Agenda and minutes

To approve as a correct record and sign the Minutes of the meeting held on 16 October 2012.

The Minutes (copies of which had been circulated) of the meeting held on 16 October 2012 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.

The following interests were declared:-

Personal Interests

There were no call-in items to consider.

To consider a report of the Service Director (Adult Social Care)

The report sets out the plan for Stockport for the establishment of a Local HealthWatch by April 2013, as required by the Health & Social Care Act 2012. The aspiration in Stockport is to create a genuinely lay member-led organisation, governed by a Board, which is elected by its members.  This is a relatively unusual model nationally, but it is firmly in-keeping with the original DH vision and it is enabled by and builds on a sound local LINk legacy.

The Scrutiny Committee is invited to comment on the proposal to establish Local HealthWatch in Stockport.

Officer contact: Sarah Newsam/ Gill Walters, sarah.newsam@stockport.gov.uk / gill.walters@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Service Director (Adult Social Care) submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) setting out progress with the establishment of the HealthWatch in Stockport, as required by the Health and Social Care Act 2012 (HSCA). It was emphasised that the approach in Stockport was to have a genuinely member-led organisation that built on the successful legacy of the LINk.

John Leach (LINk Chair) and Maria Kildunne (LINk Manager) were also in attendance to answer questions from the Scrutiny Committee.

The following issues were raised:-

·         Clarification was sought on the provision of advocacy and signposting.  It was clarified that the HSCA required local authorities to commission an independent advocacy service for NHS complaints. In discussions with the LINk it was felt that during the transitional period it would not be appropriate to add advocacy to the role of HealthWatch. It was also commented that signposting services funded by Adult Social Care were being considered to ensure they were appropriate and did not provide duplication.

·         Clarification was sought on the Enter and View powers of HealthWatch and in particular recognition of the fact that care homes were residents’ homes. It was stated that these visits were only undertaken by trained LINk members in response to concerns raised by residents or carers, or with the express permission of the home concerned. Publicity and awareness raising was done in advance so as not to alarm residents and family members and that these arrangements would continue under HealthWatch.

·         Questions were asked about proposals from the Department of Health to widen the remit of HealthWatch to include children’s social care. In response it was stated that the Council’s response to the consultation was that it would be unhelpful to transfer any such functions before HealthWatch arrangements had had time to become established, and the view of the LINk was that they did not have the knowledge and expertise to take on this role and carry out the work to the level they would want.

·         Clarification was sought on the funding arrangements for HealthWatch. In response it was stated that funding would be provided from the Government in three streams: that currently allocated for LINk; NHS advocacy; and signposting. It was proposed to maintain the current arrangements for funding HealthWatch from the LINk stream, while using the other funding streams to commission the services from other providers.

RESOLVED – (1) That the proposals for the establishment of Stockport HealthWatch be supported.

(2) That the Service Director (Adults & Health) be requested to submit an update on the establishment and functioning of HealthWatch in 12 months’ time.

To consider a joint report of the Service Directors (Strategy & Performance) and (Adult Social Care)

The purpose of this report is to provide a detailed overview of the performance relating to the Health Scrutiny Committee. As in previous reporting cycles, the individual Portfolio Performance and Resources Reports for the Health & Wellbeing and Adult Care Services Portfolio are enclosed.

The Scrutiny Committee is recommended to:-

·         Review the current levels of performance;

·         Highlight key areas of, and responsibility for, taking forward corrective action to address any existing or forecast performance issues;

·         Identify how areas of strong performance and good practice can be shared in other services.

Officer contact: Katy Forde, 07527 387232, katy.forde@stockport.gov.uk

The Service Director (Transformation & Commissioning) submitted the Portfolio Performance and Resources Reports (copies of which had been circulated) for the second quarter of 2012/13 for the Adult Care Services and Health & Wellbeing portfolios.

Executive Councillor (Health & Wellbeing) attended the meeting to answer questions from councillors.

RESOLVED – (1) That the report be noted.

(2) That the Service Director (Transformation & Commissioning) be requested to submit a report to the March 2013 meeting on the work of the Council in promoting healthy weight, and in particular comparing the work of the Council to the good practice recommended by the LGIU report on Obesity.

To consider a joint report of the Service Director (Strategy & Performance) and the Director of Public Health

The report provides an update on the Public transition and progress completed to date in relation to staff transfers, contract validation and budget review.

The Scrutiny Committee is invited to note the report and make comments as appropriate.

Officer contact: Donna Sager, 0161 474 3928, or by email donna.sager@stockport.gov.uk

The Service Director (Transformation & Commissioning) and the Director of Public Health submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) updating the Scrutiny Committee on progress with Public Health transition, including staff transfers, contract validation and budget review.

In particular the Scrutiny Committee discussed the ongoing uncertainty about the level of funding that would be transferred to the Local Authority and the possible impact on public health activity and contracts.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

To consider a report of the Service Director (Strategy & Performance).

As part of the 2013/14 Medium Term Financial Plan budget savings proposals, consultation has been undertaken on the specific savings proposals considered by the Scrutiny Committee at its meeting in October 2012.

The consultations are nearly complete and the full results will be available and submitted to the meeting of the Executive on 17 December 2012. However, headline information on the process and initial findings will be shared with the Scrutiny Committee at this meeting.

The Scrutiny Committee is invited to consider and comment on the consultation responses.

Officer contact: Donna Sager, 0161 474 3928, donna.sager@stockport.gov.uk

The Service Director (Transformation & Commissioning) submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) summarising the results of consultation exercises carried out on those proposals contained within the Executive’s Savings Proposals report considered by the scrutiny committees in October 2012 that related to this Scrutiny Committee’s remit.

