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Committee Report NSC

6.3
 
 


North Somerset Council

 

REPORT TO THE Housing Health & Social Care for Adults Policy & Scrutiny Panel

 

Date of Meeting: 5th October 2005

 

Subject of Report: Annual Health Check - Guidance for completion of Panel statements

 

Town or parish: All wards

 

Officer presenting: Debi Kinghorn - Scrutiny & Performance Officer

 

Key Decision: No

 

 

RECOMMENDATIONS

 

That Panel Members consider this report in conjunction with information received from Weston Area Health Trust and North Somerset Primary Care Trust, before agreeing a statement for each health trust that can be included verbatim on their draft declarations of performance for submission to the Healthcare Commission. 

 

1.                Summary of Report

 

This report seeks to guide Members on your role in commenting on the performance of North Somerset Primary Care Trust and Weston Area Health Trust and remind you of work you have undertaken between April and September this year that you can use as evidence in presenting your comments.

 

2.                Policy

 

The Council has set out and agreed to aims and priorities within the Corporate Plan and Community Strategy that relate to consideration of this issue. They are as follows:

 

Community Strategy

 

Corporate Plan

 

 

 

 

 

3.                Details

 

The Annual Health Check (also known as Assessment against Core Standards) is the new process for assessing the performance of all NHS trusts. It replaces the star rating system.

 

As part of the new process the Healthcare Commission are interested in the views of Health Overview and Scrutiny Committees, Patient and Public Involvement forums and Strategic Health Authorities in order to gain a fuller picture of performance.

 

The trusts complete a declaration (self assessment form) on the 24 Core standards and a series of developmental standards. Any comments made by external stakeholders will be submitted verbatim as part of the form.    

 

At the last meeting of this Panel (31st August 2005) you agreed you would like to comment on the performance of Weston Area Health Trust and North Somerset Primary Care Trust.

 

The Panel does not need to comment on all of the standards, only those you feel you are able to, based on knowledge and evidence you have built up through the work of the Panel.

 

As this is a new process, there is a draft stage (this October) and then the formal process starts in April next year.

 

The Healthcare Commission is inviting comments based on the performance of the Trusts between 1st April and 30th September 2005.

 

As a quick reminder here are some key points for you to consider.

 

North Somerset Primary Care Trust is both a commissioner and provider of services for the residents of North Somerset.

 

Weston Area Health Trust is a provider of services.

 

Items you have covered on your work plan between these dates that relate to Weston Area Health Trust and North Somerset PCT are as follows:

 

In addition Katie Norton started as the new Chief Executive of North Somerset PCT in May 2005.

 

You may wish to think about the 24 Core Standards and the seven headings they fall into.

 

Are there any outcomes or information you have gathered in consideration of the above issues that can help you comment on each of the trusts performance?

 

You may wish to consider areas of good practice as well as any areas for improvement.

 

Evidence doesn’t currently have to be provided with the submitted comments, but may be requested at a later stage if appropriate.

 

The Healthcare Commission have suggested that Health Overview & Scrutiny Committees may wish to comment specifically on core standards 13 – 16, 17 and 22-24. These standards relate to patient and public involvement, dignity and respect and public health issues.

 

Full details on the Core Standards are listed in Appendix two – Criteria for Assessing Core Standards.

 

Appendix one – Guidance for Overview and Scrutiny Panels should also provide some assistance in your role in this process.

 

You may also wish to refer to the information you have received at the last Panel meeting by the Chief Executive of Weston Area Health Trust and the document Guidance on assessing core standards that was previously circulated to you.

 

The Chief Executive of both Trusts will be present at the meeting on 5th October and may be able to offer further information to assist you.

 

You may wish to consider working more closely with the Patient and Public Involvement Forums in future submissions and as relationships develop.

 

4.                Consultation

 

Panel Members have also received information on this process at the last Panel meeting on 31st August 2005 and through separate circulation of the guidance for assessing core standards.

 

The comments that the Panel submit should be based on work that you have been involved with from April to September this year. This may include comments from Expert Witnesses (including Council and NHS staff), Patients and Members of the Public.

 

5.                Financial Implications

 

N/A

 

6.                Equality Implications

 

The Annual Health Check looks at the performance of health trusts in all areas, including equalities. You may wish to comment specifically on performance in this area if you feel able to do so.

 

7.                Corporate Implications

 

The Annual Health Check provides an assessment of NHS services, but some of the core standards relate to work with social care organisations, which will cut across adult and childrens services and relate to any work we undertake jointly with the PCT.

 

The Council will be assessed more specifically on its contribution to managing and improving healthcare for local people through the Corporate Performance Assessment (CPA) and Joint Area Review (JAR) that is scheduled to take place early next year.

 

8.                Options considered

 

The Panel are invited to comment on the performance of local health trusts as part of the new process in assessing how healthcare trusts respond to the needs of their local population. You do not have to comment if you feel unable to do so.

 

 

Author

 

Debi Kinghorn

Scrutiny & Performance Officer

Tel: 01934 634862

Email: Debi.kinghorn@n-somerset.gov.uk

 

Background Papers

 

Guidance from Healthcare commission including: