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, 24 July 2007.

PRESENT

Chairman:

p Councillor Dr. R.J. Ellis

Vice-Chairman:

p Councillor Mrs. A.M. McNair Scott

Councillors:

Co-opted Members:

Councillors:

Mrs. M. Kerley

p R. Love

p J. Marsh

Also in attendance:

Councillor David Stephen Butler, Portsmouth City Council; Richard Samuel, Hampshire Primary Care Trust and Mrs. M. Silk and N. Allsop, Portsmouth Patient and Public Involvement Forum.

103. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

Members were mindful that, where they believed that they had a personal or personal prejudicial interest 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 and Director of Trinity Centre

Councillor P. Edgar - does work for NHS

Councillor D. Harrison - employed by the NHS

Councillor D. Wright - wife a General Practice Manager.

Councillor R. Love - Director of Trinity Centre

104. MINUTES

The Minutes of the Meeting of the Committee held on 29 May 2007 were

confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

105. CHAIRMAN'S COMMUNICATION

a. Chairmanship

The Chairman reported that he had been reconfirmed Chairman of the

Hampshire, Southampton, Portsmouth and Isle of Wight Health Scrutiny Joint

Committee and appointed Chairman of the newly formed South Central HOSC

Network.

b. Mental Health Workshop

The Chairman reported that the Mental Health Workshop that was deferred last month would now take place on the 22 October 2007. It was anticipated that it would include an up date on the new Mental Health Act and the impact of the Mental Capacity Act. Lead members from the districts would be invited to attend the workshop.

c. Health Strategy for Southeast England

The Chairman reported that a copy of the newly launched health strategy for

southeast England had arrived in the first week of July- with a request that any response be made by the 31 July 2007. He believed That the date had now been extended to September 2007. Reading the document he could find nothing of substance or action in what is being proposed and intended responding accordingly.

d. Southeast England Health Overview and Scrutiny Committees

The Chairman reported that the Southeast England Health Overview and

Scrutiny Committee network had met on the 23 July 2007. Key issues included the

`Fit for the Future' proposals and the threat of judicial review from a Surrey NHS

Trust to the Surrey Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

e. Review of the NHS

The Chairman reported that the new Secretary of State has announced a review of

the NHS, led by Professor Sir Ara Drazi. He suggested responding to this, with Adult

Services, in order to ensure the issues that being faced in terms on the need for

appropriate funding of social care, and the challenges posed by our aging population,

could be met.

f. New Forest Stakeholders

The Chairman Reported that the New Forest stakeholders had recently met to

discuss New Forest issues and Practice Based Commissioning.

g. NHS Conference

The Chairman had been unable to attend the NHS Conference and had been

represented at the conference by the Chief Executive. The Chief Executive reported

that the conferences had focused on the impact of staff from private sector providers

as well as key issues on mental health and older people.

106. APPOINTMENT OF CO-OPTED MEMBER

The Chief Executive reported that Councillor Welch had recently resigned as a Co-opted Member and that The Hampshire and Isle of Wight Local Government Association had nominated Councillor J. Marsh as his replacement.

RESOLVED:

That Councillor J. Marsh be appointed as a Co-opted Member of the Committee

107. 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:-

Changes to General Practice Premises in South Ham, Basingstoke

The Business case had been received from the GP partnership and appropriate engagement was taking place with local people and patients. The Basingstoke and Deane Hampshire Action Team had been alerted to the proposals. It was not considered that the proposals constitutes a significant change.

Moorgreen Hospital - The Future

With the consent of the Committee this item was withdrawn.

Hampshire Partnership NHS Trust - Application for Foundation Trust Status

The public consultation for Hampshire Partnership NHS Trust's application for Foundation Status was scheduled to end on 27 July 2007. The Hampshire, Southampton, Portsmouth and Isle of Wight Health Scrutiny Joint Committee had considered the application at its recent meeting and responded to the Trust.

Learning Disability Services in Southeast Hampshire

The Hampshire, Southampton, Portsmouth and Isle of Wight Health Scrutiny Joint Committee had requested the Hampshire Primary Care Trust and Adult Services to present the business case for developing facilities to its meeting on

3 December 2007.

Countess Mountbatten Hospice - Proposal to Close Beds

Southampton University Hospitals Trust was considering closing 10 of the 25 beds at the Countess Mountbatten Hospice. Representatives of the Friends of the Hospice attended the meeting, gave an update on the proposals and voiced their concerns. The Friends had funds available to prevent the closure of the beds in the short term but a constructive way forward was required to enable any funds to be released and allow the future retention of all beds. The Hampshire and Southampton City Primary Care Trusts confirmed that they would not support any planned closure of beds at the Hospice. Members were clear that any steps to close this number of beds at the Hospice would be considered substantial and requested that representatives of Southampton University Hospital Trust attend a meeting of the Committee to explain their proposed actions.

Childhood Immunisation Rates

The Director of Public Health circulated figures showing the childhood immunisation rates for children up to the age of 5. Members requested that the figures be broken down to show the rates for each District.

Continuing Care

The Department of Health had published the National Standards Framework for Continuing Care, copies of the Framework had been placed in the Members' Room.

