING of the HEALTH REVIEW COMMITTEE of the COUNTY COUNCIL held at The Castle, Winchester on Tuesday, 29 July 2003.

PRESENT

Councillors: Dr. R.J. Ellis (Chairman); Mrs. A.M. McNair-Scott (Vice-Chairman);

Mrs. P.G. Banks; B. Bayford; I.F.E. Beagley; K.G. Chapman; Mrs. P. Dickens;

A.G. Dowden; Mrs. D.R. Harrison; Mrs. K. Heron; Mrs. P.G.E. Holden-Brown;

R. Knasel; Mrs. P.G. Peskett; Mrs. E.M.F. Randall; K.P.J. Searle; F. Williams;

D.F. Wright.

29. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

Members were mindful that, where they believed they had a personal or personal prejudicial interest in any matter to be considered at the meeting, they should, normally at the time of debate, declare their interest and, having regard to the circumstances described in paragraphs 9, 10, 11 and 12 of the County Council's Code of Conduct, consider whether to leave the meeting whilst the matter is discussed.

Councillor Mrs. P. Dickens declared a non-pecuniary interest in that she is employed by the NHS and Councillor D.F. Wright declared a non-pecuniary interest in that his wife is a General Practice Practice Manager.

30. MINUTES

The Minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 5 June 2003 were confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

Arising thereon:

    (a) Minute No. 25 - Looking Ahead: Reviewing Emerging Issues for Management and Development of NHS Services in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight

    The Chairman reported that following consultation Members had indicated their interest in being involved in a Working Group to look at future proposals for Health Services in Eastleigh and Shawford Ward at the Royal Hampshire County Hospital. Formal consultation on The Mount, Eastleigh would take place separately.

    RESOLVED:

    That:-

      (i) That a working party, to look at future proposals for Health Services in Eastleigh and Shawford Ward at the Royal Hampshire County Hospital comprising of Councillors Mrs P.G.E. Holden-Brown (Chairman); Mrs P.G. Banks; R. Knasel and Mrs E.M.F. Randall with Councillors C.R.H. Davidovitz and G.W. Davies-Dear and a representative of the Community Health Council being co-opted onto the Working Group.

      (ii) The same Working Group considers any future consultation relating to The Mount, Eastleigh

    (b) Minute No. 27 - Government Guidance on Local Authorities Scrutiny of Health

    The Chairman reported that the Government had introduced directions requiring joint committees to be established to consider and respond to formal consultation on services provided across local authority boundaries.

    (c) Minute No. 28 - Seminars on Health Scrutiny Arrangements

    The Chairman reported that the Health Authority seminar originally scheduled for 18 July 2003 had now been re-scheduled to take place on 23 September and that those members who had indicated a wish to attend the seminar would be invited.

31. CHAIRMAN'S COMMUNICATIONS

    (a) Future Meetings

    The Chairman announced that all future meetings of the Committee would commence at 10.00 a.m.

    (b) Consultation on the Draft Patients' Forums (Membership and Procedure) Regulations

    The Chairman reported that both he and the Leader of the County Council had replied to the consultation on Patients' Forum Regulations. Both responses had objected to the proposal to disqualify members of local authorities from appointment to Patients' Forums. The response from the Chairman had included a number of additional points relating to the draft regulations.

    (c) Conference of Local Authority Scrutiny of Health on the Role of the Voluntary Sector

    The Chairman reported that Councillor Mrs McNair Scott and Graham Linecar had attended this conference. Councillor Mrs McNair Scott gave details of the conference and said that the Committee would need to address what kind of voluntary organisations would need to be used and involved in the scrutiny procedure.

32. DEPUTATIONS

There were no deputations to this meeting.

33. LOOKING AHEAD: REVIEWING EMERGING ISSUES FOR MANAGEMENT AND DEVELOPMENT OF NHS SERVICES IN HAMPSHIRE AND THE ISLE OF WIGHT

The Chief Executive of Hampshire and Isle of Wight Health Authority presented a report (Item 5 in the Minute Book). He gave details of four emerging issues:-

    (a) Shawford Ward

    He said that this had been a victim of changing landscapes but the Health Authority was now in a position where a draft outline consultation document had been prepared in conjunction with the Community Health Council. He did, however, wish the Committee to be involved in further informal discussions prior to the formal consultation document being produced in September 2003.

    Members expressed concern at the timescale to enable the Committee's involvement and it was agreed that this could be extended if necessary.

    (b) The Mount, Eastleigh

    He reported that there were no definite proposals on the future of The Mount, Eastleigh ready to be presented at present but welcomed the Committee's involvement in consideration of proposals.

    (c) HealthFit

    He reported that phase 3 of the HealthFit process was nearing completion and discussions with locality areas, which would involve Primary Care Trusts and NHS Trusts, would involve developing proposals to meet the needs of the population in their localities, are due to be completed by the end of July 2003. The shape of Phase 4 of the process, which would involve public and stakeholder input was yet to be determined. He said that there was a need to work with the Committee to see how this process should proceed.

    (d) Independent Sector Diagnostic and Treatment Centres

    He said that a letter would shortly be sent to the Chairman outlining proposals for four additional Diagnostic and Treatment Centres (DCTs) in the area. These would be additional services provided as part of the national initiative to build capacity in elective care and extend the choice open to patients.

