AT A MEETING of the HAMPSHIRE, SOUTHAMPTON, PORTSMOUTH AND ISLE OF WIGHT HEALTH SCRUTINY JOINT COMMITTEE held at The Guildhall, Portsmouth on Monday,

1 October 2007.

PRESENT

Members Officers

Hampshire Councillors: Dr. R.J. Ellis (Chairman) David Pryke

K.G. Chapman Denise Holden

R. Love

Mrs. A.M. McNair Scott

D.F. Wright

Portsmouth Councillors: David Stephen Butler Saskia Kiernan

L. Mason Sam Meyer

Isle of Wight Councillors: Mrs E. Oulton (Vice-Chairman) Louise Biggs

Southampton Martin Day

Apologies were received from Councillors: G. Drake (Southampton) and C. West (Isle of Wight)

66 DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

Councillor D.F. Wright declared a personal interest - His wife is a General Practice Manager.

67 MINUTES

The Minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 16 July 2007 were confirmed as a correct record subject to apologies being recorded from Councillors David Stephen Butler, K.G. Chapman and G. Drake

68 REVISED JOINT HEALTH PROTOCOL

David Pryke circulated a revised version of the Joint Health Protocol which had taken account of various changes since the inception of the Joint Committee. He explained the amendments.

RESOLVED:

That the revised Joint Health Protocol be adopted.

69 AMBULANCE SERVICE - RESPONSE TIMES

Philip Campling, Divisional Director Hampshire, South Central Ambulance NHS Trust gave a presentation on Service Development, Estates and Standby's, Community Responders and general performance of the Ambulance Service in Hampshire. He gave details of the current ambulance times and actions which were being taken to improve them. The main factors currently influencing performance were:

· Demand - this was currently 6% higher than at the same point last year.

· Recruitment - Significant recruitment was underway within Hampshire

- 100+ operational staff including Paramedics, Technicians and Emergency Care Assistants.

- 40+ Emergency control room staff

There would also be an increased number of rapid response vehicles and front line ambulances. There would be improvements to internal training so increasing the number of paramedics and emergency care practitioners and a one week primary assessment skills course had been planned for all technicians and paramedics.

· Changes to reporting - In April 2008 new measurements will be introduced and response time will move from being measured from once the address and chief complaint being ascertained to when the caller is connected to the emergency operations centre, before the call is even picked up - this will result in a reduction of approximately 120 seconds in the time to respond based on current measurement standards.

There will be a movement to new service delivery models which would see patients receiving faster and more appropriate care which would include an increased number of rapid response vehicles with skilled clinicians to make initial assessment to all incidents, increased number of doubled crewed ambulances with paramedics supported by technicians and care assistants to transport to hospital or alternative care pathway and increased cover on Category C desk to provide appropriate triage to callers.

Plans were underway for the current Hampshire headquarters to move to the outskirts of Winchester in 2008, which would include the emergency control centre. Members requested to be kept apprised of progress with this work and asked for some additional detailed information, previously provided to Portsmouth to be circulated

70 PREPARING FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENT INVOLVEMENT NETWORKS (LINks)

Denise Holden reported that the Bill to set up LINks was currently progressing through

the House of Lords, where amendments were being made, and it was expected to receive the

Royal Assent by the end of October 2007. She outlined the progress being made by the County

Council with the development of LINks and said that each authority would be making its own arrangements Precise details on funding were not yet available so it was not possible to firm up arrangements for the establishment of LINks.

71 MENTAL HEALTH WORKSHOP

The Chairman reported that arrangements were now well in hand for the Mental Health Workshop on 22 October 2007.

72 MATERNITY SERVICES IN SOUTHEAST HAMPSHIRE

Denise Holden reported that Hampshire Primary Care Trust had gone out to consultation on proposals for maternity services in Southeast Hampshire and the consultation period would run until 31 October 2007. 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's Health Overview and Scrutiny Panel were considering options for staffing the facility on Portsea Island. Hampshire's Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee would be responding to the proposals and would ensure that the views expressed by Portsmouth Health Overview and Scrutiny Panel were reflected in the comments provided. Hampshire's Health Overview and Scrutiny would receive an update from the Primary Care Trust on the outcome of the consultation at its meeting on 27 November 2007.

73 UPDATE FROM LOCAL AUTHORITIES


Portsmouth

Councillor Mason reported that Portsmouth had been looking at infections in hospitals and Learning Disability Services. Much time had also been taking up with the introduction of LINks and the reconfiguration of acute services in West Sussex, in particular Accident and Emergency Services with Hampshire.

Southampton

Martin Day reported that they had been looking at the proposed applications for Foundation Status from their NHS Trusts together with two specific areas - what the City Council are doing about the public health of people living in the City and Obesity including what the City council is doing about school meals, access to exercise and diets in residential homes. They to had been looking at LINks

Isle of Wight

Councillor Mrs Oulton reported that the Isle of Wight had been looking at continuing care and patient and carer travel to and from the island.

Hampshire

Councillor Ellis reported that was progressing recommendations from the Care at the End of

Life Review and with Portsmouth had been preparing work on Accident and Emergency

Services as part of the scrutiny of proposals by the West Sussex Primary Care Trust's

consultation on the reconfiguration of acute services. Councillor Ellis also mentioned that he

and the Vice-Chairman of the South Central Overview and Scrutiny Committees would be

meeting with the Strategic Health Authority to discuss a range of issues and that he would be

attending the European Health Forum in Austria.

74 MEETINGS 2008

RESOLVED:

That meetings of the Joint Committee for 2008 be held as follows:

1 April at Southampton

29 July at Isle of Wight

7 October at Portsmouth

9 December at Winchester