Agenda and minutes

The Minutes of the previous Health & Wellbeing Scrutiny Committee held on 24^th September 2020 were approved as a true record.

(Moved by Councillor S Peaple and seconded by Councillor P Brindley)

There were no declarations of interest.

The Chair updated the Committee on the fact that Staffordshire remained at the medium alert level of the three tiered alert levels, which would be reviewed on 27^th October 2020.

To receive an update from representatives of the Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent Clinical Commissioning Groups

The Chair welcomed the representatives from the local Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs); Ms Nicky Harkness, Managing Director (South East Locality), Mr Lee Squire, Associate Director of Commissioning and Dr Shammy Noor, Chair South East Staffordshire and Seisdon CCG to the meeting to provide an update on the impact of COVID-19 on planned care, including operation waiting lists and outpatient appointments, cancer treatments (screening, waiting lists and diagnosis) and a brief overview of winter preparedness / plans.

Dr Shammy Noor reported that at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic the CCGs were directed to free up the maximum possible inpatient and critical care capacity, including the postponement of elective procedures for three months, however other emergency and clinically urgent care should continue, as well as the preparation of large numbers of inpatients requiring respiratory care and the redeployment of staff as required.  It was reported that this was an unprecedented situation, with no modern comparisons.

As a result of the required prioritisations leading to the suspension of non urgent procedures, there had been an increase in the number of people waiting for planned care procedures, including an increase in the number of patients waiting over 52 weeks to be seen form referral.  Additionally there had been a reduction in the number of people being referred in to secondary care from GPs, which reflected a combination of patients’ fears about COVID-19 and a reduction in outpatient appointments.  The performance within Staffordshire reflected the national position with over 2 million patients on waiting lists. 

Following the initial COVID-19 impacts, both the University Hospitals of Birmingham (UHB) NHS Foundation Trust and the University Hospitals of Derby and Burton (UHDB) NHS Foundation Trust had provided the CCG with prioritisation plans which included elective surgery being scheduled where possible in COVID free elective centres for UHB, and for the continued prioritisation of cancer care and urgent/ emergency care and prioritising patients according to clinical need for UHDB.

Mr Lee Squire updated the Committee on the current position in the South East Locality of Staffordshire. In July 2020 there was further national direction from NHS England to bring services back to more normal levels and to prepare for winter demand pressures.  This involved working collaboratively and utilising digital technology where possible.  In terms of the waiting lists in the South east Locality for both UHDB and UHB the trends were similar and this local performance was also reported to be similar to national performance.  Patients were reviewed on clinical priorities and called in for treatment according to these. 

In terms of cancer services during COVID-19, at UHB these were relocated to Solihull Hospital, and at UHDB the Nuffield centre in Derby was utilised.  It was reported that none COVID-19 related patient levels were starting to recover to pre-COVID-19 level, and that 100% of patients’ urgent cancer referrals were seen in the 2 week target period.

Mrs Nicola Harkness provided an update on winter plans including the national priorities:

·       Accelerating the return of routine services before winter, including  ...  view the full minutes text for item 23.

To receive an update from a representative of the University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust

The Chair welcomed the representative from the University Hospitals of Burton and Derby NHS Foundation Trust, Mr Duncan Bedford, Managing Director, to the meeting to provide an update on managing the COVID-19 response, UHDB Strategy and on the Sir Robert peel Community Hospital.

Mr Duncan Bedford reported that at the start of the first wave of COVID-19 there had been significant uncertainty and the modelling showed that in certain scenarios there could be difficulties.  In response, intensive care capacity was increased, emergency surgery continued, staff were concentrated on the acute sites in Burton and Derby.  In addition paediatric services were temporarily consolidated in Derby, the maternity unit at the Samuel Johnson hospital was temporarily closed, however the minor injuries units at the Sir Robert Peel and Samuel Johnson hospitals continued.

In terms of cancer referrals these had initially reduced, however they were now back to approximately pre-COVID-19 levels, and the number of patients waiting had been significantly reduced from the peak seen following the start of the pandemic. 

In terms of Accident & Emergency attendances, these had dropped off, however they were now back to near normal levels, and the trust’s performance against the four hour performance was below the national standard.

In terms of diagnostic services, waiting times continued to improve, with better systems to manage the increased and enhanced cleaning between cases.  Referral to Treatment Times was also improving but remained a significant challenge.

It was reported that new coronavirus cases nationally had been rising since July and the incident command structure had been fully re-established to maintain command and control.  Planning continued for recovery and those plans would be robustly monitored within the governance structures.

Mr Bedford provided an overview of the trust’s strategy “Exceptional Care Together” in terms of how the trust intended to work with partners to improve the health and wellbeing of those within the communities served.  This strategy and the ambitions set had been consulted on and would be supported by enabling strategies for each clinical area.  To deliver on this there was a recognition that there would be more collaborative working to provide the best care possible and to understand the health needs of the population.

