Agenda and minutes

The Chair reminded Members of the need to declare any known interests in any matters to be considered at the meeting.

The Chair took this opportunity, the final meeting of the Municipal Year, to thank her fellow Councillors and colleagues from partner organisations for their contributions to the work of the Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee over the period of the year. She felt that all organisations represented had made significant contributions and hoped that everyone would agree that the Committee had provided an excellent forum for an honest and frank exchange of opinions and the effective debate of health issues. The Chair added that she had found the year to have been very satisfying in terms of the work carried out by the Committee and that it had also been a very enjoyable learning experience.

On behalf of the Committee, the Chair thanked Sally Smith, the Scrutiny Officer, for her enthusiasm over the course of the year and for the quality of support Sally had given to her, as Chair, and to the members of the Committee. The Chair also thanked Steve Jones, the Committee Officer, for his support.

The Chair referred to Councillor Alan Bishop’s absence due to illness and wished him a full and speedy return to full health.

The Chair concluded her opening remarks by referring to the very sad news of the death of a colleague, Councillor Jenni Millin. On behalf of the Committee, the Chair expressed her sadness at Councillor Millin’s untimely passing and offered condolences to Councillor Millin’s family and friends.

No questions were asked under Standing Order 18.

To receive the minutes of the meeting held on 25 January 2012

            Resolved -  That the minutes of the meeting held on 25 January 2012 be confirmed and signed.

Councillor Brian Mattock, Cabinet Member for Health and Adult Social Care, was in attendance.  Following a position statement in which he summarised performance in respect of the various service areas within his portfolio of responsibility, including his assessment of what he felt had been done well, what might have been done differently and the challenges facing his portfolio, Councillor Mattock responded to members’ and health colleagues’ specific questions and observations on the following topics:

·        the future of public health in England and the statutory role and responsibility of local authorities in relation to public health services and the improvement of the health of the local population

·        the continuing and growing pressure on the adult social care budget and the need to better understand the source and nature of that demand in order to better forecast demand and facilitate the development of the most effective short, medium and longer-term health strategies 

·        the improved commissioning of voluntary and third sector services to ensure these contracts deliver required outcomes

·        personal budgets and the development of a more mature provider market

·        substance misuse services and the local prevalence of drug and alcohol abuse

·        the nature and extent of the portfolio of the Cabinet Member for Health and Adult Social care

o   Cabinet Member portfolio responsibilities and the delivery of “Stronger Together” and “One Swindon” objectives

·        the availability and frequency of forums for engagement with other local authorities regarding local, regional and national health issues and matters of best practice and opportunities to make representation to the Minister of State for Care Services regarding the particular pressures in Swindon

·        the Cabinet Member’s direct involvement in securing adequate budgetary provision for adult social care services

·        the establishment of the new Health and Wellbeing Board and the challenges to be faced in the initial 12 months of its operation

·        the potential for achieving cost savings through joint working and the commissioning of services with other South West Regional local authorities

·        the reduction in the number of teenage pregnancies and opportunities for sharing the practices that have seen Swindon become the second best performing council in the south west region in respect of this issue  

·        the positive response to the “food for life” schools’ initiative

·        the breastfeeding initiation rate and support for mothers who are unable to, or choose not to breastfeed 

·        the level of savings achieved as a result of the outsourcing of the Council’s in-house home care services

Resolved – (1) That Councillor Mattock be thanked for attending the meeting and for his full and open responses to members’ and health colleagues’ questions.

(2) That the transfer of the public health function to local authorities, the improvement of the commissioning of voluntary and third sector services, and the extent of drug and alcohol related problems locally be considered for inclusion in the Committee’s work programme for 2012/13.

(3) That a report be made to the first meeting of the Committee in  ...  view the full minutes text for item 45.

The Committee received a presentation by Dr. Ossie Rawstorne, the Medical Director of the Great Western Ambulance Service NHS Trust (GWAS) on the proposed acquisition of the service by the South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (SWASFT) to create a single ambulance trust providing services across the whole of the South West region. Dr Rawstorne explained the current position regarding GWAS performance, the reasons for proposing the change and the particular reasons for the choice of SWASFT as the preferred partner in moving forward and expanded on the anticipated benefits of the move, the overall objective being one of providing a solution that delivers:

·         consistent high-quality, locally responsive and trusted care to patients across the South West

·         long-term sustainability and financial strength

·         better value for money for the tax-payer and our commissioners.

Dr Rawstorne concluded his presentation by outlining the next steps in the process and also the indicative timetable for the unification of the two trusts and the commencement of the new organisation.

