Agenda and minutes

To approve as a correct record the Minutes of Members of the Adult Social Care & Health Scrutiny Committee held on 9 September 2021.

The Minutes (copies of which had been circulated) of the meeting held on 9 September 2021 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

Councillors and officers were invited to declare any interests they had in any of the items on the agenda for the meeting.

No declarations of interest were made.

There were no call-in items to consider.

To consider an update of the Director of Public Health.

The update provides an update on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic for Stockport.

The Scrutiny Committee is asked to discuss and note the update.

Officer contact: Jennifer Connolly, Jennifer.connolly@stockport.gov.uk

The Director of Public Health submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) which provided an update relating to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic for Stockport.

The Cabinet Member for Adult Care and Health (Councillor Jude Wells) attended the meeting to respond to questions from the Scrutiny Committee.

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

·      Thanked the Director of Adult Social Care and the Council for the volume and quality of information shared and in keeping Members informed.

·      It was commented that there was some confusion in the messaging from Government and Health Professionals and clarification was sought in relation to whether face masks should be worn. In response, Members were advised that masks were an effective tool in stopping the spread of the virus and useful in up close and personal settings. This was the advice outlined within the Governments Winter Plan.

·      It was requested whether data was available in relation to residents who had received the Covid-19 booster vaccination and flu vaccination. In response, it was stated that the vaccination data was imminently available and would be shared with Members at the earliest opportunity.

·      In response to concerns in relation to the infection rates amongst young people and uptake of the vaccination, Members were informed that the Council were working with education colleagues to minimise disruption to education as much as possible. The contingency framework in place enabled the Council and schools to implement a phased response on an individual basis to respond to outbreaks which included reintroducing face coverings and additional testing, if necessary.

·      Commented on the activity of anti-vaccination groups and whether information shared by this group was having an impact on vaccination rates. In response, Members were assured that their activity was being reported through NHS England to deliver a co-ordinated response and ensure that residents were educated to make an informed decision.

The Chair informed the Committee that an item relating to the Covid-19 Update would be on the agenda for the next meeting.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted and thanks be expressed to all the team for their hard work and detailed presentation.

To receive an update from representatives of the Dental Services from across Stockport.

RESOLVED – That consideration of this item be deferred to the next meeting of the Scrutiny Committee.

To receive an update from the CEO, Stockport NHS Foundation Trust.

The CEO of Stockport NHS Foundation Trust submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) which provided a series of updates and included Covid-19, Elective Backlog Plans, Emergency & Urgent Care Campus Timescales, New Hospital Programme and Integrated Care System Development.

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

·      In response to comments relating to the increase in demand for emergency care and whether there were any underlying reasons to explain the increase, Members were advised that there was evidence to suggest that people delayed accessing services due to the pandemic which may explain the surge in those presenting at emergency care. An influencing factor was also the general practice and NHS 111 pressures, where if residents were unable to access other services, they would attend the accident and emergency department as a last resort. It was noted that there had been an increase in referrals across the whole system.

·      Recognised the pressures on the workforce and thanked staff for their dedication and hard work in response to the pandemic.

·      Expressed concerns in relation to staff parking at hospitals.

·      In response to a question relating to the likelihood of success in the bid for the government’s £3.7b New Hospitals Programme, Members were informed that the plan for a £30.6m Emergency & Urgent Care Campus would not be affected by the expression of interest. However, whilst confident in the New Hospitals Programme bid, if unsuccessful there were other funding streams available. The current site was no longer fit for purpose which strengthened the case for Stockport to be a high priority for a replacement hospital.

·      In response to a question relating to the services which were envisaged to be retained by the Stepping Hill site, it was commented that it was anticipated that urgent care and outpatient facilities would remain on site with access to x-rays and other scans. The future proposal at this site included the creation of an urgent care diagnostic hub.

·      Welcomed integrated working and recognised the importance of working collaboratively to ensure Stockport was represented at a Greater Manchester level.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

To consider a report of the Cabinet Member for Adult Care & Health.

The report provides an update upon the Cabinet’s proposed approach to responding to the opportunities, challenges and uncertainty outlined within the review of the medium-term financial plan presented at the Cabinet meeting on the 21st September 2021.

Our focus remains on progressing our collective ambitions for Stockport by delivering impactful and outcomes-focussed transformational change for communities and businesses across Stockport. However, we have long recognised that a resilient budget is key to this by enabling us to face and respond to the unprecedented uncertainty ahead.

This report builds on previous updates to scrutiny and cabinet providing the latest considerations on how we intend to address financial and demand challenges, enable longer term transformation and shared ambitions.

The Scrutiny Committee is recommended to comment on and note the report.

Officer contact: Peter Owston on 0161 474 3014 or email: peter.owston@stockport.gov.uk

The Cabinet Member for Adult Care & Health submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) which provided an update upon the Cabinet’s proposed approach to responding to the opportunities, challenges and uncertainty outlined within the review of the medium-term financial plan presented at the Cabinet meeting on the 21st September 2021.

