Minutes for Overview and Scrutiny Committee (Health and Social Care) meeting, Jan 27 2009, 6.30PM official page

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor T Jones and Ann Bisbrown-Lee, Sefton CVS.

(Including Party Whip Declarations)

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.

No declarations of interest were received.

Minutes of the meeting held on 18 November 2008.

RESOLVED:

That the Minutes of the meeting held on 18 November 2008 be confirmed as a correct record.

Report of the Chief Executive, NHS Sefton.

The Committee considered the report of the Chief Executive, NHS Sefton (the Trust) detailing the current issues impacting on healthcare provision in Sefton, which included an update by Jean Massam, Children’s Trust Director and Paul Ferguson, Non-Executive Director from the Trust on the following issues:

(A)       Better Health Better Life

The 12-week ‘Better Health Better Life‘ consultation period on plans to improve health and health services over the next five years was due to end on 30 January 2009. Thousands of responses to the questionnaire had been received and all would be used to further shape the five-year strategic plan. A final version of the plan would be presented to the NHS Sefton Board in March 2009.

(B)            Improving Access to Primary Care

Significant developments in schemes to improve access to primary care services for people across Sefton had been made over recent months. Over 60% of practices were now offering extended opening hours during weekdays and also on Saturday mornings. A new practice, to be called Trinity Practice, would open at the Southport Centre for Health and Well-being on 1 April 2009, offering specialist services for more vulnerable local people, particularly older people in care homes and international workers. Contracts were also being finalised for a General Practitioner (GP) led health centre based at the Litherland Town Hall site, as well as a new GP service that would offer a range of supporting primary care services to a number of existing practices in south Sefton.

The Chair, Councillor Hill asked the Trust to update the Committee at the next meeting on any issues identified when people were accessing GPs for an appointment. The Trust was also asked to update the Committee when the contracts had been finalised for a GP led health centre.

(C)       New GP Service for Sefton East Parishes

Additional services at High Pastures Surgery in the Sefton East Parishes area had commenced in November 2008, enabling the surgery to be open from 8.00a.m. until 8.00p.m., Monday to Friday, together with routine appointments on Saturday mornings. It was also hoped that outreach medical services would be provided in Lydiate in the future.

(D)            Update on Thornton G.P. Practice

Space had been identified at Thornton clinic to accommodate the Thornton PCT Practice, although some adaptations would be required at Thornton Clinic prior to the transfer of the practice. This work was anticipated to be completed by the end of March 2009.

The Chair, Councillor Hill asked the Trust to keep the Committee updated on this.

 (E)            Patients Asked to Help Further Improve G.P. Services

Questionnaires had been sent out to a random sample of some 35,000 Sefton patients, seeking views regarding the level of satisfaction in accessing their local GP services. The results would be used to drive further improvements to local GP services, to ensure the provision of fast and convenient services.

(F)            Children’s Walk-In Centre

Two locations were currently being considered for the development of a children’s walk-in treatment centre for north Sefton, namely Southport Centre for Health and Well-Being in the town centre and the Southport Hospital site at Town Lane. An engagement process seeking views of local residents was about to commence and the feedback would be used to make the final decision. It was anticipated that the centre could be open by the end of 2009.

It was highlighted that children who required A&E services should still go to Ormskirk Hospital, as the services that are to be provided at the children’s walk-in centre would be for minor injuries, not emergencies.

(G)            Review of Patient Transport Services (PTS)

PTS provided transport to non-emergency patients to and from NHS premises and providers. A review of PTS across the northwest was currently underway with six key objectives, for improvement to provide an effective and efficient service, as follows:-

• to ensure consistent and fair access to different transport modalities;
• to move from a finance driven to a quality driven agenda;
• increased patient focus and flexibility of service provision;
• to explore opportunities for co-operation with other agencies and authorities;
• to raise the status of PTS across the health community; and
• to meet the rising expectations of user groups.

An external consultant would be undertaking a baseline assessment of current service delivery and associated arrangements, which would inform the development of a model service specification for implementation across the northwest region. Members of this Committee would be provided with updates as the programme developed.

