Archived decisions

AT A MEETING of the HEALTH REVIEW COMMITTEE of the COUNTY COUNCIL held at The Castle, Winchester on Tuesday, 16 December 2003

PRESENT

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

Mrs P G Banks; I F E Beagley; K G Chapman; Mrs P Dickens; A G Dowden;

Mrs D R Harrison; Mrs P G E Holden-Brown; P K Mason; R C McIntosh;

Mrs E M F Randall; K P J Searle; F Williams; D F Wright.

46 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 P K Mason declared a non-pecuniary interest in that he is employed by the Ambulance Service;
Councillor F Williams declared a non-pecuniary interest in that he is employed by a Primary Care Trust and Councillor D F Wright declared a non-pecuniary interest in that his wife is a General Practice, Practice Manager.

47 MINUTES

The Minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 28 October 2003 were confirmed as a correct records and signed by the Chairman.

48 CHAIRMAN'S COMMUNICATIONS

    (a) Website

    The Chairman reported that a Health Scrutiny Website was in the process of being set up and would be operational in the New Year.

    (b) Seminar on Emergency Services

    The Chairman announced that arrangements were being made for a half-day seminar on Emergency Services. Members would be advised when a date had been fixed.

    (c) Hampshire, Southampton, Portsmouth and Isle of Wight Health Joint Scrutiny Committee

    The Chairman reported that the Committee had met on
    11 December and discussed a range of issues affecting the four authorities.

    (d) Work of the Committee

    The Chairman reported that arrangements were in hand for a letter to be sent to all Members of the County Council giving details of the work the Committee had undertaken to date.

    (e) Letter to Secretary of State

    The Chairman reported that the Leader of the County Council had written to the Secretary of State pointing out the considerable resource implications for health scrutiny and requesting additional funding.

49 DEPUTATIONS

There were no deputations to the meeting.

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

The Chief Executive of the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Health Authority presented a report on emerging issues concerned with the management and development of NHS services in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight (Item 5 in the Minute Book). He explained the progress with HealthFit, the five clinical services being examined - Children's, Maternity, Emergency, Older People's and Cancer Services - and the five geographical localities - Isle of Wight, Mid and South West Hampshire, North Hampshire, North East Hampshire (Blackwater Valley and Hart) and Portsmouth and South East Hampshire. He outlined the key issues for the Strategic Health Authority and for the local areas. A discussion document on the issues had been circulated and comments were sought by 12 March 2004. The Chairman stressed that this was only a discussion document and not the formal consultation that the Committee would need to consider.

RESOLVED:

That the report be noted.

51 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 was on course for the formal report to the Committee in January 2004.

RESOLVED:

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

52 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; Diagnostic and Treatment Centres; Patient and Public Involvement; Redevelopment of Queen Alexandra Hospital and Services in South East Hampshire; Delayed Discharges and Consultation on Foundation Hospitals. Councillor Dowden updated the Committee on progress with confirming accessibility of podiatry services for people living with diabetes in Hampshire and suggested appropriate follow-up action following a meeting he had attended on 9 December with regard to the redevelopment of Queen Alexandra Hospital and services in South East Hampshire. The Chairman said that the Joint Committee had agreed that the issue of maternity services would be considered jointly by Portsmouth, Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, with Portsmouth City Council taking the lead role. The planning application for the redevelopment of Queen Alexandra Hospital had been withdrawn and a fresh detailed planning application would be submitted to Portsmouth City Council sometime in the new year. An update on delayed discharge figures was circulated.

RESOLVED:

That:-

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

    (b) the feasibility of a feedback from people with diabetes across Hampshire through "Hampshire Now" be explored.

53 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 - The working group had responded to the consultation which was shown in appendix two to the report.

Eastleigh and Test Valley South PCT Consultation Pending: The Mount Hospital - Following press reports about the closure of The Mount Hospital the PCT had confirmed that no decision would be taken to close The Mount until Section 11 responsibilities had been fully discharged and formal consultation completed.

'HealthFit' Implementation - Formal consultation on proposals was still awaited from the strategic Health Authority.

Mental Health Services in North East Hampshire - Following a recommendation from the PCT it was not clear whether a revised proposal would have an impact on Hampshire residents; if it did, further consultation would be required.

Blackwater Valley and Hart Primary Care Trust: Changes to Service Provision at Fleet Hospital - Notification of the consultation had been received about this proposal, details of which were set out in appendix four to the report.

Maternity Services in South East Hampshire - Formal consultation on the provision of maternity services in South East Hampshire, which affects people in Hampshire, Portsmouth City and the Isle of Wight, had now been received. Arrangements for establishing a Joint Committee were in place.

New Forest PCT: PFI Proposal for Lymington Hospital

Formal consultation had been received on the proposed PFI development at Lymington Hospital, details of which are shown in appendix five to the report.

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 Committee endorse the response from the working group;

      (ii) the response to the points raised by the working group is reported back to the next meeting of the Committee.

    (b) Eastleigh and Test Valley South PCT: Consultation on the future of The Mount Hospital

    the Committee receives the plans for involving local people, patients and stakeholders in determining the options for the future of services currently provided at The Mount Hospital.

    (c) `HealthFit' Implementation

      the Committee continues to press the Health Authority for clarification of the HealthFit proposals

    (d) Mental Health Services in North East Hampshire

      (i) the Committee is advised of the response of the lead PCT

      (ii) any revision of the original proposal is assessed to determine the implications for services to people in the north east Hampshire area

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

      (i) Members wishing to comment on the proposal send the Chairman their views by 15 January

      (ii) feedback from the PCT on the response to consultation is reported to the Committee

    (f) Maternity Services in South East Hampshire

      (i) Members endorse the establishment of a Joint Committee to consider proposal for developing maternity services in South East Hampshire.

      (ii) Councillors Mrs McNair Scott and Mrs Dickens are invited to join the Committee

      (iii) the criteria for responding to consultation previously agreed by the Committee are drawn to the attention of the Joint Committee.

    (g) New Forest PCT: PFI proposal for Lymington Hospital

      (i) any Member wishing to comment on the proposal send the Chairman their views by 31 January 2004

      (ii) the Committee receives a copy of the outcome of the consultation process from the PCT

16.12.03