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, 3 February 2009.

PRESENT

Chairman:

a Councillor Mrs. A.M. McNair Scott

Vice-Chairman:

p Councillor Mrs. P.A. West

Councillors:

Co-opted Members:

Councillors:

Mrs. M. Kerley

p R. Love

P. Luffman

a J. Marsh

In the absence of the Chairman the Vice-Chairman took the Chair.

_______________________________________

COUNCILLOR MRS P.A. WEST IN THE CHAIR

172. 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

Councillor P. Edgar - does work for the NHS

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

Councillor D. Harrison - employed by NHS

173. MINUTES

The Minutes of the two Meetings of the Committee held on 25 November 2008 were confirmed as a correct record, and signed by the Chairman.

174. CHAIRMAN'S COMMUNICATION

a. Meetings

The Vice-Chairman reported that the Chairman and Health Scrutiny Manager had attended the following meetings since the last meeting of the Committee:

· 1 December 2008: a Centre for Public Scrutiny workshop in London looking at good practice in Health Overview and Scrutiny. Although invites were limited the discussions were relatively low key.

· 3 December 2008: a Department of Health Seminar looking at key issues to be taken into account as part of the current review of health overview and scrutiny. It is anticipated that the role of the Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee is likely to be further strengthened when the outcome of the review is published in the Spring.

· 22 December 2008: a meeting with the lead nurse at the South Central Strategic Health Authority to discuss Health Care Associated Infection and how working with local authorities could help reduce the incidence of these infections in the community.

· 6 January 2009: the formal Local Involvement Network

(LINk )steering group to present and discuss the criteria for underpinning referrals from partner organisations to our Overview and Scrutiny Committees.

· 22 January 2009: a meeting with the South Central Strategic Health Authority to discuss emerging issues in the South Central area. The main focus of the discussion was ambulance service performance.

· 27 January 2009: Hampshire Primary Care Trust Board meeting

b. Gosport War Memorial Hospital

The Vice-Chairman tabled a short briefing note from Hampshire Primary Care Trust advising members of the forthcoming coroner's inquests that would be taking place in the coming months, following incidents in Gosport War memorial Hospital in the 1990's. The inquest was scheduled to commence on 16 March 2009 and last approximately eight weeks.

c. Director of Public Health

The Vice-Chairman reported that Jean Bradlow, Director of Public Health would be retiring at the end of June 2009 after 40 years working for the Health Service.

175. 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. Mental Health Services at Andover War Memorial Hospital

Hampshire Partnership NHS Trust and Hampshire Primary Care Trust gave an update on progress being made and the process of public and patient engagement work on the development of older people mental health services in the Andover area. They outlined what services were currently available in Andover and the engagement that had been taking place with service users which had highlighted the requirement for better support, improved working with others and enhanced service provision. They would now be looking at ways to take this forward and the options for service development in the area. It was agreed that Councillors Mrs. West and Mrs Kerley should continue to lead this work on behalf of the Committee and that the Committee should receive an update on progress on 26 May 2009.

b. Hampshire NHS Campus

The Director of Adult Services gave an update on progress with the Hampshire NHS Campus which had the action to provide independent living for people currently in need of services. A large amount of work had been undertaken to ensure that the changes to accommodation took account of the needs and wants of the client group and involved families. Members were of the view that this was an important development.

c. South Central Ambulance Trust Performance

Following a presentation to the Hampshire, Southampton, Portsmouth and Isle of Wight Health Scrutiny Joint Committee by the Ambulance Trust on 9 December 2008 the Chairman wrote to the Trust raising concerns about Hampshire response times being consistently the worst performing division in the South Central area. The Trust had responded saying that its response times in Hampshire had improved over the year and would investigate any delays. Copies of the correspondence with the Ambulance Trust are shown at appendices 4, 5 and 6 to the Chief Executive's report. Performance had recently improved. The South Central Health Overview and Scrutiny Committees would be considering the issue at their meeting on 11 March 2009. Members said that it was important to know why there were issues and that there was a need to understand reasons.

The Hampshire Primary Care Trust confirmed that its Board had requested a meeting with the South Central Ambulance Service Board to discuss progress. The Chairman had already been invited to this meeting and if other Members had a specific interest in the matter the Primary Care Trust would consider extending the invitation.

In view of the value of observing the challenges facing the ambulance service Members asked that the South Central Ambulance Service be approached regarding the possibility of working a front-line ambulance shift.

d. Minor Injuries Unit, Havant War Memorial Hospital

The nurse led Minor Injuries Unit at Havant War Memorial Hospital had been temporarily closed due to high levels of staff sickness. It was anticipated that the temporary closure would only affect two to three patients a week. It was expected that the unit would re-open as soon as possible. Members highlighted the differences in services available at minor injuries units and said that there was an need for the standardisation of these services to enable the public to know what services to expect. This matter would be covered by Hampshire Primary Care Trust in the discussion on Out of Hours Services at the next meeting of the Committee.

e. Spinal Surgery - Transfer of Winchester and Eastleigh Healthcare NHS Trust patients to Southampton

Winchester and Eastleigh Healthcare NHS Trust and Southampton University Hospital NHS Trust had agreed new arrangements for patients requiring spinal surgery which would greatly enhance the team working of the specialists providing the care. Only the actual surgery would be affected, all other care would continue to be provided locally. The Hampshire Primary Care Trust reported that there were various similar changes to services in the pipeline. Members expressed the importance of being made aware of all changes to enable them to have an insight of what was happening.

f. Southampton University Hospitals NHS Trust - Progress with Foundation Trust Status

Southampton University Hospitals NHS Trust's Foundation Trust application had now reached its final stage which involved a rigorous assessment of the Trust by Monitor, the independent regulator of Foundation Trusts. The anticipated authorisation date was early summer 2009.