An update was provided on the Sir Robert Peel Hospital and the services which were provided there, in terms of outpatient clinics and inpatient care where one ward had been newly refurbished and where patients were supported in their rehabilitation, as well as diagnostic and endoscopy services and day surgery.  In terms of the attendances at the minor injury unit, the drop off during COVID-19 had not yet recovered in line with accident and emergency attendances.

In terms of the delivery of new services from the Sir Robert Peel these had not materialised as quickly as expected due to COVID-19, however there had been good work in frailty pathway, as well as increased service provision in phlebotomy and dermatology.

The Committee sought and received clarifications in the following areas:

·       The testing of staff, where it was reported  ...  view the full minutes text for item 24.

(Report of the Executive Director, Communities)

The Chair welcomed the executive Director, Communities, Mr Rob Barnes, the Assistant Director Partnerships, Ms Jo Sands and the Strategic Housing Manager, Ms Sue Phipps to the meeting to present the Draft Housing Strategy report.

The Assistant Director Partnerships introduced the report which attached the draft Housing Strategy for this committee’s consideration prior to submission to Cabinet.  It was reported that whilst there was no statutory duty to produce a Housing Strategy, doing so would inform the Council’s role in increasing housing supply, place shaping and promoting the role of housing in the creation of safe, thriving and sustainable communities and supporting economic growth.  The Assistant Director highlighted the key priorities.

The Committee sought and received clarification in the following areas:

·       Whether a more meaningful definition of affordable homes could be established.  It was reported that this was part of planning process and would require the involvement of that team.

·       Whether there were any actions which could be taken to close the gap between targeted housing completions and the delivery.  It was reported that there were activities ongoing in many areas to support delivery including acquiring new stock and attracting developers and providers into the Borough, and that the Council was using the tools available to it to close the gap.

·       Whether the action plan list of four wards for targeted support reflected all relevant wards, given that the evidence base demonstrated there were additional wards with high levels of need, including Glascote and Stonydelph. 

Councillor D Box left the meeting at 8.15pm.

The Committee resolved that

1. it recommend to Cabinet that the Contents and proposed actions contained within the draft Housing Strategy be endorsed and could go on to become the final strategy with the amendment that Stonydelph and Glascote are included as areas where funding/support should be focussed as they contain areas which have historically had high deprivation; and

(Moved by Councillor by Councillor Richard Ford and seconded by Councillor Sheree Peaple)

2. The completed Housing Strategy be taken to Cabinet for approval.

(Moved by Councillor Richard Ford and seconded by Councillor Roy Rogers)

Resolved that the meeting be extended beyond 8.30pm following a motion under schedule 1 Rule 9.1.13 of the Constitution.

(Moved by Councillor R Ford and seconded by Councillor S Peaple)

(Consideration following the Report of and presentation from the Assistant Director, Neighbourhoods and the Head of Homelessness and Housing Solutions at the meeting of this Committee on 24 September 2020)

Members of the Committee were invited to provide any observations by email to the Chair on the Homelessness Strategy, which had been the subject of a report and presentation at the September committee meeting, following which the Chair would seek to raise these with Cabinet.

(To receive the Healthy Staffordshire Digest for the meeting held on 14^th September 2020 and an update from County Councillor T Clements)

There was no further update, however the Chair reported that the next Healthy Staffordshire Select Committee meeting would be held on 26^th October 2020.

To receive an update from the Vice-Chair

The Chair invited the Vice-Chair and the other members of the Young People Working Group to provide the Committee with a brief update.

The Vice-Chair reported that the working group comprising himself, Councillor M Greatorex and Councillor S Peaple had met the previous week to agree their objectives and this had resulted in the group focussing on young people between the ages of 11and 18 years old.  The group had started engagement with wider stakeholders and had undertaken some initial consultation with young people to understand their views of what impact COVID-19 had on them.  The working group had decided that they would aim to complete their work on this initial phase within 3 months.

It was agreed that an interim working group update would be provided to the Committee at its next meeting on 8^th December, with a view to completing their review and presenting a report to the 26^th January 2021 meeting.

Please see the link to the Forward Plan:

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

No items from the Forward Plan were identified for the Committee’s consideration at this time.

To consider items for the Health & Wellbeing Scrutiny Committee Work Plan

The Committee agreed that the planned meeting on 24^th February2021, be moved to 17^th March 2021 and that an additional meeting to consider the second annual safeguarding update be added to the calendar of meetings in April 2021.

The Committee agreed to update the work plan as set out below:

Health and Wellbeing Scrutiny Work Plan