Archived decisions

REPORT OF THE

HEALTH OVERVIEW AND SCRUTINY COMMITTEE

PART II

2004/05 ANNUAL REPORT AND DRAFT PROGRAMME OF WORK FOR 2005/06

1. The Committee was pleased to endorse its second Annual Report which has been circulated to all Members.

2. It sets out the progress with the agreed work programme and describes the additional action taken to ensure that the Committee meets its statutory responsibilities with regard to the overview and scrutiny of health services in Hampshire.

3. Members have continued to take a lead across a number of areas of work, both planned and unplanned, by adopting a flexible approach to health scrutiny, and carefully targeting resources to secure improvements in service delivery which has enabled our work programme to undertake a number of additional initiatives.

4. Particular pressures over the past 12 months have come from the NHS, which is required to consult the Committee when proposals to substantially change or vary services are under consideration. In addition to national drivers for modernisation, and major policy initiatives such as new GP contracts, local NHS services have to manage significant financial challenges to ensure that health services are affordable and sustainable. This year has seen a further deterioration in the budgetary provision of the local NHS and the Committee anticipates that 2005/06 will bring significant change as NHS organisations in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight strive to achieve financial balance.

5. The Committee is committed to building on the progress achieved to further strengthen its networks across health, local government and the voluntary sector.

6. The Committee's work programme for 2005/06 will build on and consolidate the work of the last two years. In addition to scrutinising proposals to vary or develop NHS services and reacting to health inquiries it proposes to review:

¬ The role of Hampshire County Council in promoting the public health agenda working with other County scrutiny committees as appropriate

¬ The issue of Out of Hours Services and unscheduled care.

¬ The effectiveness of arrangements for assessing progress with the implementation of recommendations made to responsible bodies.

¬ The scope for referring other issues raised by partner organisations, such as partnership working and transport to other scrutiny committees operating in the area.

7. This supports Aims 1, 4 and 5 of the Corporate Strategy.