Archived decisions
ITEM 2
AT A MEETING OF THE HEALTH OVERVIEW AND SCRUTINY COMMITTEE of the COUNTY COUNCIL held at The Castle, Winchester on Tuesday 27 September 2005.
PRESENT
Councillors: Dr R J Ellis (Chairman); Mrs A M McNair Scott (Vice-Chairman);
Mrs A Buckley; N Clarke; Mrs P Dickens; P Edgar; D Harrison; Mrs M Kerley;
P K Mason; A Mitchell; E Neal; Mrs E Still; D Welch; Mrs P A West; D F Wright.
Also in attendance: Councillor J K West (Chairman of the County Council); Councillor Mrs P G Banks (Executive Member for Adult Social Care);
Councillor F Charlton (Portsmouth City Council).
19. DECLARATION OF INTEREST
Members were mindful that where they believed that 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 personal interest in that she is employed by the NHS; Councillor P Edgar declared a personal interest in that he does work for the NHS; Councillor Mrs P A West declared a personal interest in that she is a member of the Andover Reconfiguration Board and her daughter-in-law is a paramedic and Councillor D F Wright declared a personal interest in that his wife is a General Practice Manager.
20. MINUTES
The Minutes of the Meeting of the Committee held on 26 July 2005 were subject to Minute No. 10 being amended to include Councillor Edgar's declaration of personal interest in that he does work for the NHS, confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.
Arising thereon:
(a) Minute No. 12 (d) Public Health Initiatives
The Chief Executive reported on the progress that was being made on mapping public health initiatives .
21. CHAIRMAN'S COMMUNICATIONS
(a) Meeting with Chairman of Strategic Health Authority
The Chairman reported that he and the Health Review Manager had had a very helpful and lengthy meeting with Sir Ian Carruthers, the new Chief Executive of the Strategic Health Authority.
(b) Hampshire Ambulance Service
The Chairman reported that he had visited the ambulance crew on a Friday night shift. It had been a very useful experience and had provided him with a better understanding of the issues faced by front line staff. The Chief Executive of the Ambulance Trust had kindly offered to make similar arrangements for any member of the Committee. Any members interested should contact the Health Review Manager.
22. DEPUTATIONS
There were no deputations to this meeting.
23. INQUIRIES RECEIVED AND ACTION TAKEN
The Chief Executive presented a report on inquiries reviewed, the source of each inquiry and the action taken (Item 5 in the Minute Book). He gave details on the temporary closure of The Grange and Blackbrook Birthing Centres; Cleanliness in Hospitals; Compliance with NICE Guidelines; Ambulance Service Estates Strategy; Return of routine neurology referrals and the Healthcare Commission.
RESOLVED:
That the report be received and the actions outlined on the report be endorsed.
24. PROPOSALS TO DEVELOP OR VARY NHS SERVICES
The Chief Executive presented a report on proposals to vary or develop health services in the area of the Committee (Item 6 in the Minute Book). He presented the report in two parts which comprised of items of information which alerted the Committee to forthcoming proposals from the NHS to vary or change services and items for action which set out the actions required by the Committee to respond to proposals from the NHS to substantially change or vary NHS services.
Under items for information he gave details on:-
Mid and Southwest Hampshire Cluster - Surgical Services Reconfiguration
No further information had been provided on progress with this initiative.
The Future of Health Services in Fareham and Gosport
A reply had been received from Lord Warner which had not taken into account the points raised in the letter to the Secretary of State requesting referral to the Independent Reconfiguration Panel. A further letter had been sent to Lord Warner requesting clarification within 28 days.
Southeast Hampshire Capacity Plan
No further information had been received about the capacity plan and the private finance initiative for Queen Alexandra Hospital had not yet been signed.
Acute Paediatric Services/Maternity Services Review
The Strategic Health Authority ran an event to feedback Key Stakeholders on 15 September 2005 which had included comments from parents, young people and children as well as health professionals. Headline recommendations from the review included:
- The need to retain local access to paediatric services on all current sites.
