Archived decisions

Item 2

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

PRESENT

Chairman:

p Councillor Dr. R.J. Ellis

Vice-Chairman:

p Councillor Mrs. A.M. McNair Scott

Councillors:

Co-opted Members:

Councillors:

p Mrs. M. Kerley

p R. Love

p P. Rees

D. Welch

Also in attendance:

Councillor Felicity Hindson MBE, Executive Member for Children's Services;

Councillor B.D. Dash at the invitation of the Chairman and Councillor David Steven Butler, Portsmouth City Council

70. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

Members were mindful that, where they believed that they had a personal or personal prejudicial interesting 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 M. Cooper - wife a General Practioner

Councillor Mrs. P. Dickens - employed by NHS

Councillor D. Harrison - employed by the NHS

Councillor Mrs. M. Kerley - Member of the Romsey and Andover League of

Friends

Councillor D. Wright - wife a General Practice Manager.

71. MINUTES

The Minutes of the Meeting of the Committee held on 25 September 2006 were confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

72. CHAIRMAN'S COMMUNICATION

(a) European Health Forum

The Chairman reported that he had attended the European Health Forum at Salzburg, Austria in October. The main messages had been unaffordability of the current health service whether state of insurance funded, bad management of health systems and the lack of real involvement of patients and public. Networking opportunities had been very useful including a contribution to our care at the end of life review from the University of Glamorgan and links with the European Commission and European health economic bodies.

(b) South Central Health Overview and Scrutiny Committees

The Chairman reported that Hampshire had hosted a meeting of the South Central Health Overview and Scrutiny Committees to enable networks to be built and discuss with Mark Britnell, Chief Executive of the South Central Strategic Health Authority, the key issues facing the local health system, community hospitals and maternity services.

(c) South Central Strategic Health Authority

The Chairman reported that he and the Chief Executive had met with Mark Britnell and discussed the difficult financial position of both health and social care and the tensions that could arise at the interface.

(d) Hampshire Primary Care Trust

The Chairman reported that the Hampshire Primary care Trust had confirmed his appointment as and observer to the Trust Board. He was the only Hampshire representative appointed in this position.

(e) Strategic Health Authority/Primary Care Trust

The Chairman reported that it had been agreed to meet regularly with the Chairmen and Chief Executives of the South Central Strategic Health Authority and Hampshire Primary Care Trust.

(f) Hampshire Patient and Public Involvement Forum

The Chairman welcomed Frank Rust, Chairman of the new Hampshire Patient and Public Involvement Forum, top the meeting and said that he had extended an invitation to Frank to attend the Committee meetings as an observer.

(g) County Council's Network

The Chairman reported that he had attended the County Council's Network and gave a presentation with

Chris Lawrence-Pietroni about the role of the elected member in health and social care decision making.

(h) Healthcare Commission

The Chairman reported that the County Council was working in collaboration with the Healthcare Commission to run an event on local engagement. He event was to be held on 1 March 2007 and hosted by the Leader of the County Council. All members of the Committee would be invited to attend.

(i) Local Government Association

The Chairman reported that he had raised the importance of the Local Government Association and health working collaboratively to address partnership working. He had written to Lord Sandy Bruce-Lockhart, Chairman of the Local Government Association, to this effect.

73. 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 4 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 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) Hampshire Primary Care Trusts : Hampshire Child Health and Maternity Services: A Discussion Paper

The Strategic Health Authority had confirmed that work was in hand to develop a strategic framework to guide the development of these services. The Primary Care Trust had yet to confirm how it was going to take this work forward.

RESOLVED:

That the Committee be updated on the progress with this initiative at its next meeting.

(b) Southeast Primary Care Trust Cluster : Maternity Services in Southeast Hampshire County Council

The Grange Birthing centre had reopened with a limited service on 30 October 2006.

RESOLVED:

That the Committee be kept updated on the progress of the Maternity Services Joint Committee taking account of the Strategic Health Authority review.

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

The Hampshire Primary Care Trust had replied to queries raised by the

Emsworth Residents Association.

RESOLVED:

That the Committee continues to monitor plans for community services in southeast Hampshire.

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

Portsmouth Hospitals NHS Trust had confirmed progress with the transfer of the older persons medicine service and the only changes would be the documentation used by staff.

RESOLVED:

That Committee be advised of any further issues through the Joint Committee.

(e) North Hampshire Primary Care Trust: Modernising Alton Hospital

Additional information on the changes to the services and how these would be developed had been requested. The Chief Executive tabled a letter from Hampshire Primary Care Trust confirming arrangements for public and patient involvement in the development and the work of the implementation group.

RESOLVED:

That the Committee be appraised of the response of the Hampshire Primary Care Trust at its next meeting

(f) The Rainbow Centre Service Charge: Feedback from Patient and Public Involvement Forum

Due to changes in the configuration of Patient and Public Involvement

Forums the report on the impact of the proposed changes to the Rainbow Centre Service by the Forum was not yet available.

RESOLVED:

That the Committee be provided with a copy of the report when available.

(g) Southeast England Strategic Health Authority: Acute Service Reconfiguration

The Southeast England Strategic Health Authority which covers Surrey

and Sussex had written alerting the Committee to plans to reconfigure services that border Hampshire. Any changes would have an impact on Hampshire residents and the Committee would have an interest in contributing to any Joint Committee set up to consider the proposals.

RESOLVED:

That the Chairman be authorised to set up a working group to consider the proposals and to appoint members, as appropriate to any Joint Committee established to consider the proposals.

