Archived decisions

REPORT

OF THE

HEALTH REVIEW COMMITTEE

DEVELOPING A PROGRAMME OF REVIEWS

1. The Committee have endorsed a framework which will enable them to be confident that the reviews and other investigations undertaken which will complement rather than duplicate other scrutiny and monitoring activities.

2. The framework provides flexibility in the way in which the Committee discharges the overview and scrutiny function and seeks to use the resources available as effectively as possible.

3. Three strands of work have been identified which fully reflect the commitment of the committee to partnership working and acknowledge the different forms of activity that support the scrutiny function. These are:-

    · Reviews of health services. These may be thematic across a health system or focus on a particular service. The review programme will provide the Committee with an overview of specific health topics, cross cutting service provides and identifying opportunities for improvement. As such they will complement existing performance management and other monitoring activities (e.g. best value reviews).

    The first programme of these reviews is being focused on children and young people with a rolling programme of works having been identified across four specific areas:

    * looked after children - this review is already underway with a working group under the chairmanship of Councillor Mrs. Banks and is due to report back to Committee in December.

    * the Health of School Aged Children - this review is about to commence with a working group under the Chairmanship of Councillor Mrs. McNair-Scott.

    * Mental Health Services for Children and Young People

    * Therapy services for children.

    · Health Inquiries. Members have identified a number of issues that they consider require further investigation by the Committee, including access to GPs, access to chiropody services and delayed discharges. Some of these concerns are already subject to regular performance monitoring, others require further investigation to determine any further action open to the Committee to improve the delivery of a particular service. Additionally partner organisations such as district councils may wish to draw a particular issue to the attention of the Committee.

    The Introduction of the "Health Inquiries" strand of work recognises that there may be opportunities to influence and improve some aspects of health services without recourse to a full review. In addition there will be an open and accessible route through which partner organisations can draw the Committee's attention to particular health issues.

    · Response to formal consultation. These will focus on issues of substantial service development or change. There will be a variety of approaches to determine the response of the Committee to consultation, shaped by the topic in question there should be "no surprises" in the issues raised with the Committee for a formal response. The Committee should therefore have advance notice from the NHS regarding items which may be the subject of formal consultation.

    Each local NHS body has a duty to consult the Committee on any proposals it may have under consideration for any substantial development of the health service or on proposals to make any substantial variation in the provision of such services In determining substantial proposals the Committee will consider the impact of the change on the patients, carers and public who use or have a potential use of the services

4. Underpinning each of these strands of work will be the commitment of the Committee to take a challenging but constructive approach to health scrutiny, bringing together evidence and people's experience to drive forward improvement in health services to the people of Hampshire.

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