Archived decisions

Contact: Denise Holden ex 7338

e-mail: [email protected]

1. Summary and Purpose

1.1. The purpose of this report is to alert Members to proposals from the NHS to vary or develop health services provided to people living in the area of the Committee.

1.2. Proposals that are considered to be substantial in nature will be subject to formal public consultation. The nature and scope of this consultation should be discussed with the Committee at the earliest opportunity.

1.3. The response of the Committee will take account of the Framework for Assessing Substantial Change and Variation in Health Services agreed by the Hampshire, Isle of Wight, Portsmouth and Southampton Joint Committee in March 2005. This places particular emphasis on the duties imposed on the NHS by Section 11 of the Health and Social Care Act 2001.

1.4. This Report is presented to the Committee in 2 parts:

_ Items for information: these alert the Committee to forthcoming proposals from the NHS to vary or change services. This provides the Committee with an opportunity to determine if the proposal would be considered substantial and assess the need to establish formal joint arrangements

_ Items for action: these set out the actions required by the Committee to respond to proposals from the NHS to substantially change or vary NHS services.

1.5. This report and recommendations provide members with an opportunity to influence and improve the delivery of health services in Hampshire and therefore support the delivery of the Corporate Strategy aim of maximising well being.

Items for Information

2. Winchester and Eastleigh Healthcare NHS Trust: Outpatients Department relocation

2.1. WEHT has advised the HOSC that it is currently exploring the feasibility of relocating some outpatients services to another site in Winchester, possibly former HCC offices in Chesil Street.

2.2. No further information has been received from the Trust.

Recommendation

2.3. WEHT continues to provide the HOSC with regular up-dates on progress with this initiative.

3. Assisted Conception Services in South Central Strategic Health Authority area

3.1. The Specialist Commissioning team for South Central SHA has confirmed it's intention to go to consultation on the provision of assisted conception services across the SHA area. The intention is to agree a single set of criteria for accessing these services to ensure that there is consistent and equitable provision.

3.2. It is anticipated that the proposals will go to formal consultation in December but no date has yet been provided. The Specialist Commissioning Group is aware of the need to allow extra time for any consultation that takes place over a significant holiday period.

3.3. South Central HOSCs have asked for additional information about the specific changes proposed the number of patients affected in each PCT area and the funding available to support the provision of these services. The need to clearly demonstrate engagement with key stakeholders, including patient support groups, in drawing the proposal together has also been stressed.

3.4. Any HOSCs considering the proposals to be substantive in nature will need to form a formal joint committee to consider the matter.

Recommendations

3.5. That the additional information requested is circulated to all members once it is received.

3.6. That the Chairman of the HOSC, taking account of any feedback from members, comes to a view about whether the changes proposed are substantial in nature and sets in place arrangements for responding to the consultation as appropriate.

Items for Action

4. West Sussex PCT: Acute Service Reconfiguration

4.1. Following the referral to the Secretary of State the Independent Reconfiguration Panel has recommended that a full review into the referral should be carried out. However, following West Sussex Primary Care Trust's announcement that it is putting the Fit for the Future decisions on hold, the Secretary of State has written to the Joint Committee advising that he has asked the Independent Reconfiguration Panel not to conduct a full review for the time being. This is while the Royal West Sussex NHS Trust (St Richard's, Chichester) and Worthing and Southlands Hospitals NHS Trust develop proposals for the two to be merged.

Recommendations

4.2. Members are kept apprised of the progress of referral and any move to reconvene the JHOSC to consider the response from the Secretary of State.

4.3. Cllr Wright and Cllr Buckley continue to represent the views of Hampshire at any further JHOSC meetings

5. South Central Strategic Health Authority: Consultation on proposals to fluoridate water in Southampton and South West Hampshire

5.1. The SHA launched the consultation on proposals to add fluoride to drinking water in Southampton and parts of south west Hampshire. This can be accessed on the website set up by the SHA at http://www.southcentral.nhs.uk/fluoridation/ The planned consultation period will run from 8 September to 19 December.

5.2. The report of the Fluoridation review Panel was debated at full Council on 20 November and a response to the SHA sent.

Recommendations

5.3. Members note the content of the final report.

5.4. The Review Panel takes forward the work associated with the delivery of recommendations 11, 12 and 13.

5.5. If necessary planned work programmes are adjusted to allow appropriate officer support to continue to be provided to members on the Review Panel.

5.6. That the findings of the Review panel are circulated as widely as possible locally and nationally.

6. Department of Health: Consultation on the NHS Constitution

6.1. Further to the discussion at the last meeting the Chairman sent a response to the Department of Health setting out the views of the Committee on the NHS Constitution.

6.2. Copies of the final letter have been circulated electronically and are available from the scrutiny office.

7. Surrey and Borders PCT: Proposals to reconfigure 24 hour assessment and treatment (inpatient mental health services)

7.1. The Trust will attend the 25 November HOSC to respond to members concerns about the content and conduct of the consultation process and provide information about the impact of the changes on people living in Hampshire.

7.2. Papers supporting this call-in have been circulated separately.

7.3. Surrey HOSC is pursing a broader range of issues with the Trust and is working closely with Hampshire to ensure that relevant information is shared.

Recommendations

7.4. The scope for further action to facilitate a constructive resolution of this matter will be explored with Hampshire Adult Services, Hampshire PCT, Surrey HOSC and the SHA.

7.5. Once these options have been exhausted members determine if they are satisfied with

_ The conduct and content of the consultation document

_ That the proposal is in the interests of the population affected in Hampshire.

Section 100 D - Local Government Act 1972 - background papers

The following documents disclose facts or matters on which this report, or an important part of it, is based and has been relied upon to a material extent in the preparation of this report.

NB the list excludes:

1. Published works

2. Documents that disclose exempt or confidential information as defined in the Act.

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