ITEM 2

AT A MEETING of the HEALTH OVERVIEW AND SCRUTINY COMMITTEE of the COUNTY COUNCIL held at The Castle, Winchester on Tuesday, 28 March 2006.

PRESENT

Chairman:

p Councillor Dr. R.J. Ellis

Vice-Chairman

p Councillor Mrs. A.M. McNair Scott

Councillors:

Co-opted Members:

Councillors:

a C. Connor

p Mrs. M. Kerley

a A. Mitchell

p D. Welch

Also in attendance: Councillors A.P. Collett and B.D. Dash at the invitation of the Chairman.

1. DECLARATION 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 the 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 was discussed.

The following members declared a personal interest:-

Councillor Mrs P. Dickens - employed by NHS
Councillor P. Edgar - does work for NHS
Councillor D. Harrison - employed by NHS
Councillor D. Wright - wife a General Practice Manager
Councillor Mrs P. West - a member of Andover Reconfiguration Board and daughter-in-law a paramedic

39. MINUTES

The Minutes of the meeting of the Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on 31 January 2006 were confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

40. CHAIRMAN'S COMMUNICATIONS

(a) Sir Ian Caruthers

The Chairman reported that Sir Ian Caruthers had recently been appointed Acting Chief Executive of the NHS following Sir Nigel Crisp's resignation and that Eileen Spiller had been appointed Acting Chief Executive of Hampshire and Isle of Wight Strategic Health Authority.


(b) Strategic Health Authority Finances

The Chairman reported that the Strategic Health Authority was forecasting a £44.4m end of year deficit against a control set by the Department of Health of £58.7 m.


(c) NHS Financing

The Chairman reported that Public Accounts Committee had now confirmed that it had asked the National Audit Office to comment on the points raised in his letter regarding NHS Finances.


(d) Romsey Birth Centre

The Chairman was pleased to confirm that Romsey Birth Centre had re-opened on 20 March 2006.


(e) Annual Health Checks

The Chairman reported that despite additional work the process of responding to the request to comment on NHS and Primary Care Trust compliance with the Annual Healthcheck on Performance was under way. He had also written to the Healthcare Commission on behalf of Health Overview Scrutiny Committees in Southeast England asking for action to be taken to address the lack of partnership working with Overview and Scrutiny Committees.


(f) Chris Lawrence - Pietronti

The Chairman reported that Chris had taken over from Malcolm Cole, following his retirement, and welcomed him to the meeting.

41. DEPUTATIONS

There were no deputations to this meeting.

42. INQUIRIES RECEIVED AND ACTION TAKEN

The Chief Executive presented a report on inquiries received, the source of each inquiry and the action taken (Item 5 in the Minute Book). Representatives from the Hampshire Ambulance Service NHS Trust gave a comprehensive presentation on the revised Ambulance Service Estates Strategy. The Committee was reassured by the revised strategy and agreed that it did not constitute a substantial change to the Service. The Committee also received a presentation from Blackwater Valley and Hart Primary Care Trust on the work in progress on Aldershot Centre for Health. The Committee was pleased with the progress to date and requested regular updates. The Chief Executive gave details of other inquires - return of routine neurology referrals; transfer of upper gastro intestinal cancer surgery from Frimley Park to Royal Surrey County Hospital; Closure of New Street Practice, Andover; the future of Redclyffe House, Gosport; cleanliness in hospitals; the future of The Lawns Day Hospital and the closure of Midhurst Hospital. He circulated recent correspondence that had been received in respect of Redclyffe House, Gosport and The Lawns Day Hospital.

RESOLVED:

That the report be received and the actions outlined in the report be endorsed subject to:

(a) Hampshire Ambulance Estates Strategy - it be confirmed that it is considered that the revised proposal is not a substantial change in service


(b) The Future of the Lawns Day Hospital - Councillor Mrs Buckley be the link between Hampshire Partnership NHS Trust and the Committee.


(c) Closure of Midhurst Hospital - the views of the Strategic Health Authority be sought on the closure

43. PROPOSALS TO DEVELOP OR VARY NHS SERVICES

The Chief Executive presented a report on proposals to develop or vary 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 for 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:-

(a) Southwest Primary Care Trust Alliance/Southampton University Hospital Trust: Closure of Maternity Beds and Review of Maternity Services in Southwest Hampshire

No further information had been received about this proposal.

RESOLVED:

That the Committee be advised of the next steps of the review of maternity services in Southwest Hampshire as soon as these are available.


(b) Mid and Southwest Hampshire Primary Care Trusts: Surgical Service Reconfiguration

No further information had been received about this proposal.

RESOLVED:

That the Committee be updated on the progress with the surgical service reconfiguration proposal as soon as it is available.


(c) The future of Services in Fareham and Gosport/Southeast Hampshire Capacity Plan

No further information had been received about this proposal.

RESOLVED:

That the Committee be advised of any further developments that would impact on the provision of services in these areas.


(d) Strategic Health Authority: Acute Paediatric Services Review

The Strategic Health Authority had commissioned the Office of Public Management to undertake a review of acute paediatric services and the findings had been shared with a wide range of stakeholders. There were key emerging themes on a number of issues and these were shown in Appendix 1 to the Chief Executive's report.

