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.

Councillor Fraser declared a standing interest as a member of the retired section of UNITE the TGWU ACTS section in relation to any discussion on NHS employees.

Councillor Simpson-Laing declared standing declarations as a member of UNISON and as an employee of RELATE working with residents of Askham Grange.

To approve and sign the minutes of the last meeting of the Committee  held on 8 July 2009.

RESOLVED:                         That the minutes of the last meeting of the Committee held on 8 July 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. The deadline for registering is 5:00 pm on Tuesday 22 September 2009.

There had been one registration to speak under the Council’s Public Participation Scheme from John Yates, of the Older People’s Assembly on item 6 (LINks – Public Awareness and Consultation Events) and on item 8 (Feasibility Report – Childhood Obesity).  Further details are set out under the individual minutes.

John Pattinson, Project Manager for Mental Health Transfer at NHS North Yorkshire & York will be in attendance to give Members a short presentation on the future of mental health provider services in the area.

John Pattinson, Project Manager for Mental Health Transfer at NHS North Yorkshire and York gave Members a short presentation on the future of mental health provider services in the area.

He explained how community services would be transformed driven by national, regional and local drivers. He detailed the services that were involved and the area covered together with proposed dates when the strategy would be prepared and plans implemented (further details are set out in the presentation which is attached as an annex to these minutes).

Members questioned the following points:

• Keeping the status quo had been suggested as an option when the transformation had first been mooted and this had been confirmed as a possibility. Was this still the case?
• The implications of joint services with the Council and PCT;
• Further updates were required as development progressed;
• Work on the transformation did not appear to have moved far forward.

RESOLVED:             That an update on progress of mental health provider services be provided for the Committee in March 2010.

REASON:                  To keep the Committee updated on the future of mental health provider services in the area.

This report provides an update of the 2009/10 position for both finance and performance in Adult Social Services, the main area covered by the Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

Consideration was given to a report which provided an update of the 2009/10 position for both finance and performance in Adult Social Services, the main area covered by the Health Overview Scrutiny Committee.

It was reported that the net approved budget for Adult Social Services was £38.6m and, after identifying £665k of in year savings to address cost pressures in the year. It was currently projected that Adult Social Services would overspend by £589k the main areas being an increase in customers supported at home, increased direct payment take up, increases in the number of Mental Health placements and as it had not yet been possible to deliver an agreed budget saving to deliver additional customer income.

Members requested further details and questioned the following points:

• The underspends due to staffing vacancies at Elderly Persons’ Homes;
• Projections for the number of people accessing services required by 2010;
• The drop in performance in relation to care packages;
• New signposting service the affect and impact on Performance Indicators;
• Costs of services and NHS contribution;
• Need for ring fencing of monies allocated to PCT for carers respite breaks.

Officers referred to a request made at the Executive meeting on 22 September for scrutiny committees to review the reasons for and options for a number of items that had an impact on the Council’s budget. In relation to this Committee this was the demand levels for adult community care.  The Chair questioned the method of feeding these requests through to scrutiny committees. 

RESOLVED:   (i)         That this information report be noted;

(ii)That the Scrutiny Officer email the Committee with details of the request made at the Executive meeting on 22 September, together with details of the impact of the new signposting service. ^1.

This report presents Members with the first of two reports arising from the York LINks’ Public Awareness and Consultation Events (PACE). These reports detail the information gathered and the recommendations arising as a result of their investigations.

Members considered the first two reports arising from the LINks’ Public Awareness and Consultation Events (PACE). These reports detailed the information gathered and the recommendations arising as a result of their investigations on the following topics from their workplan:

• The future of Mental Health Services in York and North Yorkshire (Annex A).
• The provision of hospital facilities for people with long term conditions (such as neurological conditions) (Annex B).

John Yates, Older People’s Assembly, referred to the options given in relation to how members would wish to receive the PACE reports in future. He stated that to ensure the public were kept as fully informed as possible on these issues he felt these reports should continue to be formally issued as part of the Committee’s agenda.

