Health Scrutiny Panel – 6 November 2012

PRESENT:  Councillor Mrs Bromby in the chair.

Councillors Bainbridge, Eckhardt, Gosling and Ogg.

Councillor P Vickers, Wells and Whiteley attended the meeting in accordance with the provisions of Procedure Rule 1.36 (b).

The panel met at the Civic Centre, Scunthorpe.

62  DECLARATIONS OF DISCLOSABLE PECUNIARY INTERESTS AND PERSONAL OR PERSONAL AND PREJUDICIAL INTERESTS AND DECLARATIONS OF WHIPPING ARRANGEMENTS (IF ANY) – Councillors Bainbridge and Wells declared personal interests as members of the Ambulance Trust.

No whip was declared.

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

64  DISCUSSIONS WITH THE CHAIRMAN OF NORTH LINCOLNSHIRE’S SHADOW HEALTH AND WELLBEING BOARD – The Chairman welcomed Cllr Waltham to the meeting to provide a short, informal update on the work of the shadow Health and Wellbeing Board.  Cllr Waltham discussed the following issues, before answering questions from members:

  • The transfer of public health responsibilities to the local authority,
  • Governance arrangements for the shadow Health and Wellbeing Board,
  • The ongoing tendering exercise for a provider for Healthwatch,
  • The agreement of a Joint Strategic Needs Assessment (JSNA) and a Joint Health and Wellbeing Strategy (JHWS).

Resolved – (a) That Cllr Waltham be thanked for his attendance, and (b) that the position be noted.

65  (5)  BEING THE BEST – CONSULTATION BY EAST MIDLANDS AMBULANCE SERVICE.  The Chairman welcomed Phil Milligan, Chief Executive, and Greg Cox, Operational Support Manager, to the meeting.  Phil gave a short presentation on an ongoing consultation about proposals to alter the model of service delivery of ambulance cover and related infrastructure across the East Midlands area.  This would move the service to a ‘hub and spoke’ model, with 13 central hubs and a large number of Community Ambulance Posts and Standby Points.

Members asked questions on a wide range of associated issues, including:

  • Waiting times for urban versus rural areas,
  • The use and encouragement of community based schemes such as volunteer-run LIVES or local defibrillators,
  • Links with the Fire Service,
  • The financial implications and business case,
  • Moving from a treatment model to a preventative model, and
  • Population versus geographical considerations,

Resolved – (a) That Phil Milligan and Greg Cox be thanked for their attendance, and (b) that a suitable response to the consultation be drafted, agreed by the panel’s Chairman and Vice-Chair, and returned to the Ambulance Service.

66  (6)  THE STRATEGIC RESPONSE TO HEALTH INEQUALITIES IN NORTH LINCOLNSHIRE – The Chairman introduced the draft report, highlighting minor changes to the content and a number of suggested changes following a request for feedback from key stakeholders.

Resolved – That the Chairman and Vice-Chair be authorised to consider the feedback and to agree, adopt and pass the report to cabinet for consideration.

67  ONGOING SCRUTINY WORK – The Director of Policy and Resources updated the panel on work underway to become a Scrutiny Development Area, and as part of ongoing work on mortality and continence.

Resolved – That the situation be noted.

68  SITE VISIT TO THE IRONSTONE CENTRE – The Chairman gave feedback to the panel on a site visit to the Ironstone Centre in Scunthorpe held on 24 October 2012.

Resolved – That the situation be noted.

69  DEVELOPMENTS IN HEALTH – Members received a short, verbal update on developing issues relevant to the panel’s terms of reference.

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