RESOLVED:

That:

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

endorsed.

ii. Hampshire Partnership NHS Trust and Hampshire

Primary Care Trust present an update on proposals for mental health services at Andover War Memorial Hospital to the meeting of the Committee on 26 May 2009.

iii. Taking account of the significant work to date on the Hampshire NHS Campus with service users and their families this was not a substantial change to services.

iv. A discussion on how to proceed with reviewing the performance of the South Central Ambulance Service in Hampshire be had at the next meeting of the Committee.

v. The Committee continues be made aware of any changes/alterations to services by NHS Trusts.

176. 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. Winchester and Eastleigh Healthcare NHS Trust: Outpatients Relocation

Winchester and Eastleigh Healthcare NHS Trust had been exploring the feasibility of relocating some of the outpatient services from the Royal Hampshire County Hospital to another site in Winchester, possible the former Winchester City Council offices in Chesil Street, Winchester. It was anticipated that further information would be provided to the Trust Board meeting on 25 February 2009, this would be circulated to Members.

RESOLVED:

That the Winchester and Eastleigh Healthcare NHS Trust provides the Committee with regular updates on the proposals for the relocation of outpatient services.

b. Assisted Conception Services in South Central Strategic Health Authority Area

The Specialist Commissioning Team for the South Central Strategic Health Authority had gone out to consultation on proposals for a single set of criteria for accessing assisted conception services across the South Central Strategic Health Authority area. The consultation document was circulated at the meeting. Members were requested to let the Chairman know if they considered the proposals to be substantial for Hampshire residents by 20 February 2009.

RESOLVED:

That:

i. Members advise the Chairman if they consider the proposals for assisted conception services in the South Central Strategic Health Authority area for Hampshire residents to be substantial by 20 February 2009.

ii. The Officers, in consultation with the Chairman, take account of any feedback from Members, come to a view about whether the proposed changes were substantial in nature and set in place arrangements for responding to the consultation as appropriate.

Under items requiring action he gave details on:-

c. West Sussex Primary Care Trust - Acute Service Reconfiguration

The Chief Executive advised the Committee that the merger of the Royal West Sussex NHS Trust (St. Richards Hospital, Chichester) and Worthing and Southlands Hospitals NHS Trust had now been agreed and was on course to take place on 1 April 2009. It was not expected that any changes resulting from the merger would lead to changes in services to patients. As reported to the last meeting the response of the Independent Reconfiguration Panel to the referral from the Joint Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee had been suspended by the Secretary of State pending the outcome of the proposed merger. West Sussex Primary Care Trust was now considering the implications and the issue of a revised Fit for the Future plan.

RESOLVED:

That:

i. The Committee be kept appraised of the progress of the referral and any move to reconvene the Joint Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee to consider the response of the Secretary of State and any other relevant issues that may arise.

ii. Councillors Mrs. A. Buckley and D. Wright continue to represent the views of Hampshire at any further Joint Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee meetings.

d. Fluoridation of Drinking Water in Southampton and Southwest Hampshire

The South Central Strategic Health Authority would be giving consideration to the outcome of the consultation and making a decision on whether to add fluoride to drinking water in Southampton and southwest Hampshire as requested by Southampton City Primary Care Trust on 26 February 2009.

RESOLVED:

That:

i. The Committee be appraised of the outcome of the South Strategic Health Authority Board Meeting on 26 February 2009.

ii. The Water Fluoridation Panel takes forward the work associated with the delivery of recommendations 11, 12 and 13 of its report.

iii. If necessary planned work programmes are adjusted to allow appropriate officer support to continue to be provided to the Water Fluoridation Panel.

iv. The findings of the Water Fluoridation Panel be circulated as widely as possible, locally and nationally.

e. Surrey and Borders Partnership NHS Trust - Proposals to Reconfigure 24 Hour Assessment and Treatment (Inpatient Mental Health Services)

Following consideration of the proposals at the last meeting of the Committee the response was sent to Surrey and Borders Partnership NHS Trust which was shown as Appendix 1 to the Chief Executive's report. The Trust has now produced a document setting out the implications for Hampshire which was shown as Appendix 2 to the report. Representatives of the Trust would be attending the next meeting of the Committee to confirm what actions they were taking.

177. FORWARD PLAN

The Chief Executive presented the Committee's Forward Plan (Item 6

in the Minute Book)

RESOLVED

That the Forward Plan be approved subject to an update on Access to Health Services for People who are homeless being presented to the next meeting of the Committee.

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