The focus remained on progressing the collective ambitions for Stockport by delivering impactful and outcomes-focussed transformational change for communities and businesses across Stockport. However, the council had long recognised that a resilient budget is key to this by enabling services to face and respond to the unprecedented uncertainty ahead.

The report built on previous updates to scrutiny and cabinet and provided the latest considerations on how the council intended to address financial and demand challenges, enable longer term transformation and shared ambitions.

The Cabinet Member for Adult Care and Health (Councillor Jude Wells) attended the meeting to respond to questions from the Scrutiny Committee.  

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

·         Recognised the challenges and uncertainty that the council were facing in relation to the Adult Social Care budget.

·         In response to concerns relating to levels of Government funding for future years and communications received to date, it was stated that the main announcement was the raising of National Insurance which fundamentally was aimed at recovering the NHS position. It had been announced that £4b had been promised to go some way to fund Adult Social Care over the next four years, however other future funding arrangements were uncertain.

·         Clarification was sought regarding the £4.9m gap and future financing within Adult Social Care and whether this was a worst-case scenario figure. In response, Members were informed that initial shortfall in council budget was £23m, following savings and the use of the reserves the proposed contribution in 2022/23 was £10m in savings from transformation and robust corporate governance from across the organisation. Of the total £10m, £4.9m related specifically to savings in relation to Adult Social Care.

·         Concerns were raised in relation to digital services and those who lacked the skill, equipment or confidence in accessing services digitally. In response, it was stated that a programme was rolled out to promote and enable digital access.

·         Importance of delegated budgets to Members and local communities.

RESOLVED – (1) That the report be noted.

(2) requested information including access figures relating to the digital

     access programme be shared with Members once available.

A consider a report of the Director for Adult Social Care.

This report outlines the proposal to set up a Joint Commissioning Framework for residential and nursing care beds through a Flexible Purchasing System (FPS) across Adult Social Care and Health in Stockport.  This work is in line with the developing plans for an Integrated Care System in the Borough.

The Scrutiny Committee is requested to comment and note the report.

Officer contact: Vincent Fraga, Vincent.fraga@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Director for Adult Social Care submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) which outlined the proposal to set up a Joint Commissioning Framework for residential and nursing care beds through a Flexible Purchasing System (FPS) across Adult Social Care and Health in Stockport. This work was in line with the developing plans for an Integrated Care System in the Borough.

The Cabinet Member for Adult Care and Health (Councillor Jude Wells) attended the meeting to respond to questions from the Scrutiny Committee.

The following comments were made/issues raised: -

·      Welcomed the flexibility and enquired as to whether the council had considered working collaboratively with other local authorities. In response, it was stated that the council were working closely and had agreements in place with other residential/nursing care homes that boarder the borough. It was envisaged that some were likely to join the framework, however the council were mindful of the impact that this would have.

·      Thanked the staff at residential/ nursing care homes for their hard work and commitment to provide an invaluable resource to the borough.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

To confirm the Scrutiny Review topics selected for inclusion in the 2021/22 scrutiny work programme and to confirm the membership on the scrutiny reviews as follows: -

·         Access to Health Services (to include waiting lists for GP’s and hospitals)

The Scrutiny Committee is invited to consider and confirm the Scrutiny Review Topic and confirm the membership on the Scrutiny Review.

Officer contact: Georgia Latham, 0161 474 3229, georgia.latham@stockport.gov.uk 

A representative of the Strategic Head of Service & Monitoring Officer (Legal & Democratic Governance) invited the Scrutiny Committee to confirm the Scrutiny Review topics selected for inclusion in the 2021/22 scrutiny work programme and to confirm the membership on the scrutiny reviews as follows:

·      Access to Health Services (to include waiting lists for GP’s and hospitals)

Resolved – (1) That a Scrutiny Review be undertaken in the current municipal year on Access to Health Services (to include waiting lists for GP’s and hospitals).

(2)  That Councillor John Wright (Lead Member); Councillors Angie Clark and Helen Foster-Grimes be nominated to sit on the proposed scrutiny review.

(3)  That any other Members who wished to sit on the proposed scrutiny review email the Committee Clerk following the meeting.

To consider a report of the Strategic Head of Service & Monitoring Officer (Legal & Democratic Governance).

The report sets out planned agenda items for the Scrutiny Committee’s next meeting and Forward Plan items that fall within the remit of the Scrutiny Committee.

The Scrutiny Committee is invited to consider the information in the report and put forward any agenda items for future meetings of the Committee.

Officer contact: Georgia Latham, 0161 474 3229 georgia.latham@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Strategic Head of Service & Monitoring Officer (Legal & Democratic Governance) submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) setting out the planned agenda items for the Scrutiny Committee’s next meeting and any Forward Plan items.

The Chair confirmed that it had been agreed that the ‘Dental Services in Stockport’ item be deferred to the next meeting of the Committee and any questions relating to the item should be emailed to the Committee Clerk who would ensure that any responses would be shared with all Members.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.