Minutes for Overview and Scrutiny Committee (Health and Social Care) meeting, Oct 13 2009, 6.30PM official page

The Chair welcomed Councillor D. Hardy as a new Member to this Committee.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor McGuire, Councillor Platt and his Substitute, Councillor T. Jones.

Members and Officers are requested to give notice of any personal or prejudicial interest and the nature of that interest, relating to any item on the agenda in accordance with the relevant Code of Conduct.

The following declarations of interest were received:

Member

Item

Reason

Action

Councillor Hill

No. 47

Personal – his wife is employed by Southport & Ormskirk Hospital NHS Trust

Took part in consideration of the item and voted thereon;

Councillor Pearson

No. 50

Personal – a relative is in receipt of services provided by the Specialist Transport Unit

Took part in consideration of the item and voted thereon.

Minutes of the meeting held on 8 September 2009.

That the Minutes of the meeting held on 8 September 2009 be confirmed as a correct record.

Briefing paper received from Jospice attached.

Presentation to be made at the meeting by the General Manager.

The Committee considered a briefing paper submitted by the Jospice Association, Thornton, on information on the services provided at the Jospice. The paper outlined the following information:-

• How many patient rooms there are at Jospice;
• What other facilities there are in the buildings;
• What the aim of Jospice care is;
• What services are offered to patients at Jospice;
• What is special about Jospice care;
• What types of patients Jospice cares for;
• How patients come to Jospice;
• Funding for Jospice;
• The provision of care for both Catholics and non-Catholics;
• Admission of patients from all areas.

Keith Cawdron, General Manager, and Jacinta Cannon, Director of Clinical Services, from Jospice, addressed the Committee on the service provided and responded to questions posed by Members.

Members raised issues in relation to the funding of Jospice and the other hospices within the Borough, and also the excellent facilities available for use by other organisations at Jospice.

The Chief Executive, NHS Sefton, reported that end of life care was currently being developed by the Primary Care Trust.

RESOLVED:            That

(1)       the representatives from Jospice, Thornton, be thanked for attending the Committee;

(2)       the information provided be noted;

(3)       the on-going discussions between Jospice and the Primary Care Trust regarding finances be welcomed;

(4)       this Committee recognises the opportunities available for the use of the facilities at Jospice and the Chief Executive of NHS Sefton be requested to convey this to the Sefton Borough Partnership; and

(5)       NHS Sefton be requested to provide financial information on the hospices within the Borough to a future meeting of this Committee.

Report of N.H.S. Sefton.

The Committee considered the Annual Report of the Director of Public Health outlining progress made in public health during the previous twelve months, together with the on-going work in relation to long-term health inequalities within the following key areas:-

• Employment;
• Education;
• Housing;
• Healthy environments;
• Climate change and sustainability;
• Community cohesion; and
• the Flu pandemic.

The Local Strategic Partnership Thematic Partnership Manager – Healthier Communities and Older People, gave a presentation on the matter and detailed some of the information provided within the Annual Report.

Councillor McGinnity raised issues concerning on-going problems with housing within Derby Ward.

Councillor D. Hardy considered that the Annual Report cut across all of the Council’s strategic areas.

RESOLVED:            That

(1)       the Annual Report of the Director of Public Health be received and supported;

(2)       an update on progress be requested in six months time;

(3)       the Principal Manager, Housing, Health and Social Care Directorate, be requested to contact Councillor McGinnity regarding the issues raised in Derby Ward; and

(4)       copies of the Annual Report be forwarded to the Chairs of the other Overview and Scrutiny Committees.

Report produced by the Chief Executive, Mersey Care NHS Trust

The Committee considered the report of the Chief Executive of Mersey Care NHS Trust on current issues impacting on the Trust. Information was provided with regard to the following capital developments:-

TIME Project (Mersey Care Footprint):

• Working in Partnership with Liverpool & Sefton Health Partnerships Ltd.;
• Market Testing for a construction and Facilities Management company;
• Edge Lane and Walton Sites;

·        Gateway 2 Review.

Information was also provided on the following:-

Step Down Service – SAFE Clinical Business Unit (Mersey Care footprint)

Service Improvements in the following areas:

• Foundation Trust equivalent;
• Clinical Business Units;
• Dementia Training;
• Self Injury Service – Kirkby; and
• Outpatient Services Improvements.