RESOLVED:

That the Committee be advised of the way in which the review of acute paediatric services will be taken forward following the consultation process.


(e) Mid Hampshire Primary Care Trust : Mental Health Accommodation

Confirmation had been received detailing the involvement of key stakeholders and the Chairman had indicated that satisfactory Section 11 involvement had taken place.



RESOLVED:

That it be confirmed that this was not a substantial service change.


(f) Blackwater Valley and Hart Primary Care Trust : Rainbow Assessment and Treatment Group

Additional information had been provided about the proposal and the relevant Patient and Public Information Forum had confirmed that this was not a substantial change that needed to be referred to the Committee. The establishment of a self help parents group working in conjunction with the Forum would monitor the new service. Surrey County Council's Health Overview and Scrutiny committee had been appraised of the changes and would concur with the views of this Committee.

RESOLVED:

That:-


(i) The views of the Patient and Public Information Forum about the nature of the changes be supported.


(ii) The Committee be provided with an evaluation of the service undertaken by the Patient and Public Information Forum after six months.


(g) Southeast Primary Care Trust Cluster : Maternity Services in Southeast Hampshire

The Chairman had written to Portsmouth Hospital Trust requesting dates when Blackbrook and The Grange Birthing Centres would reopen. An oral response had been received stating that they would reopen when staffing levels permitted. The Primary Care Trusts option appraisal on the review of maternity services in the area was presented to the Maternity Services Joint Committee on 1 March 2006 and the Joint Committee's recommendations were shown as Appendix 2 to the Chief Executive's report.

RESOLVED:

That:-


(i) Advice be sought from the Independent Reconfiguration Panel about the failure of Portsmouth Hospital Trust to provide reopening dates for Blackbrook and The Grange Birthing Centres.


(ii) The Committee be kept up to date on the progress of the Maternity Services Joint Committee.


(h) East Hampshire Primary Care Trust : Transfer of Older Persons Medicine Services

The Primary Care Trust had indicated its intention to transfer older persons medicine services to Portsmouth Hospital Trust, initially from 1 April 2006. The Committee had, at its last meeting, requested a delay in the transfer because of concerns which were also shared by Portsmouth City Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee. The Primary Care Trust had now advised that the Strategic Health Authority had assumed responsibility for responding to the concerns raised.

RESOLVED:

That:


(i) The Committee be provided with a full response to the issues raised with the Primary Care Trust at its next meeting.


(ii) The views of Adult Services on the response received be formally invited.


Under items requiring action he gave details on:


(i) North East Hampshire Primary Care Trust : Re-provision of Older Persons Mental Health Services Provided at Homefield House, Basingstoke

Details of Section 11 engagement, plans for respite and day care and commitments given to patients and families had been previously requested and the Trust had responded with additions information about the changes to these services. Adult Services had also been invited to comment on the proposal.

RESOLVED:

That:-


(i) The Committee be provided with confirmation of the next steps to be taken by the Primary Care Trust, including plans for engaging with stakeholders.


(ii) The Patient and Public Involvement Forum be invited to comment on the proposal.


(iii) The Committee be appraised of progress at its next meeting.


(j) North Hampshire Primary Care Trust : Changes to the Configuration of Services at Alton Community Hospital

No further information had been provided about this proposal.

RESOLVED:

That the Committee be advised with the progress on developing the consultation document at its next meeting.


(k) Department of Health : Commissioning a Patient Led NHS

The Committee's comments on the proposals to reconfigure the Strategic Health Authority; Primary Care Trusts and the Ambulance Service had been shared with the Strategic Health Authority. At its recent meeting the Strategic Health Authority had recommended one Primary Care Trust for Hampshire and for the Hampshire Ambulance Service to be combined with Thames Valley Ambulance Service.

RESOLVED:

That the Committee be appraised of the outcome of the Department of Health consultation at its next meeting.


(l) Healthcare Commission : Engaging with Patients and the Public

The Chairman had sent the Committee's final response on the consultation to the Healthcare Commission which was shown as appendix six to the Chief Executive's report.

RESOLVED:

That the Committee be advised of the outcome of the consultation as soon as it has been published.

44. HEALTH OVERVIEW AND SCRUTINY THEMATIC REVIEW PROGRAMME

The Chief Executive presented a report giving an update on the thematic reviews of Public Health and Wellbeing and Out-of-Hours Services (Item 7 in the Minute Book). He outlined the current position with each of the reviews and suggested that a Panel of Members be established to assist with the progress of the Health and Wellbeing review and Strategic Health Authority representatives be invited to the next meeting of the Committee to advise the Committee of the progress made on issues relating to the out-of-hours services.

RESOLVED:

That:-

(a) A panel of Members consisting of the Chairman and Vice-Chairman of the Committee and Councillors: Mrs Dickens; Clark and Wright be appointed to assist with progressing the Health and Wellbeing review with the

outcome of the review being reported back to the Committee at its meeting on 28 November 2006.


(b) Representatives of the Strategic Health Authority be invited to the next meeting of the Committee to advise on the progress made on issues relating to the Out-of-Hours Service.

4JM030406