Agendas, Minutes and Reports

Minutes

of the Meeting of the

Housing, Health and Social

Care for Adults Policy and Scrutiny Panel

Wednesday 5th October 2005

held at the Town Hall, Weston-super-Mare, Somerset.

Meeting Commenced: 6.00 p.m. Meeting Concluded: 8.45 p.m.

Present: Councillors Ron Moon (Chairman), Muriel Kraft (Vice-Chairman), Ann Harley (substitute for Peter Bryant), Colin Golland, Tom Leimdorfer, Hugh Parsons, Elizabeth Wells, Roz Willis

Apologies for absence: Councillors Nigel Ashton, Peter Bryant

Also in attendance: Councillors Isabel Cummings (part)

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Councillor Peter Bryant

The Chairman reported that Councillor Peter Bryant had been admitted to hospital for an operation. The Panel sent the well wishes for a speedy recovery.

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Declarations of Interest by Members

Councillor Tom Leimdorfer – personal interest in all matters concerning carers– as he works for Crossroads.

Councillor Hugh Parsons – personal interest in all matters concerning Weston-super-Mare General Hospital NHS Trust– his wife is employed by Weston-super-Mare General Hospital N H S Trust.

Councillor Colin Golland – personal interest in all matters concerning private care homes – he is employed in a private sector care home.

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Minutes of the Meeting held on 31st August 2005 ( Agenda Item 4.1)

Resolved: that the minutes of the meeting held on 31st August 2005 be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman subject to it being noted that page 7 line 11 delete “next three years” and replace with “per year”.

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Proposals by Avon, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire Strategic Health Authority for the reconfiguration of Primary Care Trusts – (reference from Council 27th September 2005, Agenda Item 5.1)

Members received a reference from the Council of 27th September 2005 (agenda item 5.1) which had endorsed the comments made by this Scrutiny Panel of 31st August 2005 in respect of the reconfiguration of Primary Care Trusts.

Resolved: that this Panel and Council’s view as detailed below in (1) and (2) be forwarded to the Avon, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire Strategic Health Authority as this Council’s response.

(1) that this Panel and Council’s view for a preferred option is Option One: “Primary Care Trusts linked with Local Authority boundaries, seven Primary Care Trusts as a result, and

(2) that it is important to build on partnership working in respect of fragile services that could be vulnerable to change.

The voting was unanimous

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Supporting People Strategy (reference from Executive 4th October 2005) (Agenda Item 5.2)

This item would be discussed later in the meeting with agenda item 6.2 .

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Retained housing structure after transfer (Agenda Item 6.1)

This item would be presented at a future meeting.

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Guidance on submission/completion of statement for Annual health check (Agenda Item 6.3)

The representative of the Head of Performance, Improvement and Human Resources presented the report which sought to guide members on their role in commenting on the performance of North Somerset Primary Care Trust and Weston Area Health Trust. The reported also reminded members of the work the panel had undertaken between April and September that could be used as evidence in presenting comments.

The work areas that had been covered on the Panel’s work plan included:

(a) Ambulance Review

(b) Weston Operational Plan 2005/06

(d) G P Out of Hours contract

(e) Development of Healthcare facilities in North Somerset (including attendance by some to seminar on 6th July)

(f) Reconfiguration of NHS services.

The appendices to the report gave details on the 24 core standards and seven headings which could be considered.

Concluded: that the report be noted

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Update on Weston-super-Mare General Hospital NHS Trust – cleanliness (Agenda Item 6.5)

The Vice Chairman, Councillor Mrs Kraft gave a verbal update following a meeting she had attended of the Environment Forum at the Weston-super-Mare General Hospital on 14th September 2005 she reported:

(a) that the Hospital Board had agreed an additional £150,000 on the cleaning budget which would help with housekeeping and they would be employing extra part time cleaning staff.

(b) the Trust would be implementing a no smoking policy throughout the hospital buildings

(c) there was to be a staff awareness initiative regarding the wearing of uniforms in public places in respect of infection issues

(d) infection control working very well. Staff had been trying different products in particular a new disinfectant. Infections were down dramatically.

The Panel commended the staff on their hard work.

Other issues raised included:

(1) possible alterations to visiting times

(2) in day case unit staff wear “scrubs” could this be intruded throughout.

Mark Gritten explained the cost implications of laundering and provision.

(3) A members asked how much it had cost to provide and install the “smoking shelters”

Mark Gritten replied in the region of £15,000 for provision and installation.

