Archived decisions

AT A MEETING of the HEALTH REVIEW COMMITTEE of the COUNTY COUNCIL held at The Castle, Winchester on Tuesday, 28 October 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; Mrs P Dickens; A G Dowden;

Mrs K Heron; Mrs P G E Holden-Brown; R C McIntosh; Mrs P G Peskett;

Mrs E M F Randall; F Williams; D F Wright.

37 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; Councillor D F Wright declared a non-pecuniary in that his wife is a General Practice, Practice Manager, and
Councillor F Williams declared a non-pecuniary interest in that he is employed by a Primary Care Trust.

38 MINUTES

The Minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 29 July 2003 were confirmed as a correct records and signed by the Chairman.

Arising thereon:

    (a) Minute No. 30(a)(i) Reviewing Emerging Issues for Management and Development of NHS Services in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight

    The Chief Executive reported that Councillor Davidovitz had withdrawn from the working party to look at future proposals for Health Services in Eastleigh and Shawford Ward at Royal Hampshire County Hospital.

    (b) Minute No. 35(e) Arrangements for Responding to Hampshire and Isle of Wight NHS Consultation on HealthFit - Next Steps

    The Chief Executive reported that Councillor Mrs Dickens would now be the lead member for Maternity Services and
    Councillor Mrs McNair Scott would now be the lead member for Paediatric Services.

    (c) Minute No. 36(b) Progress on the Committee's First Review: The Health of our Children and Young Persons

    The Chief Executive reported that Councillor Mrs Peskett had replaced Councillor Mrs Holden-Brown on the working group on the Health of School Aged Children.

39 CHAIRMAN'S COMMUNICATIONS

    (a) Community Health Councils

    The Chairman reported that he had written to the Community Health Councils thanking them for their services and the help they had given.

    (b) Southampton City Council Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee

    The Chairman reported that Southampton City Council had now indicated that they would be sending representatives to the next Health Joint Member Working Group.

    (c) Portsmouth City Council Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee

    The Chairman reported that both he and Councillor Bayford had been co-opted onto the Portsmouth City Council Overview and Scrutiny Committee and that they had also both been invited to attend their next training session.

    (d) Hampshire Ambulance Service

    The Chairman reported that Hampshire Ambulance Service had been invited to make a presentation to the next meeting of the Committee.

    (e) Committee Meeting - 27 January 2004

    The Chairman reported that only consideration to the reports on the working groups on the Health of our Children and Young Persons will be given at this meeting.

40 DEPUTATIONS

There were no deputations to the meeting.

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

In the absence of the representative of the Chief Executive of the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Health Authority the Chief Executive presented a report (Item 5 in the Minute Book). He gave details of Foundation Trusts and the feedback from the Patient and Public Involvement Conference and circulated briefing notes on these. There were no pending consultations.

RESOLVED:

That the report be noted.

42 THE COMMITTEE'S FIRST REVIEW - THE HEALTH OF OUR CHILDREN AND YOUNG PERSONS - PROGRESS REPORT

The Chief Executive presented a report on the progress being made with the first review and giving details of the work in hand with the two working groups (Item 6 in the Minute Book). Councillors Mrs Banks and
Mrs McNair Scott, the Chairmen of the working groups, informed members of the progress made by each group and said that all work was running to schedule.

RESOLVED:

That the progress made by each of the working groups be noted with satisfaction.

43 INQUIRIES RECEIVED AND ACTION TAKEN

The Chief Executive presented a report on inquiries received, the source of each inquiry and action taken (Item 7 in the Minute Book). He gave details about Chiropody Services; Diagnostics and Treatment Centres; Public and Patient Involvement; Choice Agenda; Redevelopment of Queen Alexandra Hospital and Services in South East Hampshire (including details about a recent visit to Haslar Hospital and the services currently provided there); Delayed Discharges and Consultation on Foundation Hospitals and recommendations for action on each. The Chairman mentioned that quick responses may be required following consultation on Foundation Hospitals and requested that the Chief Executive, in consultation with the Chairman, be authorised to give a formal response and that response being reported to the next meeting of the Committee.

RESOLVED:

That:-

    (a) the report be received and the actions outlined be endorsed.

    (b) in the event of a quick response being required following consultation about Foundation Hospitals the Chief Executive, in consultation with the Chairman, be authorised to give a response and report any such response to the next meeting of the Committee.

44 PROPOSALS TO DEVELOP OR VARY NHS SERVICES

The Chief Executive presented a report on proposals from the NHS to vary or develop health services in the area of the Committee (Item 8 in the Minute Book). He gave details of proposals on:-

Consultations by Eastleigh and Test Valley South and Mid-Hants PCTs reprovision of in-patient services for older people with mental problems in Eastleigh and Winchester - A working group had been established to consider these proposals under the chairmanship of
Councillor Mrs Holden-Brown; she gave details of the work carried out by the working group.