The Scrutiny Officer referred to Recommendation 14 of the Neurological Service report, which referred to Home Care workers being made more effective and fit for purpose. The report had recommended the Committee receive regular reports on how many members of staff had undergone differing types of training.

Officers confirmed that home care assistants received training to a particular level but that no specific funding was set aside for end of life training care.

Members questioned the evidence received, which had resulted in the report’s recommendations. They also questioned the type of training suggested in recommendation 14 and who it was proposed would receive the training as residents received visits from a variety of services.

The LINks Co-ordinator confirmed that prior to the report being prepared they had received a great deal of evidence not just isolated cases, which had enabled them to compile their recommendations. She confirmed that she could provide the Committee with a further breakdown of the evidence received.

The Committee were asked to consider the following:

i.        Their response to recommendation 14 in the report regarding Neurological Services (Annex B refers)

ii.      Any comments they may wish to make on either of the reports (Annexes A & B refer)

iii.    Whether they would like to look at any element of either of these issues in further detail by way of a scrutiny review (but avoiding duplication of work).

iv.    How they would like to receive the PACE reports in future (i.e. formally via Committee meetings or informally via e-mail dependent on whether there are any recommendations within the reports that the Committee needed to address).

RESOLVED:    (i) That future PACE reports be considered formally with them being reproduced within the Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee agendas.

                          (ii) That LINks be requested to clarify the type of training required in Recommendation 14 of their Neurological Services report and this information be reported back at the next meeting of the Committee.

REASON:                  To enable the Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee to keep up to date with the work of the York LINk.

This report, for information only, updates the Committee on current progress and outlines steps and measures that need to be taken to ensure that LINks establishes an effective working relationship with the Committee and other strategic partnerships.

Consideration was given to a report, which updated 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 Committee and other key strategic partnerships.

The Scrutiny Officer confirmed that work had been progressing well and that the real challenge now was for LINk to make a difference to the delivery of health and social care in York and to continue their excellent relationship with the Scrutiny Committee.

RESOLVED:             That the update information on LINks be noted. 

REASON:                  In order to remain up to date on the health and well being of the citizens of York.

This reports asks Members to consider a scrutiny topic registered by Councillor Sue Galloway to investigate the obesity levels in children.

The Committee considered a report which referred to concerns that had been expressed regarding two of the National Performance Indicators relating to obesity among primary school children ((NPI55) and obesity among primary school age children in Year 6 (NPI56). It was reported that arising out of this Cllr Sue Galloway had registered a scrutiny topic regarding obesity levels in children, a copy of the topic registration form was attached to the report at Annex A.

Officers confirmed that consultation had been undertaken and that the majority of comments had indicated support for progressing the topic to review.

John Yates, confirmed that he had been concerned with health, particularly in relation to older people and that he felt that it would be unwise to attempt to separate a study into child obesity from its association with adult eating patterns. He referred to the already large knowledge base on child obesity and questioned how the Committee could add to this. He went on to refer to the consequences of obesity on health in general and future mobility. He felt there were other ways in which the Committee could convey their message including better liaison with the Hospital, University etc.

Members considered the evidence presented in the report and confirmed that as this review covered a topic that would require the collection of evidence from a large number of bodies that it should be undertaken by the full Committee rather than a smaller cross party task group.

Members confirmed that the proposed remit did include looking at the continuity of services into adulthood. They stated that they felt that this would need to be a cross cutting review which could involve the following:

·        discussions with major supermarket chains in relation to labelling etc;

·        information from the PCT in relation to their cooking healthily courses;

·        eating habits in nurseries;

·        discussions with parents, young people and the Youth Council;

·        Details of school travel plans;

·        Information on the Healthy Schools initiative – possibility of influencing;

·        All Together Better project work in both Scarborough and York.

RESOLVED:   (i) That based on the evidence presented within the report the Committee proceed with the obesity review in order to explore the points raised within the topic registration form and the comments in Annex B of the report.

