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, 22 July 2008.

PRESENT

Chairman:

p Councillor Mrs. A.M. McNair Scott

Vice-Chairman:

p Councillor Mrs. P.A. West

Councillors:

Co-opted Members:

Councillors:

p Mrs. M. Kerley

p R. Love

P. Luffman

p J. Marsh

Also in attendance:

Mr. P. Humphreys - Chairman of the Independent Remuneration Panel

151. 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

Councillor P. Edgar - does work for the NHS

Councillor Mrs. P. West - Basingstoke Hospital Governor, Andover War Memorial Hospital Stakeholder and daughter-in law works for NHS

Councillor. D. Harrison - employed by NHS

Councillor Mrs. M. Kerley - Andover War Memorial Hospital Stakeholder

152. MINUTES

The Minutes of the Meeting of the Committee held on 27 May 2008 were, subject to Councillor Davies-Dear's name being spelt correctly and Minute No. 148c being amended to refer to a revised planning consultation, confirmed as a correct record, and signed by the Chairman.

153. CHAIRMAN'S COMMUNICATION

a. South Central Health Overview and Scrutiny Committees

The Chairman reported that at the meeting on 1 July 2008 she had been appointed Chairman of the South Central Health Overview and Scrutiny Committees Group

b. Care at the End of Life Conference - 9 July 2008

The Chairman reported that she had attended the Care at the End of Life Conference on 9 July 2008.

154. 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:-

a. Fordingbridge Hospital

Hampshire Primary Care Trust reported that Fordingbridge Hospital had re-opened that morning and gave assurances that the recommendations made, as a result of the investigations that had taken place, which were shown in Appendix 1 to the Chief Executive's report, would be actioned.

b. Southeast Capacity Plan

Hampshire Primary Care Trust gave a presentation on the developments that had been made on the provision of hospital facilities in southeast Hampshire giving particular reference to the development of the new Oak Park Hospital, Havant.

The Capacity plan envisaged a hub and spoke model for southeast Hampshire with the upgraded Queen Alexandra Hospital, Cosham (Scheduled to be completed by June 2009) at the hub with five community hospitals:

St. Mary's, Portsmouth

Gosport War Memorial Hospital

Petersfield Hospital

Fareham Hospital (At planning stage and scheduled for completion in 2010)

Oak Park Hospital, Havant (Planning permission currently being sought)

as the spokes. It was confirmed that the Royal Haslar Hospital would remain open until work had been completed on Queen Alexandra Hospital. Concern was expressed about The Gosport War Memorial Hospital being able to cope with its increased role following the closure of the Royal Haslar Hospital and the increased car parking problems that would face Gosport War Memorial Hospital. Concern was also expressed that consultants at the Royal Haslar Hospital still did not know what was happening with their services and, as a result, they were unable to advise patients. Members asked about the future of all services currently being provided from the Royal Haslar Hospital site , including oncology and dermatology. They noted the plans to provide phlebotomy in community settings and stressed the need for it to be supported by appropriate training. The question of the future of the Royal Haslar Hospital site was raised and it was hoped the Hampshire Primary Care Trust would be involved in its future planning. Concern was also expressed about the various changes that taken place in the proposals for Oak Park Hospital, Havant and the public consultation that had taken place about the proposals.

c. Mental Health Services at Andover War Memorial Hospital

The Chief Executive reported that the concerns of the Committee on the provision of Mental Health services at the Alan Gardner Unit in Andover War Memorial Hospital had been raised with Hampshire Partnership NHS Trust. Members highlighted the fact that the service was important and stressed the importance of people understanding that the care they required would be there when needed. It was agreed that the Vice-Chairman and Councillor Mrs. Kerely should keep a watching brief on behalf of the Committee and be the link with Hampshire Partnership NHS Trust and Hampshire Primary Care Trust.

d. Surrey and Borders Partnership NHS Trust

The proposals by Surrey and Borders Partnership NHS Trust for a 24 hour assessment and treatment programme to upgrade its acute inpatient facilities were shown as Appendix 4 to the Chief Executive's report. It was agreed that clarity was required about the population served and that there should be meaningful engagement with stakeholders as this had not been sufficient in Hampshire, particularly given that this population was so vulnerable. The Chief Executive reported that Surrey County Council Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee had called in the Trust as a result of other concerns and would be giving consideration to the issues on 31 July 2008. The Chairman would be kept updated on the position.

e. Access to Tier 4 Mental Health Services

A formal Joint Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee had been established to consider the impact of the closure of the specialist Mental Health Henderson Hospital in London. Hampshire Primary Care Trust had confirmed that no Hampshire patients had been affected and as a result it had not been necessary for Hampshire to join the Joint Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee. A statement from Hampshire Primary Care Trust outlining the arrangements being developed to ensure the Hampshire residents that level of specialist service was shown as Appendix 5 to the Chief Executive's report.

f. Countess Mountbatten Hospice

Following a letter from Southampton University Hospitals NHS Trust advising that referrals would be restricted to the Hospice for a period of five weeks from 9 June 2008 due to extreme operational pressures, Hampshire Primary Care Trust was asked:

· What alternative arrangements were in place for patients requiring specialist palliative care over the 5 week period.

· How many patients would be affected.

· Was the Primary Care Trust confident that it will be possible to reopen the service fully on 14 July.

· Was the Primary Care Trust satisfied that the pressures on staff are being actively managed by SUHT.

· Was the Primary Care Trust satisfied that additional investment in these services is being effectively targeted to provide a full range of support to people needing to use these services.

