Agenda and minutes

At this point in the meeting, Members are asked to declare:

·        any personal interests not included on the Register of Interests

·        any prejudicial interests or

·        any disclosable pecuniary interests

which they may have in respect of business on this agenda.

Members were asked to declare any personal, prejudicial or disclosable pecuniary interests that they might have had in the business on the agenda.

Councillor Doughty declared a personal interest in Agenda Item 4 (Implementation of CQC Action Plan by York Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust) as his father was currently an inpatient and receiving care and treatment for a broken pelvis.

Councillor Cannon declared a standing personal interest in the remit of the committee as her husband was a trustee of IDAS.

No other interests were declared.

To approve and sign the minutes of the meeting held on 22 December 2015.

Resolved: That the minutes of the meeting of the Health and Adult Social Care Policy and Scrutiny Committee held on 22 December 2015 be signed and approved 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 Monday 25 January 2016 at 5:00 pm.

Filming, Recording or Webcasting Meetings

Please note this meeting may be filmed and webcast and that includes any registered public speakers, who have given their permission.  This broadcast can be viewed at: http://www.york.gov.uk/webcasts.

Residents are welcome to photograph, film or record Councillors and Officers at all meetings open to the press and public. This includes the use of social media reporting, i.e. tweeting.  Anyone wishing to film, record or take photos at any public meeting should contact the Democracy Officer (whose contact details are at the foot of this agenda) in advance of the meeting.

The Council’s protocol on Webcasting, Filming & Recording of Meetings ensures that these practices are carried out in a manner both respectful to the conduct of the meeting and all those present.  It can be viewed at: https://www.york.gov.uk/downloads/file/6453/protocol_for_webcasting_filming_and_recording_council_meetingspdf

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

This report and its annex present the Health & Adult Social Care Policy & Scrutiny Committee with details of actions taken by York Teaching Hospital NHS Trust in response to the action plan agreed with the Care Quality Commission following the inspection in March 2015.

Members considered a report and annex which presented details of actions taken by York Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust in response to an action plan agreed with the Care Quality Commission following their inspection in March 2015.

The Deputy Chief Executive of York Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Mike Proctor told Members there were still concerns over A&E waiting times but 89% of patients were treated within the 4-hour target time, however pressures still remained within admissions into A&E. Regarding staffing, thirty nurses from Spain had started since Christmas.

Discussion took place during which the following points and questions were raised;

·        Those that automatically attended A&E for what might be considered minor conditions needed reassurance their conditions were minor.

·        The use of telecare and Skype allowed for GPs to mitigate patients with minor conditions from using the hospital.

·        It was clarified that some women in York were offered the opportunity to have an earlier appointment for gynaecology services in Hull if they so wished.

·        The Hospital had spent £19 million [as amended at Health and Adult Social Care Policy and Scrutiny Committee on 23 February 2016] on agency staff nurses this year, although they wanted to recruit more nurses locally they admitted this was a challenge.

·        The CQC could come back and inspect the Hospital at any point as the inspection regime changed constantly.

·        Triage had been improved by moving a nurse to the front desk as recommended by the CQC, although on a practical level this was not always able to be followed.

The Chair thanked the Deputy Chief Executive for presenting the report and answering Members’ questions.

Resolved: (i) That the report and its annex be noted.

                         (ii) That hospital representatives be invited to a future meeting of the Committee to further explain progress against the Action Plan to improve services provided by the Trust.

Reason:    To keep the Committee updated on the performance of York Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust.

The purpose of this report is to provide the Committee with an update on the transfer of health visiting, school nursing and the National Child Measurement Programme from York Teaching Hospital NHS Trust to City of York Council and progress with the development of a new Healthy Child Service.

Members received a report which provided them with an update on the transfer of health visiting, school nursing and the National Child Measurement Programme from York Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust to City of York Council and progress with development of a new Healthy Child Service.

