Item 2b

NOTE of INQUORATE MEETING of the HAMPSHIRE, SOUTHAMPTON, PORTSMOUTH AND ISLE OF WIGHT HEALTH SCRUTINY JOINT COMMITTEE held at The Civic Centre, Southampton on Monday, 27 March 2006

PRESENT

Members Officers

Hampshire Councillors Dr. R.J. Ellis (Chairman) Denise Holden

D. Wright David Pryke

Martin Combs

Southampton Martin Day

John Beer

Portsmouth Councillors F. Charlton (Vice-Chairman) Saskia Kiernan

1. MINUTES

There were no matters arising from the Minutes of the meeting of the Joint Committee held on 5 December 2005.

2. MATERNITY SERVICES IN PORTSMOUTH AND SOUTHEAST HAMPSHIRE

Councillor Charlton reported on the recent meeting of the Joint Committee on Maternity Services and the revised plans for the reconfiguration of Maternity Services in Portsmouth and Southeast Hampshire. It had recommended that all of the options for the future delivery of maternity services identified at the meeting constituted a substantial variation of services under Section 11 of the Health and Social Care Act and, therefore, subject to a process of formal public consultation. The consultation should also include the option of maintaining the status quo.

The Chairman reported on public meetings and meetings with the local MP that had been held with regards the temporary closure of Blackbrook and The Grange Birthing Centres. He said that Portsmouth Hospitals Trust had advised that these would reopen as soon as staffing levels permitted. Any proposals to permanently close the birthing centres would be regarded as a substantial change to the service

3. HEALTH AND WELLBEING AND OUT OF HOURS SERVICES

Denise Holden presented a report which Hampshire Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee would be considering the following day. She said that public health and wellbeing provided the opportunity for a joint co-ordinated approach and that the new health structure should provide the way for key interface with health and social services. John Beer said that Southampton already had a joint appointment dealing with health and social services. The out of hours services review would be looking at what worked best.

4. COMMISSIONING A PATIENT LED NHS - PROPOSALS TO RECONFIGURE STRATEGIC HEALTH, PRIMARY CARE TRUST AND AMBULANCE TRUST BOUNDARIES

The Chairman reported that there had much support for there to be one Primary Care Trust for Hampshire with individual Primary Care Trusts for Portsmouth, Southampton and the Isle of Wight remaining in place. He had been surprised at the Strategic Health Authority's decision to recommend that the Hampshire Ambulance Service should combine with Thames Valley and said that Hampshire had recommended that it should remain intact. It had been recommended that there should be two strategic health authorities for southeast England although Southampton had recommended one for the region.

5. UPDATES FROM LOCAL AUTHORITIES

Southampton

Martin Day reported that Southampton had been looking at the implications of the recent Government White Paper.

Portsmouth

Saskia Kiernan reported that Portsmouth had recently signed off the review of Dentistry and Oral Health and concerns had arisen about out of hours dentistry. There were concerns about the new Independent Sector Treatment Centre at St. Mary's Hospital and it was hoped to arrange a visit. They were keeping an eye on elderly medicine and proposals to transfer the service. Work was progressing on the Healthchecks currently being received from the Trusts.

Hampshire

Denise Holden reported that they had recently three area meetings which highlighted concerns about the Health Service Reconfiguration and Health Service finances. There had recently been an appointment to look at wellbeing for older people. There were concerns about the extra burden of work resulting from the Healthchecks of Trusts.

6. GREATER SOUTHAMPTON PLAN

John Beer reported on the progress being made with the Greater Southampton Plan. The final document was still awaited but would include the transfer of the Department of Psychiatry to the Royal South Hants Hospital site together with a range of other services. The ownership of the Royal South Hants Hospital would transfer from Southampton University Hospital Trust to Southampton Primary Care Trust.