The Primary Care Trust's response was shown as Appendix 7 to the Chief Executive's report.

g. Access to Short Breaks for Children

Following a review of Access to Short Breaks for Children which included looking at the range of services provided to children with life threatening conditions the Children and Young People Select Committee referred the following actions to the Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee:

· That the Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee clarifies with the Hampshire Primary Care Trust how decisions regarding the spending of non-ring fenced money from Government targeted at supporting short break services will be made locally.

· That the Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee investigates what benefits could be achieved through the Hampshire Primary care Trust's signing of the Every Disabled Child Matters Charter.

RESOLVED:

That:

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

ii. That the views of the Committee about the Southeast Capacity Plan be sent to Hampshire Primary Care Trust and it reports back to the Committee with an update on 25 November 2008.

iii. The Vice-Chairman and Councillor Mrs. Kerley keep a watching brief on mental health services at Andover War Memorial Hospital on behalf of the Committee and be the link with Hampshire Partnership NHS Trust and Hampshire Primary Care Trust

155. 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 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

Southampton University Hospitals NHS Trust reported that work on the new Ashurst Birth Centre was still on schedule and that it would be completed on 11 August 2008 with the Centre opening on 1 September 2008.

RESOLVED:

That the Committee continues to receive regular updates on the progress with the development of Ashurst Birth centre from Southampton University Hospitals NHS Trust.

Under items requiring action he gave details on:-

b. West Sussex Primary Care Trust - Acute Service Reconfiguration

West Sussex Primary Care Trust had announced that Worthing General Hospital would become the "Major General Hospital" with St. Richards, Chichester and Princess Royal, Haywards Heath both becoming "Local General Hospitals". The Primary Care Trust had been requested to give details as to what services would be provided at each hospital. The Joint Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee was to meet on 23 July 2008 to consider its options.

RESOLVED:

That:

i. The Committee be kept appraised of the Progress of the West Sussex Joint Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

ii. Councillors Mrs. A Buckley and D Wright continue to represent the views of the Committee on the West Sussex Joint Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee and they be thanked for their work on the Joint Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

c. Fluoridation of Water in Southampton and Southwest Hampshire

The South Central Strategic Health Authority had written to the County Council confirming its intentions to consult on proposals to fluoridate water in parts of Southampton and southwest Hampshire. Under regulations the Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee is specifically excluded from being a statutory consultee, however the Committee was able to investigate the issue in its own right and The Leader has requested it to do so and provide recommendations for consideration by the full County Council in November 2008. Appendix 4 to the Chief Executive's report outlined the proposed way forward for investigating the proposals. The consultation period had been amended and would now commence on 8 September and run to mid December 2008.

RESOLVED:

That:

i. That the proposed way forward as outlined in Appendix 4 to the Chief Executive's report be approved.

ii. Where necessary planned work programmes are adjusted to allow appropriate officer support to be provided to members of the Review Panel.

iii. The Panel should consist of Councillors:

Mrs. A.M. McNair Scott (Chairman)

B. Dash

G. Davies Dear

Mrs. P. Dickens

K. Evans

Mrs. M. Kerley

Mrs. C. Leversha

D. Wright

plus one observer from each of Eastleigh Borough Council, New Forest District Council, Test Valley Borough Council, Southampton City Council and Hampshire LINk, each with speaking rights but not voting rights.

iv. The powers of the Committee be delegated to the review panel on this issue.

d. Department of Health: Transforming the Quality of Dementia Care

The Department of Health had launched its consultation on transforming the quality of dementia care with a closing date for responses of 11 September 2008. In order to maximise the opportunity to influence the response of central government to the key issues it was proposed that a joint response be made from the Committee, Hampshire Adult Services and Hampshire Primary Care Trust.

RESOLVED:

That:

i. A joint response be made to the Department of Health on the Transforming the Quality of Dementia Care consultation by the Committee, Hampshire Adult Services and Hampshire Primary Care Trust.

ii. Any Member wishing to include comments or contribute to the consultation response should contact the Chairman or the Health Scrutiny Manager by 15 August 2008.

e. Department of Health: National Health Service Constitution

Included in Lord Darzi's review of the NHS was a proposal for a legally enforceable constitution for the NHS. The draft constitution embraced the following:

· principles and values of the NHS;

· rights of patients, the public, and staff;

· pledges which the NHS will strive to deliver;

· responsibilities for the public, patients and staff.

The consultation on the constitution would run until 17 October 2008.

RESOLVED:

That any Member wishing to include comments or contribute to the consultation response should contact the Chairman or the Health Scrutiny Manager by 3 September 2008.

156. WORK PROGRAMME 2008/09 - OUT OF HOURS SERVICES

The Chief Executive presented a report on information that had been received to date on progress on the provision of Out of Hours Services across Hampshire (Item 6 in the Minute Book). Hampshire Primary Care Trust gave a presentation giving an update on the current position. There were currently 4 providers for out of hours covering the whole of Hampshire These were:

· North Hants Urgent Care

· Thamesdoc

· Southampton City Primary Care Trust

· Portsmouth City Teaching Primary Care Trust

Information was given on the operating procedures and call handling, performance, governance and financing.

RESOLVED:

That Hampshire Primary Care Trust regularly updates the Committee with progress being made to ensure a uniform Out of Hours Service across Hampshire with the next update being presented to the Committee on 25 November 2008

157. FORWARD PLAN

The Chief Executive presented the Committee's Forward Plan (Item 7

in the Minute Book).

RESOLVED

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

.