- The expansion and development of ambulatory and community nursing services around the clock.
- One inpatient unit for the whole of North and Mid-Hampshire.
- Acute and community paediatric services at Winchester and Basingstoke to be managed by one Trust.
Public consultation were to proceed following discussion with all Health Overview and Scrutiny Committees in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.
Changes to Wessex Cardiac Services
Southampton University Hospitals NHS Trust had proposed changes to the Wessex Cardiac Services to overcome a financial gap of £4m for 2005/06 financial year. Details of the proposals had been received on 26 August 2005 with a closing date for comments of 31 August 2005. The Trust had been replied to indicating the following:
- The agreed framework had not been followed .
- The timeframes for comment precluded HOSC member input.
- The lack of information about the extent to which P&PIF's and other key stakeholders had contributed to shaping the proposal in accordance with section 11 requirements.
- The lack of information about the patients affected, or alternative services available.
- The implications of delaying patient information.
Southampton City Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee then replied on similar terms. No response had yet been received.
Changes to Bed Modelling at Winchester and Eastleigh Healthcare NHS Trust
The Winchester and Eastleigh Healthcare NHS Trust had published a paper explaining how the Trust planned to re-organise inpatient services. It had confirmed that service to patients would not be affected and that action was in hand to make patients aware of the changes.
Under items requiring action he gave details on:-
Winchester and Eastleigh Healthcare NHS Trust/Mid Hampshire PCT: Changes to Rehabilitation Services at Andover Hospital
Further to the presentation to the Committee at the last meeting formal consultation had now been launched with the public and Key Stakeholders. The consultation period was from 15 August to 31 October 2005.
East Hampshire PCT: Changes to Community Services Configuration in Emsworth and Havant
Representatives from East Hampshire PCT attended the meeting and gave details of the outcome of the consultation and the way in which the views of local people had informed the development of a preferred option for moving forward.
Maternity Services in Southeast Hampshire
Following the decision of the Portsmouth, Hampshire and Isle of Wight Joint Maternity Committee the local NHS had agreed to revisit their decisions not to provide a stand alone birthing centre on Portsea Island. The Joint Committee had met again on 5 September to ask for further information about the next steps to be taken but no information had been received to date. At yesterday's meeting of the Hampshire, Southampton, Portsmouth and Isle of Wight Health Scrutiny Joint Committee considered the matter along with that of the temporary closures of Blackbrook and the Grange Birthing Centres and resolved to call the matters in to a meeting of that Joint Committee on 7 November 2005.
Southwest Alliance: Community Strategy Services for Older People
Interim comments on behalf of the Committee had been made to the PCT in early August 2005 and public consultation meetings to date had allocated a significant public profile with additional meetings had been set up to enable local people unable to access the venues to share their views. In order to promote further engagement with the communities affected funding had been made available by the Chairman to support independent work with the communities affected. This would complement additional work being taken forward by the PCT and provide a further opportunity for local people to shape the options being considered. It was anticipated that the feedback from the independent work would be presented at a meeting on 25 October 2005.
North Hampshire PCT: Changes to the Configuration of Services at Alton Community Hospital
The PCT was working with local people to remodel the services provided by the hospital to maintain the 24 beds and provide alternative support to the community and services to older people.
Southampton City PCT: Modernising Community Services
Following the last meeting the PCT had responded to the issued raised.
"Commissioning a Patient Led NHS": Department of Health
The Department of Health had instructed the Strategic Health Authority to submit proposals for the reconfiguring of local health services - Strategic Health Authorities, Primary Care Trusts and Ambulance Trusts. The Chief Executive outlined the draft response to the proposals.
Portsmouth City PCT: Changes to Substance Misuse Services
The proposal, which had been presented to the last meeting of the Committee had been submitted to the Hampshire, Southampton, Portsmouth and Isle of Wight Health Scrutiny Joint Committee to determine if it was a substantial change. The Joint Committee had agreed that it was not a substantial change.