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Declaration of Annual Health Check – Weston-super-Mare General Hospital NHS Trust (Agenda Item 6.4)

Mark Gritten, Chief Executive Officer Weston-super-Mare General Hospital Trust tabled the draft self declaration of the Annual Health Check. This would replace the “star rating system”. He apologised for the late submission of the declaration. A copy of the declaration is filed on the signed minute book.

He explained that he had only indicated “compliant” where there was strong evidence to support the statement. He further explained that the draft declaration was to be submitted to the Hospital Board and the Clinical Governance Committee would check the evidence that supported the declaration.

Issues raised in debate included:

(a) C14b perception by the general public that if a complaint is made there could be discrimination

Members agreed that there were systems in place to ensure that patients, their relatives and carers are not discriminated against when complaints were made.

(b) A need to involved Patients Forums, carers and patients in the gathering of evidence.

Mark Gritten agreed that this was a weakness which was being addressed.

(d) Who is ultimately responsible on a ward if a complaint is made.

Mark Gritten responded that the ward sister was responsible. When a complaint had been made and was found to be justified a written action plan was agreed and actioned.

(e) Cost implications for evidence gathering

(f) Lateness of report being submitted to the Panel

Mark Gritten apologised and would ensure that report for March would be available at least five working days before the meeting.

Resolved:

(1) that in respect of Core Standard C4a the Panel have scrutinised regularly and at length and noted the vast improvement in infection control and cleanliness over the past twelve months in this area at Weston-super-Mare General Hospital;

(2) that in respect of all other Core Standard within C1 – C12 the Panel noted at this stage with no comment;

(3) that in respect of Core Standards C13a, C13b C14c, C16 and C17 where it is stated that there is insufficient assurance this Panel urge Weston-super-Mare General Hospital Trust to actively seek the views of patients and carers;

(4) that in respect of Core Standards C15a and C15b the Panel noted that the Weston-super-Mare General Hospital Trust was compliant;

(5) that in respect of Core Standard C18 the Panel noted that there had recently been a Health Inequalities conference;

(6) that in respect of Core Standard C22a – C22b the Panel commented there was evidence that the Weston-super-Mare General Hospital Trust were making effective contributions to partnership working.

(7) that in respect of Core Standard C23 the Panel commented that in some areas working well but not in all areas yet.

(8) that in respect of Core Standard C24 the Panel felt unable to comment.

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Declaration of Annual Health Check – North Somerset Primary Care Trust (Agenda Item 6.6)

The Panel expressed there concern to Paul Gardner, Director of Commissioning North Somerset Primary Care Trust that a written draft Declaration of Annual Health Check had not been submitted for their comments. They felt they could not make any comments at this meeting. It was agreed after debate that a further meeting would be held on 26th October 2005 at 6.00 p.m. in the New Council Chamber, Town Hall, Weston-super-Mare. Paul Gardner assured the Panel that a written report would be submitted at least 5 working days prior to the Panel Meeting.

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Executive Member for Social Care – verbal report (Agenda Item 6.7)

The Executive Member was not in attendance having previously sent apologies.

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Executive Member for Housing – verbal report (Agenda Item 6.8)

The Executive Member for Housing was not in attendance at this point of the meeting having left earlier due to prior engagement.

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Budget 2006/07 – Introduction to Service area priorities and pressures (Agenda Item 6.2) and Supporting People Strategy (reference from Executive 4th October 2005) (Agenda Item 5.2)

A representative of the Director of Adult Social Services and Housing gave a presentation that set out funding issues from 2006/7.

The presentation included:

(a) Existing budget pressures 2005/06

(b) Keys issues and risks

(d) Opportunities for savings

(e) Examples of Gershon savings

(f) Regional overspends by other authorities.

Issues raised during debate included:

(1) Preserved rights and funding

(2) Demographic/life expectancy changes and the resultant financial implications

(3) Implementation of single status agreement

(4) Direct payment issues

(5) Domiciliary care

(6) Supporting people programme

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Strategic Health Authority Review of Mental Health Services and Related Services (Agenda Item 6.9)

The representative of the Director of Adult Services and Housing presented the report which summarised the recommendations of the recent review carried out by the Strategic Health Authority and informed Members of the next steps in implementation of the review recommendations.

The review was initiated in response to national developments in policy and standards relating to Mental Health Services affecting adults of working age, older people, children and adolescents and the related areas of learning disability and substance abuse.

The aims of the review were:-

(1) Agree a service framework for each of the five care areas (recognising that the framework for drug treatment services are largely dictated by the models of care framework issued by the National Treatment Agency).

(2) To agree a commissioning framework for the services.

(3) To identify the service elements, networks organisational and governance arrangements that would need to be in place to deliver the agreed service frameworks.

Concluded: that the report be noted and that a further report be submitted to a future meeting.

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Chairman

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