            Resolved – (1) That the proposed acquisition of the Great Western Ambulance Service NHS Trust by the South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust be endorsed.

            (2) That Dr Rawstorne be thanked for attending the meeting and for his informative presentation on the major issues relating to the proposed acquisition.

Further to Minute 35, the Committee received a report on the issue and incidence of diabetes in the NHS Swindon area, detailing current NHS Swindon initiatives in relation to the prevention and early diagnosis of diabetes and the support available to people living with the condition. The report also summarised the work undertaken by the Task Group established by the Committee to consider members’ concerns around diabetes detection levels and the management of the condition. It was noted that the report had been deferred from the last meeting to accommodate a meeting between Task Group members and Mr Stephen MacMahon of the Swindon Diabetes group and that the report had been amended subsequently to reflect the outcomes of that meeting.

Councillor Dale Heenan, a member of the Task Group, introduced the report, expanding on the “stand out” issues that had been identified and putting forward the Task Group’s recommendations on how these issues might be addressed. 

            Resolved – (1) That the report be noted and that the following recommendations of the Task Group be accepted:

·                    that the award winning “Diabetes Day to Day” leaflet be made available in all GP’s Surgeries across the Borough.

·                    that NHS Swindon investigate the reasons why there is such poor attendance at the DESMOND courses for newly diagnosed patients and contact all GP Practices to ensure that they are promoting these courses following diagnosis.

·                    that NHS Swindon investigate the provision of DESMOND courses for patients who already have diabetes, with a view to improving  management of the condition and avoiding expensive and serious complications, such as lower limb amputations.

·                    that NHS Swindon investigate the provision of the “Walking away from Diabetes” course.  This is a preventative course, aimed at people who are obese or have a high glucose reading, and talks to patients about making changes to diet and regular exercise.

·                    that this Committee supports the production of Information Packs for newly diagnosed patients and that, subject to the outcome of the Business Case currently with NHS Swindon Commissioners, this provision be rolled out to all GP Practices in the Borough.  That the Diabetes UK checklist be included in the Information Pack.

(2) That NHS Swindon report back to this Committee in six months with a draft Action Plan on how to improve Diabetic Patient Care, in accordance with the above Task Group recommendations and also the recommendations of the NHS Swindon-initiated Diabetes Steering Group, as detailed in its Business Plan. The report to also address the position within the BME Community, in particular Peer Mentors and Community Champions projects.

(3) That, with reference to the Task Group’s concerns about the future of the Diabetes Steering Group, it be noted that the PCT had committed to the continuation of this group.

(4) That Mr Stephen MacMahon of the Swindon Diabetes group be thanked for his valuable contribution to the work of the Task Group and to the formulation of its recommendations.

Sue Rowley, the Director of Nursing and Midwifery at the Great Western Hospital, introduced a report of the Chief Executive of the GWH NHS Foundation Trust on key issues and developments at the Hospital, including the provision of further details requested by the Committee at its last meeting on the Hospital’s trialling of a new device, the Hydrant, designed to assist patients in taking on fluids and monitoring their fluid intake.

            Resolved – (1) That the report be noted.

            (2) That the Hospital’s Cardiology Department be congratulated on its achievement at a recent meeting of the Severn Cardiology Training Review Panel of being recognised as one of only two cardiology departments in the Severn Deanery area to be awarded the “A” standard of excellence for speciality training in cardiology.

Jill Crook, Director NHS Gloucestershire and Swindon, introduced a report of the Chief Executive, NHS Gloucestershire, on current activity within NHS Swindon.

            Resolved – (1) That the report be noted.

            (2) That, with reference to data in the report regarding asthma deaths and to the Royal College of Physicians’ National Review of Asthma Deaths, this topic, and the identification of service improvements to improve asthma care and reduce deaths in the future, be considered for inclusion in the Committee’s Work Programme for 2012/13.

            (3) That, in response to members’ concern that the “Choose Well Campaign” information had not been as comprehensively distributed as it might have been, the Director advise members of the postcode areas targeted by the campaign as having the highest numbers of people attending A and E and the Urgent Care Centre and the number of properties that should have received the information.

The Committee received a report of the Director of Law and Democratic Services regarding the development of its work programme for 2012/13 and inviting members and health partners to suggest topics for review.

            Resolved - That, in addition to the issues identified during the Committee’s consideration of this evening’s agenda, the following topic areas suggested by health partners be also considered for inclusion in the Committee’s work programme for 2012/13:

·        the ageing population and the provision of dementia-related services, including support available to carers

·        the reconfiguration of AWP mental health services

·        update reports in respect of the Swindon Clinical Commissioning Group

·        anorexia and eating disorders