Some Members raised concerns and they were asked to refer them specifically to Jean Massam, who would address them directly.

Discussion took place regarding the adequacy of the system that provided transport to patients, the position of contracts, the financial viability and the potential of the Trust and Sefton Council exploring further options.

(H)       NHS Sefton Board Meeting

 The next public meeting of the Board would take place on Thursday, 29 January 2009 at Parkhaven Trust, Maghull, at 1.30 p.m.

RESOLVED: That

(1)               NHS Sefton be thanked for the report;

(2)               the report be noted;

(3)               the Trust update the Committee at the next meeting on any issues identified when people access GPs for an appointment.

(4)               The Trust to inform and update the Committee when the contracts had been finalised for a GP led health centre; and

(5)               NHS Sefton’s actions against recommendations and proposals contained in the report, be monitored, as appropriate.

Report of the Director of Health and Social Care.

Further to Minute No. 72 of the meeting of the Cabinet Member – Health and Social Care of 27 January 2009, the Committee considered the report of the Strategic Director of Adult Social Services (Health and Social Care), on the outcome of the Annual Assessment by the Commission for Social Care Inspection (CSCI), including the Council’s notified star rating and seeking agreement to the action relating to areas of improvement highlighted as part of the 2008 annual performance assessment.

Annexe A and B of the report contained letters from CSCI in relation to the Annual Performance Assessment. Areas for judgement and the grades awarded in 2008 were as follows:

(i)                 Delivering outcomes

·        Improved health and emotional well being: good;

·        Improved quality of life: good;

·        Making a positive contribution: good;

·        Increased choice and control: good;

·        Freedom from discrimination or harassment: good;

·        Economic well being: good; and

·        Maintaining personal dignity and respect: good.

(ii)               Capacity for improvement

·        Leadership: promising; and

·        Commissioning and use of resources: promising.

The Council had been awarded a two star rating for its adult social care services in 2008.

An action plan was indicated in Annexe D to address areas for improvement highlighted by CSCI.

Members were further informed of joint working commitments with NHS Sefton, adult services and children’s services.

RESOLVED: That

(1)   the report be received and noted; and

(2)   the Committee recognised the contribution made by all the Health and Social Care Directorate staff towards improvement.

Report of the Legal Director.

The Committee considered the report of the Legal Director attaching the latest Key Decision Forward Plan, which contained all the Key Decisions that the Executive anticipated to take during 1 January and 31 May 2009. The Committee was advised of its right to pre-scrutinise any Key Decisions that fell under its remit.

Members discussed the following Key Decisions and Jim Ohren, the Principal Manager for Health and Social Care was available to answer any questions:

(A)   Independent Living;

(B)   To Review the Council’s Accommodation Strategy to take account of the implications of the developing partnerships with Arvato, Capita Symonds and NHS Sefton;

(C)  To No Longer Provide Small Aids Free of Charge;

(D)  Merseyside Gypsy and Traveller Accommodation Needs Assessment and implications for Sefton;

(E)   To seek approval to a new Private Sector Housing Strategy for the Borough, which will form a sub-strategy to the new Borough Housing Strategy;

(F)   Sefton Carers Retreat Hotel;

(G)  Sefton’s Housing Strategy for the period 2009 – 2013;

(H)   Changes to Sefton’s Housing Allocation Policy and Choice Based Lettings system;

(I)       Sefton’s Home Improvement Assistance Grants/Loans Policy

The Chair, Councillor Hill stated that senior officers would also be present at future meetings, to inform the Committee if any questions arose from any Key Decisions that fell under its remit.

The report also provided updates on recent activities of the current Working Groups, as follows:-

• Supported Housing Needs Working Group; and
• Analysis and evaluation of Early Mechanisms in Health and social Care Working Group.

The Committee were also updated on the planned visit to Alder Hey Hospital for Members of this Committee, together with the Cabinet Member – Health and Social Care on Wednesday 28 January 2009.

RESOLVED: That

(1)       the contents of the Forward Plan, together with the report, be noted;

(2)            progress in relation to the Committee’s Work Programme and Working Groups be recognised and supported; and

(3)       the site visit to Alder Hey Hospital be noted.