Agenda and minutes

The Minutes of the previous Health and Wellbeing Scrutiny Committee held on the 19^th September 2019 were approved and signed as a correct record.

(Moved by Councillor P Brindley and seconded by Councillor K Norchi)

There were no declarations of interest.

To receive an update from representatives of the University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust.

The Chair introduced the Executive Managing Director for Burton and the Deputy Director for Strategy & Partnerships from the University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust (the “Trust”) to the Committee who were attending the meeting to provide an update on the performance of the Trust with a particular focus on the local community hospitals.

By way of background the attendees explained to the Committee that the NHS was required to work more collaboratively and in a more integrated way to deliver services to patients. In terms of the Community strategy this involved understanding the population’s health needs, developing place-based models of care and enhancing the Community Hospital offering.  This should provide a more personalised and patient centred focus with more integrated pathways which linked into primary care as well.

The Committee was updated on the new services established at the Sir Robert Peel and Samuel Johnson hospitals since the merger as follows:

·         Spinal Clinics

·         Hand surgery Clinics and Theatre

·         Gastroenterology Clinics

·         Palliative Care Clinics

·         Orthopaedic Clinics

·         Renal & Nephrology Clinics

·         Endoscopy Clinics

The Executive Managing Director highlighted to the Committee the new Frailty / Staying Well Pathway which aimed to help support frail and elderly patients in staying well, and avoiding admissions to hospital by working with GPs, pharmacists and with social care colleagues and also to minimise such patients needing to attend multiple appointments.

In addition it was reported that the hours of operation of phlebotomy and dermatology services had been extended, and that further services were planned to be operated from the community hospitals.

It was reported that as well as increasing services at the community hospitals, following the merger there remained a focus on looking to expand cardiology services and work was underway to assess whether Burton hospital could provide primary coronary intervention.  In terms of stroke cases, it was reported that the Trust was following the national model to ensure the hyper acute stroke phase (first 72 hours) was delivered from the specialist centre at Derby Hospital.

It was reported that the merger had helped to support the recruitment of specialists in several areas who would be able to operate over both the Derby and Burton sites as well as there being local clinics run from community hospitals as appropriate. 

The Committee was updated on the activity at the two local community hospitals which showed positive trends in the numbers of day case procedures, although there were some activities which were down on pre-mergers levels, although the most recent data was more positive in terms of elective activity and minor injury unit visits. 

The Committee considered the importance of patients using local services when they were available and any barriers, in terms of transport, which existed to patients accessing services locally and at Burton hospital.  The Trust reported that it looked to deliver as much health care as locally as possible and to minimise the times patients needed to travel further to Burton for treatment.  Furthermore the Committee discussed whether local GPs were always aware  ...  view the full minutes text for item 21.

To receive a presentation from the Assistant Director, Neighbourhoods.

The Chair introduced the Assistant Director, Neighbourhoods, the Head of Homelessness and Housing Solutions, and the Housing Solutions Review Officer to the Committee.

The Assistant Director Neighbourhoods provided an overview of the Allocations Policy Review.  The current Allocations Policy was implemented in 2014/15.

The Assistant Director reported that the proposed Policy involved seven key proposals, which had formed the basis of the consultation:

·         The disqualification of those with no housing need – it was reported that this would be likely to reduce significantly the number of those households in Band 4;

·         To cancel housing applications where no bids had been received in the preceding 12 months, provided that suitable properties had been offered;

·         To cancel applications where three offers had been refused, provided the offers were suitable;

·         More focussed support to be provided in Band 1 and Band 1+;

·         Amendments to cumulative preference;

·         Introduction of a financial threshold allowing access to the register only if they were unable to fund an alternative solution;

·         Strengthening of the local connection.

The Assistant Director reported that at the close of the consultation 11% of those consulted with had responded and that overall respondents agreed with the proposals.  In particular feedback from Registered Providers was positive and one provider responded that the proposals were fair and would help to support balanced and sustainable communities in Tamworth Borough.   

The Assistant Director set out the timescales for the next steps following the consideration by this committee, which was for the full report to be considered by Council on 19 November, and if approved, for implementation to be by June 2020.  Ahead of implementation there would be staff training, significant communications and customer support planning as well as events organised to support any customers who would no longer be eligible to be on the housing register. 

The Assistant Director circulated to members a copy of the draft Assessment of Impact and outcomes for the Committee’s consideration.  The assessment had been drafted on the basis of the seven protected characteristics under equalities legislation. It assessed whether any aspects of the proposals could have an impact on the seven characteristics, and if so the actions to reduce any such impact.  The Committee was invited to consider the draft assessment and provide any comments by 31 October 2019.

Councillor M Oates and K Norchi left the meeting.

To receive an update from the Chair

The Chair updated the Committee on the following matters:

·         Corporate Scrutiny Committee had agreed that one of the two nominations for representation at the Tenants Consultative Group should come from the Health & Wellbeing Scrutiny Committee.  It was noted that Councillor P Standen had been nominated as the representative from the Corporate Scrutiny Committee and therefore a member from the conservative group would be sought. The Chair agreed to circulate the dates of the meetings and seek nominations;

·         The Governing Bodies of the Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent Clinical Commissioning Groups had agreed, following the GP membership vote, that an application to merge the CCGs would not be made to NHS England;

·         The Members training session on Primary Care on 23 October;

·         The Chair agreed to organise circulation to members of the additional date that had been announced for the George Bryan services engagement event.  

To receive an update from County Councillor T Clements

The Chair invited County Councillor T Clements to update the Committee on the Healthy Staffordshire Select Committee meeting held on 9 October.

County Councillor T Clements reported that the focus of the meeting was on Stoke on Trent and Staffordshire approach to Children and Young People’s Emotional Wellbeing and Mental Health 2018-2023.

Councillor Clements further reported that she had raised with the Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member, Health Care and Wellbeing at Staffordshire County Council, the clarification which had been sought by the Committee on the sustainability of Nexus given the issues that had arisen for Allied Healthcare.  It was reported that robust due diligence had been undertaken prior to the appointment.

To receive the Healthy Staffordshire Select Committee Digest for the meeting on 16^th September 2019.

The Committee noted the report.

Please see the link to the Forward Plan:

http://democracy.tamworth.gov.uk/mgListPlans.aspx?RPId=120&RD=0&bcr=1

There were no further items identified from the Forward Plan for consideration by this Committee.

The Chair invited a member of the public to make one point to the Committee.  The point made was in respect of the location of the engagement event being run by Midland Partnership NHS Foundation Trust for the Future of the George Bryan Centre services.  The event was being held was outside the Borough of Tamworth.

To consider items for 2019/2020 Health & Wellbeing Scrutiny Committee Work Plan

To consider the Staffordshire Observatory Data Pack – see link to document:

https://www.staffordshireobservatory.org.uk/documents/District-Borough-Data-Packs/2018/Tamworth-Data-Pack-2018.pdf

The Committee did not at this time identify any further items from the Staffordshire Observatory Data Pack for this Committee’s consideration.

To consider the 2019/2020 Health & Wellbeing Scrutiny Committee Work Plan

The Committee noted the request to invite in Midlands Partnership NHS Foundation Trust to talk about their approach to partnership working and to provide an update on the George Bryan centre.

The Committee considered the Work Plan and updated it as follows:

Health and Wellbeing Scrutiny Work Plan