'HealthFit' Implementation - Action in anticipation of this consultation had been initiated by the Committee in recognition that these were wide ranging proposals relating to the re-configuration of children's services, maternity services, emergency services and services for older people. However, due to slippage in the timetable no proposals had been put forward by the Health Authority.

Mental Health Services in North East Hampshire - The Committee had been advised that this proposal was pending but that it did not involve any changes to services provided to the residents of north-east Hampshire. The Chief Executive, in consultation with the Chairman, had responded to the discussion document taking account of the approach to overview and scrutiny of health previously agreed by the Committee.

Blackwater Valley and Hart Primary Care Trust: Consultation Pending Changes to Service Provision at Fleet Hospital - Notification of the consultation had been received and consultation was due to formally commence in November 2003.

RESOLVED:

That:-

    (a) Consultation by Eastleigh and Test Valley South and Mid-Hants PCTs: reprovision of in-patient services for older people with mental health problems in Eastleigh and Winchester

      (i) the approach adopted by the working group be endorsed

      (ii) authority be given to the Chief Executive, in consultation with the Chairman of the working group, to respond on behalf of the Committee, taking account of the points outlined in the report and the criteria agreed by the Committee.

      (iii) the NHS Trusts concerned be thanked for arranging for the working group to visit the facilities

    (b) `HealthFit' Implementation

      (i) the Committee reaffirms to the Health Authority that there should be early engagement in agreeing the conduct of any consultation process

      (ii) the Committee reaffirms its expectation that any proposals from the Health Authority are able to demonstrate full engagement of local people and key stakeholders in accordance with `Strengthening Accountability' (section 11) requirements

      (iii) authority be given to the Chief Executive, in consultation with the core group, to respond to any approach from the Health Authority regarding the conduct of a formal consultation exercise, taking account of the criteria agreed by the Committee.

    (c) Mental Health Services in North East Hampshire

      (i) the response from the Chief Executive be endorsed

      (ii) the Committee be advised of the response of the lead PCT

    (d) Blackwater Valley and Hart PCT: Provision at Fleet Hospital

      (i) Members be invited to comment on the proposal when received.

      (ii) The Trust be alerted to the requirements set out in `Strengthening Accountability'.

45 HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE ACT - DIRECTIONS TO LOCAL AUTHORITIES (OVERVIEW AND SCRUTINY COMMITTEES, HEALTH SCRUTINY FUNCTIONS

The Chief Executive presented a report setting out the protocol for joint working of Health Overview and Scrutiny Committees in Hampshire and proposing arrangements for enabling the County Council to delegate health scrutiny powers to a joint committee established to respond to consultation by an NHS body (Item 9 in the Minute Book). The government had issued directions to Local Authorities with health overview and scrutiny powers which required a joint committee with delegated powers to be established to consider any proposals from the NHS for a substantial variation or development in the delivery of services that were provided across more than one overview and scrutiny committee in the area. This requirement was additional to the option for Local Authorities to establish joint committees to consider wider scrutiny issues that may be of interest.

A protocol to support joint working across Hampshire and the Isle of Wight overview and scrutiny committees had been drafted to promote information sharing and improve the understanding of issues affecting the health of local people, one provision of which was for the appointment of five members of the Committee to the Joint Committee.

RESOLVED:

That:-

    (a) the joint working arrangements for Overview and Scrutiny Committees in Hampshire and Isle of Wight as set out in the protocol shown at Appendix One to the report be endorsed.

    (b) the Chief Executive be authorised to agree any changes to the protocol in consultation with the Chairman of the Health Review Committee.

    (c) Councillors Bayford; Chapman; Ellis; Mrs. McNair-Scott and Wright be appointed to the Hampshire and Isle of Wight joint committee.

    (d) it be a RECOMMENDATION to the Standards Committee that:

      - the Health Review Committee be authorised to delegate health scrutiny powers to a joint committee and appoint members when there is an intention by an NHS body to consult on a substantial variation or development to health services that extend beyond the area covered by Hampshire County Council Health Review Committee and that Part 2, chapter 1, paragraph 1.3 of the Constitution be amended accordingly.

      - the Chief Executive in consultation with the Chairman of the Health Review Committee may agree to the formation of such a committee, its membership and terms of reference if there is insufficient time for that decision to be taken by the Health Review Committee subject to the details being submitted for approval to the next meeting of the Health Review Committee.

    (e) any joint committee so convened will work to a specific proposal and with clear terms of reference. These will be restricted to consideration of and agreeing a response to, the proposal on which the Committee has been consulted.

    (f) regular reports be provided to the Committee and the Chief Executive of the progress made by any joint committee so convened.

    (g) the Strategic Health Authority, NHS Trusts and PCTs providing health services to people living in the area of the Committee be advised of the Committee's decision and the need to alert the Committee to any proposals that may be considered a substantial variation or development at the earliest possible opportunity.

4JM1151003