Performance/Finance

Contracting

Performance against national targets 2008/09

The Chair requested further information on outpatients to a future meeting of this Committee.

RESOLVED:            That

(1)            Mersey Care NHS Trust be thanked for the report; and

(2)       the report be noted and the developments taking place within the service be supported.

Report produced by the Head of Communications, NHS Sefton.

The Committee considered the report of the Chief Executive, NHS Sefton, on current issues impacting on healthcare provision within Sefton. Information was provided on the following:-

A.        AGM Launch for Annual Reports 

Both the Annual Report for NHS Sefton and the Annual Report of the Director of Public Health had been launched at the NHS Sefton Annual General Meeting at the end of September.

Both annual reports, together with full details of accounts, could be downloaded from the NHS Sefton website.

B.            Sefton to Pilot National Diabetes Programme

In partnership with Diabetes UK, NHS Sefton had been chosen to take part in a national diabetes pilot programme that would allow people with diabetes to influence the decisions taken about the services the NHS provided.

C.            Giving Clinicians more say in Local Health Services

A new Clinical Executive Committee was being established that would give clinicians more say in the development and commissioning of local health services.

D.        World Class Commissioning

In preparation for the next World Class Commissioning (WCC) assessment, an audit of progress against the standards or ‘competencies’ that were required to be met in the national programme had been carried out. This self- assessment identified areas for development prior to the Trust being officially rated early in 2010 and highlighted the need to strengthen and review financial planning and governance arrangements. The Trust would shortly be writing to a number of key stakeholders, inviting them to comment on how well they thought NHS Sefton rated against the WCC competencies.

E.            Helena Corcoran - Short-listed for Prestigious National Award

Health Visitor, Helena Corcoran, had been short-listed as one of five finalists in the Patient’s Choice category of the Nursing Standard Nurse Awards, which was acknowledged as the most prestigious accolade for recognising and rewarding excellence in nursing. The awards ceremony was to take place in London at the start of November 2009.

F.         Care Quality Commission

The Chief Executive, NHS Sefton, reported verbally that feedback had recently been received on the above, reflecting improvements that had taken place.

G.        The Lighthouse Project

Further to Minute no. 36 K of 8 September 2009, the Chief Executive, NHS Sefton, confirmed that the above not-for-profit organisation, which had provided services for drug and alcohol dependent users across Merseyside, had gone into administration. The Council had previously commissioned the Project to provide services to Sefton residents. An interim service had been put in place to provide prescriptions and for service users to contact. The Chief Executive stated that he would wish any service user who had been put at risk as a result of the demise of the Project, to be identified to both himself and the Strategic Director of Health and Social Care.

H.        Burns Care

Further to Minute No. 36 J of 8 September 2009, the Chief Executive, NHS Sefton, reported verbally that negotiations on the costs and outcomes, etc., of a possible relocation of services, remained ongoing.

The Chair requested the Committee to be kept updated on this issue.

RESOLVED: That

(1)       NHS Sefton be thanked for the report;

(2)       the report be noted; and

(3)       NHS Sefton’s actions against recommendations and proposals contained in the report, and reported verbally at the meeting, be monitored as appropriate.

Report of the Director of Health & Social Care.

Further to Minute No. 32 of the meeting of the Cabinet Member – Health and Social Care held on 16 September 2009, the Committee considered the report of the Strategic Director of Health and Social Care outlining the findings of the Audit Commission’s re-inspection of Sefton’s Supporting People programme, as detailed within Annexes A and B to the report.  An action plan had been developed following the initial inspection.  Many of the actions had already been completed before the re-inspection, with the remainder to be completed by the end of the year.

Members considered that the unique demography of Sefton provided challenges to the Council, particularly in terms of delivery of health and social care services.

RESOLVED: That

(1)               the report of the Audit Commission on the re-inspection of Sefton’s Supporting People programme be noted; and

(2)               the recommendations being addressed through inclusion in the Supporting People Service Plan be supported;

(3)               the improvements made since the last Supporting People inspection be welcomed;

(4)               that the Sefton Borough Partnership be requested to consider:-

(a)       the evidence to support the view that Sefton faces unique demographic challenges, particularly in terms of delivery of health and social care services; and

(b)       lobbying the Government to consider this evidence, in determining the levels of grant support towards health and social care services.

Report of the Director of Health and Social Care.

Further to Minute No. 32 of the meeting of the Cabinet Member – Health and Social Care held on 16 September 2009, the Committee considered the report of the Strategic Director of Health and Social Care outlining the forecasted expenditure position, based on information as at 31 July 2009, in relation to the Health and Social Care Portfolio’s 2009/10 Revenue Budget and Capital Programme.

Councillor Pearson requested information regarding the latest position with regard to the Independent Living Centre, Scarisbrick Avenue, Southport.

Councillor D. Hardy raised the possibility of Overview and Scrutiny Committees receiving regular reports on risks within relevant Departments.

The Chair raised the issue of reports submitted to both Cabinet Members and Overview and Scrutiny Committees, which contained recommendations addressed to the relevant Cabinet Member, but none to the relevant Overview & Scrutiny Committee.

RESOLVED: That

(1)               the following information be noted:-

(a)       progress on the Health and Social Care Portfolio’s revenue budgets that are subject to risk-based monitoring;

(b)       the position regarding the need for the Strategic Director of Health and Social Care to find savings to offset identified overspends; and

(c)               progress made on the schemes within the Portfolio’s element of the Council’s Capital Programme;

(2)       the Strategic Director of Health and Social Care be requested to provide Members with information regarding the latest position with regard to the Independent Living Centre, Scarisbrick Avenue, Southport;

(3)       the possibility of Overview and Scrutiny Committees receiving regular reports on risks within relevant Departments be referred to the Overview and Scrutiny Management Board for consideration; and

(4)       the issue of reports submitted to both Cabinet Members and Overview and Scrutiny Committees, which contain recommendations addressed to the relevant Cabinet Member, but none to the relevant Overview & Scrutiny Committee, be referred to the Overview and Scrutiny Management Board for consideration.

Joint report of the Director of Health and Social Care and the

Finance & Information Services Director.

Further to Minute No. 31 of the meeting of the Cabinet Member – Health and Social Care held on 16 September 2009, the Committee considered the joint report of the Strategic Director of Health and Social Care and the Director of Finance and Information Services, that notified of the final 2008/09 outturn position for the Health and Social Care Portfolio.

RESOLVED: That the following information be noted:-

(1)               the Portfolio’s revenue expenditure outturn for 2008/09;

(2)               the Portfolio’s capital expenditure outturn for 2008/09; and

(3)               the Portfolio’s actual performance indicators for 2008/09.

Report of the Legal Director.

The Committee considered the report of the Legal Director indicating that, at its meeting on 25 August 2009, the Overview and Scrutiny Management Board had agreed to submit relevant Cabinet Member Reports to future meetings of Overview and Scrutiny Committees, in order to keep Overview and Scrutiny Members informed, The most recent report from the Cabinet Member – Health and Social Care was attached to the report.

RESOLVED:

That the Cabinet Member report be accepted.

Report of the Legal Director.

The Committee considered the report of the Legal Director attaching the latest Key Decision Forward Plan that contained all the Key Decisions that the Executive was anticipated to take during the above period. The Committee was advised of its right to pre-scrutinise any Key Decision which fell under its remit.

The report also outlined the site visits that were planned in the near future, as follows:-

Organisation

Date of Visit

Ashworth Hospital

15 October 2009, in the morning

- Visit limited to Chair, Vice-Chair and Spokespersons, due to high security;

Aintree University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

2 November 2009;

Liverpool Women’s Hospital

Date to be determined.

A site visit to the Hesketh Centre, Southport, had taken place on 7 October 2009.

Further to Minute No. 135 of the meeting of the Cabinet of 1 October 2009, the final report of the “Analysis and Evaluation of Early Mechanisms in Health and Social Care Systems” Working Group, which had undertaken an analysis and evaluation of early mechanisms in Health and Social Care systems, had now been considered by the Cabinet. The recommendations, as set out in the report, had been approved, and the Strategic Director of Health and Social Care had been requested to submit a report to this Committee on the action plan for the implementation of the recommendations in the report.

With regard to the Working Group established on dementia by this Committee, the inaugural meeting would be held on 16 October 2009. The Chair suggested that Sefton LINks could be approached to contribute towards this Working Group.

RESOLVED:            That

(1)       the Key Decision Forward Plan be noted;

(2)               the progress of the Dementia Working Group to date be supported;

(3)               the site visits organised be supported; and

(4)       the outcome of the Cabinet meeting on the “Analysis and Evaluation of Early Mechanisms in Health & Social Care Systems” Working Group, be supported.