Agenda and minutes

There were no apologies for absence.

The Minutes of the previous Health and Wellbeing Scrutiny committee held on 8^th August 2017 were approved and signed as a correct record.

(Moved by Councillor Maureen Gant and seconded by Councillor Alice Couchman)

There were no Declarations of Interest

The Council Tenants Fire Safety Strategy was due to go before Cabinet on 19th October 2017.  However, it was agreed that this item should be scrutinized at the next Health & Wellbeing Scrutiny meeting on the 12^th October with a view to requesting the Portfolio Holder to place this before Cabinet at the November 2017 meeting.

There were no Updates from the Chair at this time.

County Councillor A Little provided the following update from the Staffordshire Select Committee:

Two meetings had been held in regard of the proposed merger of Burton Hospital and Derby Teaching Hospital. 

The first meeting was with junior members attending and presenting a case for the proposed merger; this case was minimal in detail and failed to convince members to approve the merger.  It was agreed that a second meeting would be held with the Chief Executives of both hospitals, along with representation from the Medical Directors attending to enable further detail to be submitted.

The second meeting was held on 7 August 2017, and was addressed by the Chief Executive of Derby Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust and Clinical Director of Burton Hospitals NHS Trust regarding their organisations’ proposals for greater strategic collaboration. This followed concerns expressed by Members at their previous meeting regarding (i) a lack of engagement with the County Council and other Partners; (ii) compatibility with the Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent Sustainability and Transformation Plan and; (iii) Financial Recovery Plan. The Committee received clarification and assurances on these matters and agreed that the Trusts should attend their meeting in December 2017 to provide a further update.

They also considered (i) a preliminary report from the Programme Director of North Staffordshire Clinical Group on the implementation of the Discharge to Access Model and its implications for the provision of Community Hospital beds in their area and; (ii) an exempt report of the Cabinet Member for Health Care and Wellbeing regarding the re-commissioning of the Healthwatch Staffordshire Service.

County Councillor A Little assured the Committee that without clarification on the effects of any merger it is the view of the Staffordshire Select Committee that they are unable to decline or approve this case and require further submission around how the Staffordshire economy, including Stoke and commitments to the Community hospitals are to be taken into consideration.

An announcement was made by both hospitals on 21^st August 2017 appointing John Rivers CBE as Chairman of the new organisations, along with the appointment of Gavin Boyle as the Prospective Chief Executive. Gavin’s appointment has been made jointly by the Nominations and Remuneration Committees of both Trusts who met together to make this important decision. Their decision has also been approved by both Burton and Derby Councils of Governors.  The feeling of the Committee was that appointments to these posts were premature given that the proposal has not yet been fully approved.

A survey is being issued to all General Practitioners in the area that will be affected by the proposal on 7^th November 2017, with a two week return deadline.  This is a private survey not open to the public and its aim is to establish what services are required, please urge local General Practitioners to spend time completing the survey.

An update was received from Councillor S Goodall with regards to the Retirement Offer for Tamworth.

WORK PLAN

The next meeting will take place on 12^th October 2017, looking at:

·         Usage of outdoor gyms

·         Sustainability and Transformation Plan

·         Council Tenants Fire Safety Strategy

It is proposed that the Community and Development Services update be moved to the meeting on 9^th January 2018.