Health Scrutiny Panel – 27 November 2012

PRESENT:  Councillor Mrs Bromby in the chair.

Councillors Barker (Vice-Chair), Bainbridge, Eckhardt, and Ogg.

Councillor Whiteley attended the meeting in accordance with the provisions of Procedure Rule 1.36 (b).

The panel met at the Civic Centre, Scunthorpe.

75  DECLARATIONS OF DISCLOSABLE PECUNIARY INTERESTS AND PERSONAL OR PERSONAL AND PREJUDICIAL INTERESTS AND DECLARATIONS OF WHIPPING ARRANGEMENTS (IF ANY) – There were no declarations of disclosable pecuniary interests and personal or personal and prejudicial interests.

No whip was declared.

76  PUBLIC REQUESTS TO SPEAK – There were no requests received.

77  UPDATE AND DISCUSSION OF ONGOING AND PLANNED WORK – The Chairman and Director of Policy and Resources updated the panel on progress with various ongoing workstreams.  These are summarised below:

  • Mortality.  Work was ongoing with a draft report on the local hospital level mortality statistics.  The panel would continue to be involved and informed.
  • Continence Services.  This review was currently in the planning stages, and progress would depend largely on other ongoing work.
  • Sustainable Services Review.  Proposals continued to be developed and planned, and members would be kept informed when the situation was clearer.
  • Ambulance Reconfiguration consultation.  A response to the consultation had been agreed by the Chairman and Vice-Chair and had been returned to the Ambulance Service.
  • Health Inequalities in North Lincolnshire.  A meeting with the Chairman and Vice-Chair had been arranged for 11 December to consider feedback and finalise the draft report.
  • Scrutiny Development Area work.  A protocol with the Clinical Commissioning Group had been agreed, and a similar document agreeing terms of reference with the Health and Wellbeing Board was currently under consideration.  A toolkit on scrutinising major service reconfigurations was under development.
  • Locality working for health and social care.  The panel had requested an update on progress when the teams were all in place.  Members would be advised of a date as soon as this becomes available.
  • Legacy document transferring commissioning responsibilities to the Clinical Commissioning Group.  It was intended to bring this to a future meeting of the panel when the document was completed.
  • Quality Account work.  Discussions with local Trusts had begun to present information about annual Quality Accounts to the panel in the Spring.
  • Future site visits.  The panel had requested a site visit to Providence House, and arrangements were being finalised to facilitate this.
  • Future consultation exercises.  These would be responded to as and when required.  The Sustainable Services review would be subject to formal consultation.

Resolved – (a) That the situation be noted and that the above work continue; (b) that the panel consider their work programme further when various workstreams are clearer, and (c) that a presentation to the panel on future local commissioning plans by a suitably senior figure from the NHS be arranged as soon as practicable.

78  DEVELOPMENTS IN HEALTH – Members received a short, verbal update on developing issues relevant to the panel’s terms of reference, including children’s congenital heart services.

79  ADDED ITEM – There was no added item for consideration at the meeting.