Agenda and minutes

At this point Members are asked to declare any personal or prejudicial interests they may have in the business on this agenda. A list of general personal interests previously declared are attached.

Members were invited to declare at this point in the meeting any personal or prejudicial interests they might have in the business on the agenda.

The following interests were declared:

Councillor Fraser – personal and non-prejudicial interest as a Governor of York Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and as a member of the retired section of Unison.

Councillor Wiseman – personal and non-prejudicial interest as a Governor of York Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.

Councillor Alexander declared a personal and non-prejudicial interest in agenda item 5 (Feasibility Study – Alcohol Harm Reduction Strategy) as Chair of the Gambling and Licensing Acts Committee.

To approve and sign the minutes of the last meeting of the Committee held on 5 January 2009.

RESOLVED:            That the minutes of the last meeting of the Committee held on 5

January 2009 be approved and signed by the Chair as a correct record.

At this point in the meeting members of the public who have registered their wish to speak regarding an item on the agenda or an issue within the Committee’s remit can do so. Anyone who wishes to register or requires further information is requested to contact the Democracy Officer on the contact details listed at the foot of this agenda. The deadline for registering is Friday 30 January 2009 at 5.00pm.

It was reported that there had been no registrations to speak at the meeting under the Council’s Public Participation Scheme.

This report updates the Committee on current progress in establishing a Local Involvement Network (LINk) for the City of York. The report also outlines the steps and measures that need to be taken to ensure that LINks establishes an effective working relationship with the Health Scrutiny Committee.

Members received a report updating the Committee on current progress in establishing a Local Involvement Network (LINk) for the city of York.  The report also outlined the steps and measures that needed to be taken to ensure that LINks established an effective working relationship with the Health Scrutiny Committee.

RESOLVED:            (i)            That the update report be noted.

(ii)               That a further update report be presented to the Committee in six months time¹.

REASON:            To continue to track the development of LINks in York.

This report asks Members to consider a scrutiny topic registered by Cllr Sue Galloway to scrutinise the performance and value for money of the North Yorkshire and York NHS’s alcohol treatment services, particularly in relation to admissions and the impact on National Indicator 39 of the Local Area Agreement.

Members received a report asking them to consider a scrutiny topic registered by Councillor Sue Galloway to scrutinise the performance and value for money of the North Yorkshire and York NHS’s alcohol treatment services, particularly in relation to admissions and the impact on National Indicator 39 of the Local Area Agreement.

Representatives from the Primary Care Trust and York Hospital NHS Foundation gave details of the work that was taking place regarding the setting of targets and the commissioning of services in respect of alcohol misuse. 

It was noted that data was collected and reported but there were a number of difficulties in obtaining accurate information from patients admitted to the Accident and Emergency Department.  Staff were initially concerned with treating the presenting injury and would not ordinarily be aware that a patient had been drinking unless the patient informed them of this. There was a need to deal sensitively with patients and hence questioning about their alcohol intake may be seen as intrusive or inappropriate.  Instances could also arise whereby a person who had been drinking may have been involved in an accident but alcohol may not have been a contributory factor.  The gathering of statistical data by A&E staff also had to be seen in the context of the often significant demands on their time and the pressures to keep down waiting times.

Members were informed of a Government Office pilot project that was taking place at Harrogate Hospital whereby data was being collected electronically by hospital staff.

RESOLVED:            (i)            That, prior to a decision being made as to whether to

proceed with a scrutiny review on this topic, a joint briefing paper be prepared by the Primary Care Trust and the Hospital to include:

·        Clarification as to the data that is currently collected

·        Confirmation of targets and how these are reported (including the definition of an alcohol related hospital admission)

·        Historical data

·        Feedback from the pilot being carried out by Harrogate Accident and Emergency Department in respect of the electronic collection of data.

(ii)That, following the meeting, representatives from the Primary Care Trust and the Hospital advise the Scrutiny Officer of a realistic timescale within which the briefing report could be completed and presented to the Committee¹.

REASON:      To enable the Committee to determine whether there was a need to proceed with a Scrutiny Review in respect of Alcohol Harm Reduction Strategy.

This report asks Members to consider a scrutiny topic registered by Cllr Moore to scrutinise access to dental services in York.

Members received a report asking them to consider a scrutiny topic registered by Councillor Moore to scrutinise access to dental services in York.

Councillor Moore informed the Committee of his reasons for recommending that a review take place, as outlined in the report. 

A representative from the North Yorkshire and York Primary Care Trust (NYYPCT) informed the Committee that members of the Oral Health Group, which included dentists and dental health consultants, were willing to assist in and be involved in the scoping of any such review.  North Yorkshire Council was currently carrying out a review of access to dentists in rural areas and was looking to extend this to a broader review of dental provision.  Consideration could be given to carrying out a joint review into the more general issues although North Yorkshire were not likely to embark upon such a review until summer 2009.

Discussion took place regarding the allocation of “Units of Dental Activity” (UDAs).  The Committee was informed that Doncaster had implemented a different system in respect of UDAs and it was suggested that it might be worthwhile to find out more about this initiative.

It was noted that, at their previous meeting, the Committee had requested specific data from the NYYPCT, including information for the York area only and statistics that enabled year on year comparisons to be made. This information was due to be presented to the Committee in May 2009. It was suggested that it may be useful to defer making a decision on whether to proceed with a review until the committee had received and considered the data from the PCT.  Discussion took place as to ways in which qualitative data could be obtained should a decision be taken to proceed with a review.  It was acknowledged that there may be difficulties in defining patient experience.  Assessments as to a patient’s ability to access treatment may also prove problematic as, for some patients, the issue was that although appointments were available, they needed to access treatment at a time that was convenient to them. 

It was noted that, at their AGM in March, LINk were due to consider whether to undertake a project in respect of dental services.  Views were put forward that it may be helpful to look at the possibility of working jointly with LINk if it was agreed at their AGM to proceed with a review of dental services.

Members were informed that Calderdale Scrutiny Committee had carried out a review of oral health provision.  Copies of their report dated August 2007 were available from the Scrutiny Officer. 

Views were expressed that it would not be advisable to proceed with a review whilst the information from the PCT and the decisions of LINk and North Yorkshire Council were awaited.  Other members stated that a review should take place as soon as possible.

RESOLVED:(i)         That the decision as to whether or not to undertake a

review of access to dental services in York be deferred until the following additional  ...  view the full minutes text for item 41.