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, 25 March 2008.

PRESENT

Chairman:

p Councillor Dr. R.J. Ellis

Vice-Chairman:

p Councillor Mrs. A.M. McNair Scott

Councillors:

Co-opted Members:

Councillors:

a Mrs. M. Kerley

p R. Love

p P. Luffman

p J. Marsh

Also in attendance:

Councillor Felicity Hindson, MBE, Executive Member for Adult Social Care;

Frank Rust Hampshire Patient and Public Involvement Forum and Sarah Tiller, Hampshire Primary Care Trust.

136. 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 save for exercising any right to speak in accordance with Paragraph 12 of the Code .

The following members declared a personal interest:

Councillor Mrs. P. Dickens - employed by NHS and on Advisory Committee of The Trinity Centre, Winchester

Councillor D. Wright - wife a General Practice Manager.

Councillor L. Dunsdon - wife employed by NHS

Councillor R. Love - on Advisory Committee of The Trinity Centre, Winchester

Councillor Mrs. A.M. McNair Scott - on Advisory Committee of The Trinity Centre, Basingstoke

137. MINUTES

The Minutes of the Meeting of the Committee held on 5 February 2008 were

confirmed as a correct record, and signed by the Chairman.

138. CHAIRMAN'S COMMUNICATION

a. Specialist Commissioning

The Chairman reported that he had attended the Southeast Coast Health Strategic Health Authority workshop on specialist commissioning on 17 March 2008.

b. Hampshire Partnership NHS Trust

The Chairman reported that Nick Yeo had been appointed as the new Chief Executive of Hampshire Partnership NHS Trust.

c. Local Involvement Networks (LINks)

The Chairman reported that Patient and Public Involvement Forums would cease on 31 March 2008. LINks would come into operation through 2008 as replacement bodies, although regulations bringing LINks into force had not yet been published. He thanked all Patient and Public Involvement Forum representatives for the services that they had provided.

d. Shadow Secretary of State for Health

The Chairman reported that he had attended a meeting with Andrew Lansley, Shadow Secretary of State for Health on 20 March 2008 and among the items discussed were maternity services, single rooms in hospitals, general practitioner commissioning, adult social care need to save for old age, ambulance service times and healthcare for London. Members were keen to have more information about general practitioner commissioning and it was agreed that arrangements should be made for a presentation on practice based commissioning to a future meeting of the Committee.

RESOLVED:

That arrangements be made for a presentation on practice based commissioning to a future meeting of the Committee.

139. INQUIRIES RECEIVED AND ACTION TAKEN

The Chief Executive presented a report on enquiries received, the

source of each enquiry and the action taken (Item 4 in the Minute Book). The enquiries related to:-

Community Hospitals in Hampshire

· Fordingbridge Hospital

Sarah Tiller updated Members on the progress being made with the reopening of Fordingbridge Hospital. A draft report had now been prepared by the independent consultants and it was expected that it would be published by the end of May 2008. She hoped to be able to confirm the reopening date for the hospital at the meeting on 27 May 2008 if it had not already been opened by then.

· Oak Park Hospital, Havant

Sarah Tiller reported that following feedback from the Committee and Hampshire Patient and Public Involvement Forum the Primary Care Trust had given a commitment to undertake a refresh of its capacity mapping work in southeast Hampshire to ensure that plans were clear, transparent and fit for future needs. Oak Park Hospital would be included in this. A full report would be presented to the Committee on 22 July 2008.

Access to Health Services for People who are Homeless

Ian Davies, Centre Manager of the Trinity Centre, Winchester gave a presentation of the work of the Trinity Centre, the client characteristics and their healthcare needs. He said that healthcare for the clients should be proactive and encourage engagement, intensive, approachable, focused on relevant issues and offering a wide range of services including advocacy.

Ambulance Service - Performance

Phil Campling, Divisional Director Hampshire, South Central Ambulance NHS Trust gave a presentation of the work of the Ambulance Service in Hampshire, its current performance, service delivery/improvement plan and operational developments. Members thought that it might be useful if the Ambulance Service had a maximum response time as well as a minimum response time

Learning Disability - Integrated Working Teams

The Director of Adult Services presented, on behalf of Adult Services and Hampshire Partnership NHS Trust, details of the progress being made to establish integrated community teams serving people with a learning disability.

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Winchester and Eastleigh Healthcare NHS Trust - Royal Hampshire County Hospital

The Chairman reported that he had met with the Chief Executive of Winchester and Eastleigh Healthcare NHS Trust and been given a update on proposals for the Royal Hampshire County Hospital. The Chief Executive did not consider that any of the proposals for the hospital were, to date, substantial although the impact from other agencies might, in turn be substantial. Members requested to see the finalised business plan.

Healthcare Commission - Matrix

The Chief Executive presented a matrix of relevant issues considered by the Committee during the past year which would be used to prepare the response to the annual health checks for the Healthcare Commission.