The following issues were raised/ comments made in relation to the specific proposals contained in the report:-

Free School Travel

·         Concern was expressed about the impact the changes in the criteria would have on those families living in Brinnington as children from this area had no alternative but to attend secondary schools that were out of the immediate area.

·         Concern was also expressed that the added financial pressure of families caused by the changes to the criteria may in some instances have an impact on attendance.

·         A large number of the respondents from the citizen’s panel did not have children so were less likely to be sympathetic to the potential difficulties of funding travel to school.

Blue Badges

·         The additional cost proposed was fairly insignificant in comparison to the cost of running a car.

Children’s Centre Opening Times

·         Each Children’s Centre should be encouraged to set its hours of operation to meet the needs of its users.

RESOLVED – (1) That the report be noted.

(2) That the Executive be informed that this Scrutiny Committee believes that the proposed changes to the Free School Travel criteria would have a disproportionate impact on families living in Brinnington due to there being no local secondary school and when the decision to close the secondary school in Brinnington was taken there was all-party agreement that the Council would assist parents with the costs for transport to other schools; and the walking routes to the schools attended by pupils from this area often being unsuitable for children and young people.

(3) That the Corporate Director for People be requested to provide further detail to the Scrutiny Committee on the outcome of the consultation on the ‘Making Choices, Having Control’ Disability Review when available.

The Executive Councillor (Health & Wellbeing), representatives of the Council, NHS Stockport, Stockport Clinical Commissioning Group and other stakeholders to provide verbal updates on NHS Reform, as appropriate.

The Chief Clinical Officer, Stockport Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), attended the meeting and provided an update on progress with authorisation of the CCG as an NHS body.

The following matters were highlighted:-

·         There had been an authorisation inspection on 31 October 2012. From this there remained  two outstanding criteria that the Inspectors required further evidence for, although the CCG Board were confident that these criteria were met. A final decision was expected in January 2013.

·         Work was on-going to address the funding reductions through major service redesign, such as the Stockport One Service.

·         The CCGs in Greater Manchester and the newly appointed National Commissioning Board Locality Team were engaged in discussions about collaborative commissioning wherever possible, linked to the Healthier Together programme.

·         The CCG were also involved in ongoing monitoring of the performance of Stepping Hill Hospital.

·         It was reiterated that the challenges facing the NHS, and other public sector bodies could not be met without the public themselves taking more responsibility for their own health and lifestyle. There would be increased co-ordination of this message across health and social care providers.

The Executive Councillor (Health & Wellbeing) also provided a brief update on other activity related to health reform:-

·         The first meeting of the Health & Wellbeing Board for Greater Manchester was due to take place shortly.

·         NICE would be attending a workshop in Stockport to ‘road test’ their new Local Authority guidance on obesity, contraceptives and partnership working.

The following additional comments were made/ issues raised:-

·         Getting the message across to the public that they needed to take more responsibility for their own health would be a challenge, particularly during the limited contact patients had with GPs, dentists etc. The message needed to be simple and clear.

·         The public remained distrustful of changes to hospitals and so it would be challenging to convince them of the benefits of relocating services to the community or creating specialist units.

·         The positive relationship between the Scrutiny Committee and the CCG was welcomed; particularly as such relationships did not exist in all parts of the region.

RESOLVED – (1) That the update be noted.

(2) That the Chief Operating Officer, Stockport Clinical Commissioning Group be requested to provide updates as appropriate to Committee Members on NHS Authorisation.

To note the resume of the Shadow Health & Wellbeing Board held on 26 September 2012.

Officer contact: Jonathan Vali, 0161 474 3201, jonathan.vali@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Democratic Services Manager submitted the resume of the Shadow Health & Wellbeing Board held on 26 September 2012 (copies of which had been circulated).

The Director of Public Health reported that the work to map engagement mechanisms referred to in the report was now well advanced.

The Executive Councillor (Health & Wellbeing) reported that it was planned to provide all councillors with health data for their particular ward, building on the work of the JSNA.

RESOLVED – That the resume be noted.

Members of the Greater Manchester Health Scrutiny Panel and the Pennine Care Joint Scrutiny Committee are invited to provide feedback to the Scrutiny Committee on recent meetings.

Officer contact: Jonathan Vali, 0161 474 3201, jonathan.vali@stockport.gov.uk

RESOLVED – That the item be deferred.

To consider a report of the Democratic Services Manager

The IRP, the independent expert on NHS service change, is undertaking a review to consider whether the Safe and Sustainable proposals for children’s congenital heart services will enable the provision of safe, sustainable and accessible services.

The Health Secretary, Rt Hon Jeremy Hunt MP, has asked the IRP to carry out an independent review following referrals from the Health Scrutiny Committee for Lincolnshire and the Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland Joint Health and Overview Scrutiny Committee.

As part of our review, IRP would like to hear from all interested parties, prior to them making recommendations to the Health Secretary by 28 February 2013. The final decision on changes to services will be made by the Health Secretary.

The Chair reported that the Independent Reconfiguration Panel were undertaking a review on behalf of the Department for Health on the NHS’s proposals for children’s congenital heart services through regional centres of excellence, known as ‘Safe & Sustainable’. The Chair further reported that the matter had been raised with Stockport NHS Foundation Trust who reported that the proposals would not lead to any change for patients in Stockport who would continue to be referred to Alder Hey Children’s Hospital for specialist treatment.

The Director of Public Health added that the proposals accorded with similar proposals made in the 1980s which stressed the importance of building excellence and expertise at specialist units. As such, the Safe & Sustainable proposals should be supported.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

A representative of the Democratic Services Manager submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) setting out planned items for the Scrutiny Committee’s next meeting and any Forward Plan items that fell within its remit.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.