(h) Department of Health - Development of Local Involvement Networks (LINKs)

The Health Minister had written to all Local Authority Chief

Executives with Social Service responsibilities to confirm:

· Local Authorities with social services responsibilities will have a statutory duty for setting up the LINks

· The LINks will bring local people together to engage with health and social care organisations to shape priorities and services

· Funding will be provided by central government to host and support the LINks

It was also expected that the House of Commons Health Select

Committee would announce that it would be conducting a review of patient and public involvement in the NHS.

RESOLVED:

That:

i. The Committee works with lead officers and Members within the County Council to inform the establishment of LINKs for the County Council.

ii. The Committee provides evidence, as appropriate, to the House of Commons Health Select Committee.

(i) Department of Health White Paper - `Strong and Prosperous Communities'

The Department oh Health had published a White Paper. `Strong and Prosperous Communities', a summary of the key points that would have an impact on the work of the Committee was shown as Annex three to the Chief Executive's report.

Under items requiring action he gave details on:-

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

Southampton University Hospital Trust gave a presentation outlining

what was currently available to women and what they choose, the reasons for the review of services, the rising birth rate and how this shown in the types of delivery, the options available and how the public had been involved in the review.

As a result of the review the Trust had decided to locate a single stand-alone birth centre at Snowdon House, Ashurst with antenatal, home birth and postnatal services remain local with the midwife teams based in Romsey, Hythe, Lymington and Totton, it was aware that people were passionate about their local centres but it had a duty to provide the best possible safe service for all. Snowdon House would have a full range of birth options for women, had the support of the wider population and was the most cost effective option.

The Chairman said that he had received much correspondence from the public raising their concerns about the proposals. He put these concerns to the Trust representatives together with searching questions about the review and review process to enable the Committee to take a balanced view on the proposal. Concerns were raised about the Trust's interpretation of Test Valley Borough Council's and New Forest District Council's views on the proposals, the numbers of midwives and their moral as a result of the changes, access to Snowden House by public transport, ambulance transfers in cases of emergency and the access to the services for the disadvantaged in the community.

Members were happy that the review process and consultation process had been carried out effectively and took the view that the proposals were the best possible option.

RESOLVED:

That endorsement be given to Southampton University Hospital Trust's proposals to locate a single stand-alone birth centre at Snowdon House, Ashurst with antenatal, home birth and postnatal services remain local with the midwife teams based in Romsey, Hythe, Lymington and Totton subject to continued consultation on its implementation.

(k) Southwest Primary Care Trusts Alliance: Neurology Rehabilitation Services

Hampshire Primary Care Trust had confirmed its intention to relocate

the Neurology Rehabilitation Services to Western Hospital. It had given assurances that the issues raised by the public during the consultation period would be taken into account in the arrangements for moving the services.

RESOLVED:

That the outcome of the consultation be noted.

(l) Hampshire County Council Adult Services: Consultation on Eligibility Criteria for Accessing Community Services

The Executive Member for Adult Social Care had withdrawn the consultation on changes to eligibility criteria. The response of the Director of Adult Services to questions raised by the Committee was shown as Annex 5 to the Chief Executives Report.

RESOLVED:

That the response of the Director of Adult Services be noted.

(m) Department of Health - Consultation on Non-Emergency Transport

The Department of Health had launched a consultation on the eligibility

Criteria for non-emergency patient transport. The consultation would run from 17 November 2006 to 16 February 2007. The Consultation paper was shown as Annex six to the Chief Executive's report.

RESOLVED:

That any feedback from Members on the consultation be sent to the Health Scrutiny Manager by 19 January 2007 and a draft response, incorporating any feedback, on the consultation be presented to the next meeting of the Committee.

74. INQUIRIES RECEIVED AND ACTION TAKEN

The Chief Executive presented a report on enquiries received, the

source of each enquiry and the action taken (Item 5 in the Minute Book). The enquiries related to:-

Future of The Lawns Day Hospital, Havant

Incidence and Causes of Delay in Discharge from Winchester and Eastleigh Healthcare NHS Trust

Partnership Working with the Healthcare Commission

Publication of Annual Health Check Assessments

Care at The End of Life

`Fit for the Future'

Changes to Day centre Provision in Hart Area

Delayed Discharges at Southampton University Hospital Trust

The Future of Community Hospitals

Mental Capacity Act

RESOLVED:

That the report be received and the actions outlined in the report be endorsed.

75. APPOINTMENT OF CO-OPTED MEMBER TO THE HAMPSHIRE,

SOUTHAMPTON, PORTSMOUTH AND ISLE OF WIGHT HEALTH SCRUTINY JOINT COMMITTEE

Councillor Love volunteered to take on this role.

RESOLVED:

That Councillor R. Love be appointed to serve on the Hampshire, Southampton, Portsmouth and Isle of Wight Health Scrutiny Joint Committee until the Annual Meeting of the County Council in May 2009.

76. HEALTH AND WELLBEING

The Director of Adult Services presented a report on the progress being made

with the Health and Wellbeing review (Item 7 in the Minute Book). She outlined the progress since January 2006, work alongside the NHS to pursue Local Area Agreement targets and the future plans which had been reinforced by the White Paper `Strong and Prosperous Communities'.

RESOLVED:

That Lead Officers from Adult Services and Hampshire Public Health Network reports back to the Committee in July 2007 with a clear action plan for developing a joint strategy for public Health and Wellbeing across the County.

77. FORWARD PLAN

The Chief Executive presented the Committee's Forward Plan (Item 8

in the Minute Book). The signing of a contract between Portsmouth Hospitals NHS Trust and the Ministry of Defence over continued use of Royal Haslar Hospital following the Ministry of Defence pulling out in 2007 was raised. The Chairman agreed to write to the Strategic Health Authority and Portsmouth Hospitals NHS Trust in an effort to resolve the situation.

RESOLVED

That the Forward Plan be approved.

_________________________

Chairman.

30 January 2007