Healthier Communities and Older People Scrutiny Panel – 2 March 2009

PRESENT:  Councillor Barker in the chair.

Councillors Sidell (vice-chairman), Collinson, Eckhardt, Jawaid MBE, Simpson and Wells.

The panel met at Pittwood House, Scunthorpe.

132  DECLARATIONS OF PERSONAL OR PERSONAL AND PREJUDICIAL INTERESTS AND DECLARATIONS OF WHIPPING ARRANGEMENTS – The following member declared a personal interest in the following matter:-

Member Minute Subject & Nature of Interest
Councillor Barker

 

140 Family member employed within the Midwifery department

Mr D Gillon, Scrutiny Officer in attendance, declared a non-pecuniary interest, minute 134refers, as his wife worked for the Alcohol and Drugs Service.

No whip was declared.    

133  PUBLIC REQUESTS TO SPEAK There were no requests received.

134  REVIEW OF ALCOHOL MISUSE IN NORTH LINCOLNSHIRE –

(i) Discussions with Hilary Strong, Youth Service Locality Worker – The Chair welcomed Hilary Strong to the meeting and provided a brief outline of the review so far.

Hilary explained that the Youth Service was involved with delivering a three hour training provision for teachers employed within Junior, Primary and also Secondary schools within North Lincolnshire.  The training was aimed to address alcohol misuse within a wide age range.

The panel was advised that three training events had been planned, the first being well represented, however the latter two had seen little interest, resulting in the last event being cancelled.

When asked why there was a lack of interest, members were advised that the training would be delivered to students in the Personal, Social and Health Education (PSHE), this is not a statutory requirement and therefore is not given the priority that it should receive.  Schools do not receive funding to address alcohol misuse within this arena and therefore will not remain high on the agendas.

The panel learned how a Police Sergeant and his Police Community Support Officers were involved with delivering presentations within a local school to address the problems and risks associated with alcohol misuse.  This was however unique to one area, and had not been made available in other areas of North Lincolnshire.

Discussions were summarised with the fact that a great deal more could be achieved, but the training and delivery needed resources and funding so that it would gain the level of importance that was needed to achieve positive results.

Resolved – (a) That the position be noted, (b) that Hilary Strong be thanked for her attendance at the meeting and for her contribution to discussions, and (c) that Councillor Sidell liaise with Hilary Strong to arrange attendance at a future teacher training event.

135  (ii) Next Stages – The Service Director Legal and Democratic confirmed that the following meetings had been arranged:-

  • Acute Trust from Northern Lincolnshire and Goole Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust – 5 March 2009.
  • Dr Andrew Furber, Director of Public Health – 12 March 2009.

 

Resolved – That the position be noted.

136  (20) LEADER OF THE COUNCIL’S FORWARD PLAN – The Service Director Legal and Democratic circulated the Leader of North Lincolnshire Council’s Forward Plan for March to June 2009.

The plan contained details of all matters and issues likely to be the subject of key decisions for a period of the next four months, updated on a monthly basis.  Members discussed various items on the Forward Plan and it was agreed that further information would be welcomed on the following items:-

  • Review of Safeguarding Vulnerable Adults – ‘Every Adult Matters’
  • Extending Partnership Arrangements with NHS North Lincolnshire

 

The chair requested that the Service Director Adult Social Services be invited to attend a future meeting.  Details would be confirmed to members of the panel.

Resolved – (a)  That the position be noted, and (b) that the Service Director Legal and Democratic contact the Adult Services Cabinet Member and Service Director Adult Social Care to arrange a convenient date for them to meet with the panel.

137  HEALTHCARE COMMISSION DECLARATIONS – The Service Director Legal and Democratic asked members of the panel to consider their contact with the local Trusts between 1 April 2008 and 31 March 2009.  Members were asked to formulate evidence-based responses to the Healthcare.

Commission based on how members perceived Trusts’ performance against the 24 Core Standards.

It was agreed that draft responses would be prepared by the Service Director Legal and Democratic, before being agreed by a future sub group.  These would be forwarded to all members of the panel, and passed to the trusts so that they could be discussed at the relevant Board meetings prior to submission. 

Resolved – That the position be noted.

138  WORLD CLASS COMMISSIONING FOR NORTH LINCOLNSHIRE – verbal update – The Service Director Legal and Democratic advised that a new Commissioning Assurance process would be adopted by NHS North Lincolnshire.  This looked at improved engagement with the public, clinicians and general practitioners to gain a greater understanding of local health needs, and to deliver better services.

Members were advised that recent evaluations had been conducted, and having received these results, the Chief Executive, NHS North Lincolnshire had approached the Service Director Legal and Democratic requesting attendance at a future meeting of this panel to discuss the results.

It was agreed that an invitation would be extended to the Chief Executive, NHS North Lincolnshire to attend the scheduled meeting in April, if possible.

Resolved – That the position be noted.

139  CENTRE FOR PUBLIC SCRUTINY BID – verbal update – The chair confirmed that the vice-chairman and other members had met with a representative from the Centre for Public Scrutiny to discuss the remit of the review into Practice Based Commissioning and the Inverse Care Law.  It was confirmed that this had been very beneficial.

The vice-chairman confirmed that the next stages would be to scope the review and then start to call in witnesses.

Resolved – (a) That the position be noted, and (b) that the sub group report back to the full panel.

140  MIDWIFERY MODEL OF CARE – verbal update – The Service Director Legal and Democratic advised members that a sub group had met with Debbie Smith, Head of Midwifery Services and Karen Rossdale, Assistant Director of Patient Services to discuss the proposed changes to the model of care.  Further dialogue had taken place between members and the Director of Public Health and representatives at NHS North Lincolnshire.

The panel was advised that concerns had been expressed over the lack of public consultation.

Resolved – That a letter be sent from the members of the Healthier Communities and Older People Scrutiny Panel, to Northern Lincolnshire and Goole Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, copied to NHS North Lincolnshire and other stakeholders, requesting that the proposed changes to the Midwifery Model of Care be halted until a full public consultation has been undertaken.

141  ACUTE TRUST FROM NORTHERN LINCOLNSHIRE AND GOOLE HOSPITALS NHS FOUNDATION TRUST – Invitation to attend workshop session to discuss the Trust’s declaration – The Service Director Legal and Democratic advised that two members of the panel had been invited by the Acute Trust, to attend a workshop event aimed at giving consideration to the Trust’s declaration.

After discussion it was agreed that the chair and vice-chairman would attend on behalf of the panel.

Resolved – That the position be noted