Officers reported that as of 1 April the Council would take on responsibility for the School Health Team from York Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust.

In relation to the work undertaken by the project group as detailed in the report, there was a project board headed by a matron from York Hospital. This board reported to the YorOK Board. It was planned that it would also report to Learning and Culture Policy and Scrutiny Committee as well as the Health and Wellbeing Board. CQC registration for the service was underway.

In response to a question about why there was no existing school nursing data, this was due to the transfer of old records to the new IT system.

Resolved: That the report be noted and that the Committee receive a further update report in six months.

Reason: To provide an update on the transfer of health visiting, school nursing and National Child Measurement Programme and progress with the development of a new Healthy Child Service.

This six monthly update report outlines the actions taken to further improve the arrangements in place to ensure that the Council is able to discharge its responsibilities to keep adults with care and support needs within the City protected from the experience, or risk of experiencing abuse or neglect, whilst maintaining their independence and wellbeing.

Members received a six monthly assurance report on safeguarding vulnerable adults.

The Head of Adult Safeguarding presented the report to the Committee.

Members asked the following questions and made the following comments;

·        What steps could be taken to ensure that Councillors could have a more active role in holding the Local Authority and other partners to account, as it was felt that the mechanisms were currently not there.

·        How were interventions managed in safeguarding cases where people had sufficient mental capacity to make a choice?

·        What was the latest position in York on Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards assessments in regards to the Cheshire West Case?

·        Had the position on DOLS been factored into financial and operating plans?

·        Had a dashboard been produced for Adult Safeguarding assurance?

In response Officers stated that;

·        More specific training on adult safeguarding could be offered to Members.

·        For those that had sufficient mental capacity, there were often specific circumstances for intervention due to level of risk such as serious crime or domestic abuse. Officers explained that in these cases they always explained to the individual why they had intervened. In regards to coercion, the Care Act had increased the duty to support vulnerable people with their decision making.

·        At the time of the Cheshire West ruling there were 318 DOLS in York which was a 10% increase on previous numbers, in this current financial year there were 918 applications.

·        There would be a review into processing DOLS. DOLS themselves had become more expensive and complex and this would present financial and operating problems. However, this was also a national problem.

·        Performance Indicators such as culture and practice which ran through safeguarding might not be picked up in a dashboard, adult safeguarding was currently undergoing a culture change.

Resolved: (i) That the content of the report be accepted.

(ii)    That arrangements for seeking future assurance be agreed.      

(iii)   That the Committee considered how Officers could support Members in their role.

Reason: To keep the Committee assured of the arrangements for Adult safeguarding within the city.

Members are asked to consider the Committee’s work plan for the municipal year.

Consideration was given to the Committee’s work plan for the municipal year.

It was reported that;

·        The Chair, Councillor Cuthbertson, Cannon and the Scrutiny Officer would be meeting with the Director of Nursing Programmes and the Former Chief Executive of North Yorkshire County Council to discuss Bootham Park.

·        There would be another meeting of the Public Health Grant Task Group, the first since October. This would be held on Tuesday 16 February at 2pm.

·        There would be a visit to the Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Foundation Trust facility at Roseberry Park in Middlesbrough, the date was to be determined.

·        Notes from the Bootham Park Task Group could not yet be circulated as the Task Group had been given sight of a confidential document, after 5 February the notes could  be made public.

In respect of the work plan it was suggested that the Vale of York CCG be invited to attend to inform Members about their financial turnaround plan. It was also added that NHS England should be asked to attend. One Member also felt that an item on the new Integrated Wellbeing Service should be added on to the work plan as consultation was currently underway on this.

Resolved: That the work plan be noted and the following amendments be made;

·        The future attendance of a representative from York Hospital in regards to the CQC Action Plan.

·        An item on the turnaround plan of the CCG with the attendance of NHS England.

·        An item on the Integrated Wellbeing Service.

Reason:   To ensure that the Committee has a planned programme of work in place.