Health Profile of Hampshire County Council

The South of England Public Health Authority had published the 2007 Health Profile for Hampshire which was shown as Appendix 2 to the Chief Executive's report.

Hampshire Primary Care Trust Performance

The summary of the key Primary Care Trust Performance Targets was shown as Appendix 3 to the Chief Executive's report. The Trust also agreed to give a update on access to NHS dental services to the next meeting of the Committee.

Health Services for People who are Homeless or without a Fixed Place of Residence

Concern had been raised about access to health services for people who were homeless or without a fixed place of residence. The Primary Care Trust had been requested to work with the Trinity Centre to provide the necessary support and update the Committee on arrangements at a future meeting.

Alton Hospital Redevelopment

An update on the progress with the re-development of Alton Hospital was shown as Appendix 4 to the Chief Executive's report.

RESOLVED:

That:

a. The report be received and the actions outlined in it be endorsed.

b. Southampton University Hospitals Trust be requested to present its proposals for the Countess Mountbatten Hospital to the Committee.

c. Hampshire Primary Care Trusts gives a presentation on access to NHS dental services to the next meeting of the committee.

108. 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 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) Maternity Services in Southeast Hampshire

The Hampshire Primary Care Trust had published its consultation on

maternity services in southeast Hampshire the day before and copies were circulated to the Committee. The Portsmouth City Teaching Primary Care Trust had previously consulted on proposals for a stand alone birthing centre on Portsea Island and would not be participating in the consultation, Portsmouth City Council Health Overview and Scrutiny Panel were considering options for staffing the facility on Portsea Island. Members were requested to let the Health Scrutiny Manager have any comments on the southeast Hampshire consultation by 10 October 2007.

RESOLVED:

That Members let the Health Scrutiny Manager have any comments on Hampshire Primary Care Trust's consultation process and proposals for maternity services in southeast Hampshire by 10 October 2007.

(b) Maternity Services in Southwest Hampshire

Southampton Hospital University Trust had confirmed that, due to a delay in the rehabilitation services moving from the Ashurst site the opening of the new birthing centre would be delayed until the autumn.

RESOLVED:

The Committee be appraised of the anticipated opening date of the new Birthing Centre at Ashurst.

(c) South Central Strategic Health Authority: Review of Community Hospitals

The South Central Overview and Scrutiny Committees had met with

the South Central Strategic Health Authority on 8 June 2007 and continued to raise a number of specific concerns about the review process. Work was currently focusing on the identification of specific bids for capital funding for community hospitals in the south central area. Richard Samuel reported that Thame in Buckinghamshire and St. Mary's in Portsmouth had been given priority and The Fenwick at Lyndhurst was being considered for funding from the community ventures route.

RESOLVED:

That the Committee be kept appraised of this work.

Under items requiring action he gave details on:-

(d) West Sussex Primary Care Trust - Acute Service Reconfiguration

The West Sussex Primary Care Trust had launched an 18 week

consultation for proposals on reconfiguring acute and emergency services on 25 June 2007. The proposals had only been published on the internet and despite requests no hard copies had been received. This had resulted in many people without access to the internet not being able to see the proposals. The first meeting of the West Sussex Joint Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee had met on 4 July 2007 and future meetings would be held fortnightly during the consultation period. Initial concerns about the Primary Care Trust Board's decision to proceed with the consultation had been raised with the Chairman of the Joint Committee which was shown as Appendix 4 to the Chief Executive's report. Hampshire District Councils, MPs and Patient and Public Involvement Forum were being kept appraised.

RESOLVED:

That the Committee be kept appraised of the Progress of the West Sussex Joint Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee and the formal consultation document be circulated to Members when available.

The Chairman left the meeting at this point to attend another meeting in Gosport and the Vice-Chairman took the chair.

_____________________________________________________

COUNCILLOR MRS A.M. MCNAIR SCOTT IN THE CHAIR

109. HEALTH REVIEW PROGRAMME: UPDATE ON CARE AT THE END

OF LIFE REVIEW

The Chief Executive presented a report giving an update on the Care at the End of Life Review (Item 7 in the Minute Book).

RESOLVED:

That the report be received and the Committee receive a more detailed response from Hampshire Primary Care Trust and Hampshire Adult Services providing a more detailed response on the progress with regard to:

· Identification of the current spending levels on end of life care.

· Patient pathway mapping.

· Identification with regard to co-ordination of services.

· Action to address inconsistency in service provision.

· Mapping availability of round the clock community cover.

· Access to specialist equipment, medication and specialist palliative care advice/support.

· Arrangements for the roll-out of training programmes.

· Protocols for transferring patients.

· Agreement on a single, synchronised assessment process.

· A County-wide strategy for carers.

· Access to support for carers.

· Audit of information for patients and carers.

110. FORWARD PLAN

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

in the Minute Book). Members requested that an update on the new Aldershot

Health Centre be presented to the next meeting of the Committee. Concern was

also expressed at the amount of work scheduled for the next meeting and an

additional meeting was requested to allow Members time to consider the issues

fully.

RESOLVED

That:

a. The Forward Plan be approved subject to the inclusion of issues raised at this meeting.

b. An additional meeting of the Committee be arranged primarily to consider progress with Care at the End of Life and the Countess Mountbatten Hospice.