Aldershot Centre for Health - Minor Injuries Unit

Sarah Tiller reported that Aldershot Centre for Health was now scheduled to be completed in May 2008 and opened in August 2008 . There were no immediate plans to develop a Minor Injuries Unit at Aldershot Centre for Health but the Primary Care Trust would keep the matter under review.

Changes to General Practitioner Premises

Following the issue being raised at the last meeting of the Committee Hampshire Primary Care Trust reported that further to the sale of the current premises at Friarsgate, the surgery, in conjunction with the Primary Care Trust, had been looking at a number of options for relocation. Following suitable estate assessments and engagement over the past few years, the preferred option was likely to be a new site at Weeke. The Primary Care Trust was now working on ensuring that the correct level of patient and public involvement was in place and moving forward. Sarah Tiller agreed to present a report to a future meeting on the engagement and involvement activities that would underpin the move of General Practitioner premises.

Clinical Referrals from Gosport

Following an inquiry from a Gosport Borough Councillor the Hampshire Primary Care Trust had been requested to keep the Committee updated on the position with clinical referrals from Gosport. Sarah Tiller reported that Hampshire Primary Care Trust was awaiting a response from Portsmouth Hospitals NHS Trust on the issue.

GP Health Centre

The Hampshire Primary Care Trust had sought views about the development of a GP Health Centre, details of which were shown as Appendix 9 to the Chief Executive's report. Members had been circulated with the Primary Care Trust's briefing paper and the responses received were favourable. The Chairman had replied the Primary Care Trust to this effect.

RESOLVED:

That:

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

b. The Ambulance Service be requested to consider maximum response times as well as minimum response times.

c. The Winchester and Eastleigh Healthcare NHS Trust be requested to provide the business plan for the Royal Hampshire County Hospital.

d. The Hampshire Primary Care Trust presents a report to a future meeting of the committee on agreed processes for the relocation of General Practitioner Premises.

140. 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 5 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 Southwest Hampshire

The Southampton University Hospitals NHS Trust had confirmed that the project programme for the new Ashurst Birth Centre had now been finalised with a completion date of 19 August 2008.A marketing plan had been developed and once the flyer to promote the centre had been printed activities would begin in earnest and every effort made to promote the centre for pregnant women due to give birth after September 2008.

RESOLVED:

That the Committee receives regular updates on the progress with the development of the Ashurst Birth Centre from Southampton University Hospitals NHS Trust.

(b) Southampton University Hospitals NHS Trust - Application for Foundation Trust Status

The Chief Executive presented the Southampton University Hospital NHS Trust's response to questions raised the Hampshire, Southampton, Portsmouth and Isle of Wight Health Scrutiny Joint Committee shown as Appendix 2 to the Chief Executive's report.

RESOLVED:

That Southampton University Hospital NHS Trust's application for Foundation Trust status be endorsed.

Under items requiring action he gave details on:-

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

The Chief Executive reported that West Sussex Primary Care Trust had included the recommendations of Sir Graeme Catto - that accident and emergency services should remain at all three hospitals in question, St Richards, Chichester, Worthing and Princess Royal, Haywards Heath with either St Richards or Worthing becoming a major General Hospital and the other two becoming Local General Hospitals and that full maternity and obstetrics should be based at the Major General Hospital with other midwife led units in West Sussex - with the original proposals. The final decision being made by the Trust on 7 May 2008.

RESOLVED:

That the Committee be kept appraised of the progress of the West Sussex Joint Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

141. WORK PROGRAMME 2007/08

The Chief Executive presented an update on the 2007/08 work programme, (Item 6 In the Minute Book). Further reports on Care at the End of Life and Out of Hours Services would be reported to the next meeting of the Committee. Following the appointment of a Director of Public Health and the cross cutting nature of public health and wellbeing it was proposed that the Committee should keep an overall view of public health and wellbeing whilst the Select Committees consider appropriate relevant issues.

RESOLVED:

That work on public health and wellbeing be continued by the relevant Select Committees with appropriate referrals being made to this Committee.

142. ANNUAL REPORT 2007/08 AND WORK PROGRAMME 2008/09

The Chief Executive presented the Annual Report for 2007/08 and the proposed work programme for 2008/09. (Item 7 in the Minute Book). He outlined the proposed work programme which would take account of issues raised by Members over the past year and discussed in Committee, topics identified by key partners, national policy developments that would have an impact on the health of local people and local issues that would have an impact on the provision of health services living in Hampshire. Key areas for in depth evaluation by the Committee would be progress withy the implementation of the Care at the End of Life Review and the provision of Out of Hours Services in Hampshire. A request was made for health services for gypsies and travellers to be included within the work programme

RESOLVED:

That the Annual Report for 2007/08 and the draft work programme for 2008/09 be approved.

143. FORWARD PLAN

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

in the Minute Book). A request was made for the annual public health in Hampshire report to be given consideration by the Committee.

RESOLVED

That:

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

b. The annual public health report for Hampshire be presented to a future meeting of the Committee.

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