(ii)         That approval be given to the draft remit for this review at Annex D of the report.

(iii)       That a scoping report and a timetable for this review be presented to the December meeting.

(iv)        That representatives of the PCT and York Hospital be invited to the December meeting.  ^1.

REASON:                  That childhood obesity is currently a topic of considerable public interest and any findings the Committee may make could go towards improving the health and lifestyle of the young citizens of York.

This report is to update Members on the Annual Health Check 2009/10 and inform them of the Care Quality Commission’s new processes for regulation of NHS Trusts.

Consideration was given to a report, which updated Members on the Annual Health Check for 2009/10 and informed them of the Care Quality Commission’s new processes for regulation of NHS Trusts.

As the regulation of health and adult social care services was currently undergoing changes this would also involve new registration standards being introduced that would apply to NHS Trusts for the first time. All NHS Trusts (including Primary Care Trusts as providers) must be registered with the Care Quality Commission from 1 April 2010.  Following registration Trusts would be asked to make a declaration of their compliance with the new registration requirements in January 2010.

It was reported that 2009/10 was a transitional year for the NHS between the previous system of the Annual Health Check and the new system of registration and periodic review.

Representatives from the Care Quality Commission were to attend the Centre for Public Scrutiny’s networking event in Leeds on 24 November and arrangements had been made for Councillors Sue Galloway, Simpson-Laing and Wiseman to attend.

The Committee were asked to consider whether they wished to take part in providing evidence about aspects of Trusts’ performance separately from Trusts’ declarations, which would be required as part of the registration process from December 2009.

RESOLVED:   (i) That the update report on the annual health check and registration process be noted.

(ii)             That the 3 members of the Committee attending the event on 24 November (in conjunction with the Scrutiny Officer) be delegated the task of collating evidence about aspects of the Trusts’ performance. This will then be reported back to a meeting of the full Committee. ^1.

REASON:                  To enable the Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee to carry out their duty to promote the health needs of the people they represent.

This report is to inform Members of the Committee about recent events attended by both Members and Officers outside the formal meeting cycle of the Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

Consideration was given to a report, which informed the Committee of recent events attended by both Members and Officers outside the formal meeting cycle of the Health Scrutiny Committee.

Details of the following events and meetings were reported:

• Planning for Healthier Communities (29.04.09)
• Regional Health Scrutiny Officers’ Meeting (13.05.09)
• The Centre for Public Scrutiny (CfPS) Conference (09.06.09 – 10.06.09)
• NHS North Yorkshire and York Board Meeting (20.06.09)
• LINks (Local Involvement Networks) Development Event (30.06.09)
• Regional Health Scrutiny Officers’ Meeting (07.07.09)
• Meeting with Chief Executive of NHS North Yorkshire and York (10.07.09)
• Meeting with LINks (17.08.09)
• Health Scrutiny Information Day (18.08.09)
• September Regional Health Scrutiny Officer’s meeting (10.09.09)

RESOLVED:             That the update report be noted.

REASON:                  To keep Members informed of events attended that are relevant to Health Scrutiny.

To consider the Committee’s Work Plan for 2009/10.

Consideration was given to the Committee’s Work Plan for 2009/10.

The Chair reported that an update on the provision of NHS dental services in York had been expected at this meeting. He stated that unfortunately the Assistant Director of Commissioning and Service Development at NHS North Yorkshire & York had recently left this post. Confirmation of a new postholder was awaited and the item had, therefore, been slipped to the December meeting.

RESOLVED:             That the draft Work Plan be approved subject to the addition of the following items:

·        2 December 2009 – Update on Dental Services;

·        2 December 2009 – PACE End of Life report;

·        2 December 2009 – Neurological report – clarification on recommendations from LINks;

·        2 December 2009 -  Childhood Obesity review – scoping report

·        3 March 2010 – Mental Health transfer update ^1.

REASON:      To update the Committee on their Work Plan for the coming year.