Portsmouth City PCT: Changes to Low Secure Services Rehabilitation Services
The proposal, which had been presented to the last meeting of the Committee had been submitted to the Hampshire, Southampton, Portsmouth and Isle of Wight Health Scrutiny Joint Committee to determine if it was a substantial change. The Joint Committee had agreed that it was not a substantial change.
RESOLVED:
That:
(a) Mid and South West Hants Cluster: surgical services reconfiguration
The Committee be up-dated on progress with developing the surgical service proposal at its next meeting.
(b) Future of Health Services in Fareham and Gosport
The Committee be apprised of the response from Lord Warner.
(c) South East Hampshire Capacity Plan
Members be advised of the next draft of the capacity plan.
(d) Acute Paediatric services/maternity service review
Members are advised of the full review and consultation process developed to support this work.
(e) Wessex Cardiac Services
Further information be provided with regard to
- Clinical support for the proposals
- PCT sign-up to the changes
- Compliance with section 11 requirements
- Impact on patients
- Communications with patients and other health professionals
(f) Changes to bed modelling at WEHT
That the changes will not affect service delivery and are not therefore substantial be noted.
(g) Winchester and Eastleigh Healthcare NHS Trust (WEHT) Mid Hants PCT: Changes to Day Surgery and Rehabilitation Services
(i) The Committee reviews the consultation and engagement process with input from the relevant P&PIF's, district councils and other key stakeholders.
(ii) Additional questions from Committee members be directed to WEHT through the Health Review Manager up to 24 October 2005.
(h) East Hampshire PCT: changes to community service configuration in Emsworth and Havant
(i) The consultation process had been adequate
(ii) The guarantee from the Trust that the maximum range of services to be provided at Emsworth Victoria Cottage Hospital including the scope for additional GP services and outpatient clinics be welcomed.
(iii) Further information be sought about timeframes for developing a business plan for Oak park Development, the costs of its new model of community services and the additional services that would be provided in people's homes as well as monitoring arrangements to be put in place to ensure delivery of high quality services.
(iv) The continuation of the Steering Group established to support the consultation process and oversee the transition of proposals as implemented be welcomed and it be suggested that an elected member from Havant Borough Council should be invited to be a representative on it.
(i) Maternity Services in South East Hampshire
The actions of the Hampshire, Southampton, Portsmouth and the Isle of Wight Health Scrutiny Joint Committee be endorsed.
(j) South West Alliance Community Strategy
(i) Additional questions and queries from members to the PCT be directed through the Health Review Manager up to and including 25 October.
(ii) The PCT be invited to confirm that no decisions will be taken until the additional work, commissioned by the Committee had been fed back and reported.
(iii) Outstanding information relating to the financial assumptions, care pathways and needs assessment be made available to the Committee.
(iv) The links with this consultation, and that being conducted on the same patient group by Southampton City PCT be clearly set out by the PCT.
(k) North Hampshire PCT: Changes to the Configuration of Services at Alton Community Hospital
The Committee be advised of progress with developing the consultation document at the next meeting.
(l) Southampton City PCT: Modernising Community Services
The further work required to deliver the section 11 requirements and provide clarity about services for people living in the Eastleigh and Test Valley South PCT area be noted.
(m) "Commissioning a Patient-led NHS"
The draft response as attached at Appendix Eleven to the Chief Executive's report be agreed.
(n) Portsmouth City PCT: Changes to substance misuse services
The actions of the Hampshire, Southampton, Portsmouth and Isle of Wight Health Scrutiny Joint Committee be endorsed.
(o) Portsmouth City PCT: Changes to low secure rehabilitation services
The actions of the Hampshire, Southampton, Portsmouth and Isle of Wight Health Scrutiny Joint Committee be endorsed.
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