    The four DCTs proposed were likely to be:

    Orthopaedics (Southampton/Winchester)
    Primary Care (Portsmouth City)
    Primary Care and Community Services (Havant area)
    Ophthalmology (possible mobile unit)

    Members commented that two DCTs were already in existence, including Haslar Hospital and that these should be used as fully as possible as part of any programme to extend capacity and choice.

    RESOLVED:

    That the report be noted.

34. DEVELOPING A PROGRAMME OF REVIEWS: PROGRESS REPORT
NEXT STEPS IN PLANNING OVERVIEW AND SCRUTINY OF HEALTH

The Chief Executive presented a report outlining developments in support of the development of an effective overview and scrutiny function, taking account of the views expressed by members; overview and scrutiny Health Guidance; draft regulatory framework for Patient and Public Involvement Forums and draft requirements for referral to the Independent Reconfiguration Panel (Item 6 in the Minute Book). He gave details of the next steps in designing the work programme which would enable members to be confident that reviews and other investigations complement rather than duplicate other scrutiny and monitoring activities. He outlined the proposed strands of work which included: reviews of health services; health inquiries and response to formal consultation.

RESOLVED:

That:-

    (a) The proposal for developing three strands of work as set out in section 3 of the report be endorsed.

    (b) In future, a standing item be included in each agenda giving progress on:-

      (i) The programme of reviews undertaken by working groups on behalf of the Committee.

      (ii) Inquiries received and action taken which would include an indication of the source of the inquiry and comments on any response received.

      (iii) Information on any proposals to vary or develop NHS services.

    (c) Feedback on the approach adopted by the Committee be invited from all partner organisations.

    (d) Inquiries received and the programme of reviews be regularly assessed to ensure work undertaken is able to improve and influence health and health services.

    (e) A work programme be produced detailing how each of the three strands of scrutiny will be progressed in the period to 31 March 2004.

    (f) The criteria to guide the Committee's formulation of the response to formal consultation be, as set out in Section 3 of the report, be adopted and the appropriateness of these criteria be regularly reviewed to ensure that they reflect best practice.

    (g) The Chief Executive prepares a rolling programme of briefings for members based on issues raised with the Committee.

35. ARRANGEMENTS FOR RESPONDING TO HAMPSHIRE AND ISLE OF WIGHT NHS CONSULTATION ON HEALTHFIT - NEXT STEPS

The Chief Executive presented a report on establishing arrangements to give consideration to proposals for responding to consultation arising from the HealthFit process (Item 7 in the Minute Book). He said that a phased approach had been developed to consider options for future configuration of health services in the Health Authority's area. Four care groups made up the core of the reconfiguration process which were: older people; maternity services; emergency services and paediatric services and members were invited to appoint a lead member for each of these groups. A fifth care group, cancer services, would be progressed through the cancer services collaborative via the Central South Coast Cancer Network.

He outlined the current position with the HealthFit process and the issues the Committee's core working group on Healthfit needed to consider prior to any formal response to consultation which were detailed in Section 4 of the report.

RESOLVED:

That:-

    (a) The response of the Health Authority to duties placed on it by Section 11 of the Health and Social Care Act 2001 be assessed. This to include:-

      (i) confirmation of the range and scope of locality arrangements to involve key stakeholders.

      (ii) feedback from the voluntary sector.

      (iii) feedback from Community Health Councils.

    (b) Confirmation be given to the NHS of the expectation that proposals put forward to change services are evidence based, reflect clinical best practice and supported by the health professionals concerned and that, where appropriate, proposals include an assessment of the impact on the service providers outside the NHS.

    (c) Details of planned County Council reviews and programmes be shared with the NHS to ensure that duplication is minimised.

    (d) Terms of reference and working arrangements for the joint working group be agreed and published.

    (e) Lead Members for each of the main service areas covered by the HealthFit initiative be appointed as follows:-

    Older People - Councillor A. Dowden
    Maternity Services - Councillor Mrs A.M. McNair Scott
    Emergency Services - Councillor B. Bayford
    Paediatric Services - Councillor Mrs P. Dickens

    (f) Lead Members will report back to the HealthFit core group as proposals are developed in each area and options for co-opting expertise from Community Health Councils and other partner organisations be considered by each lead member.

    (g) Links with Community Health Councils be established in accordance with the guidance set out in appendix 2 of the report.

36. PROGRESS ON THE COMMITTEE'S FIRST REVIEW: THE HEALTH OF OUR CHILDREN AND YOUNGER PERSONS

The Chief Executive presented a report on the progress being made with the first review and recommending the appointment of a working group for the commencement of the review of the Health of school age children (Item 8 in the Minute Book). Councillor Mrs Banks, Chairman of the Working Group examining health care for looked-after children, informed members of how this review was being undertaken and the progress made.

RESOLVED:

That:-

    (a) The progress made by the working group in progressing the first aspect of the review of the health of our Children and Young Persons, Health Care for Looked-After Children, be noted with satisfaction.

    (b) Councillors K.G. Chapman; Mrs P.G.E. Holden-Brown; Mrs A.M. McNair Scott; Mrs E.M.F. Randall and Mrs P.A. West be appointed as a working group to undertake the next part of the review of the Health of our Children and Young Persons - The Health of School Aged Children with Councillor Mrs McNair Scott as Chairman of the Working Group. The scope of this review being focused on matters on which the Working Group conclude have not been considered in other work and being agreed by the Chairman of the Committee

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