Adult, Community Services and Health Overview and Scrutiny Panel
Tuesday 14 September 2010
ADULT, COMMUNITY SERVICES AND HEALTH OVERVIEW AND SCRUTINY PANEL
14 SEPTEMBER 2010
PRESENT: Councillors Mrs Endacott (Chairman), Baskerville, Mrs Kemp, Lenton, Mrs Napier, Mrs Proctor and D Wilson.
Non-Members: Councillor Dudley
Also Present: David Williams (Berkshire East Primary Care Trust); Julian Emms (Berkshire Healthcare Foundation Trust); Julie Burgess and Paul Robinson (Heatherwood and Wexham Park Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust).
Officers: Mr Abrahamson, Mr A Scott and Mr Skerman
part i
25/10 APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Mrs Evans, Majeed and Mrs Yong.
26/10 DECLARATIONS OF INTERESTS
Councillor Mrs Proctor declared a Personal Interest in agenda item 4 - Heatherwood and Wexham Park Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust – Update on Financial Information – as her husband was a patient at Wexham Park Hospital.
Councillor Mrs Endacott declared a Personal and Prejudicial Interest in agenda item 5 – Public Consultation on Mental Health Inpatient Facilities Serving the East of Berkshire – as a Governor on the Trust.
Councillor Lenton declared a Personal Interest in agenda item 7 – Provision of Medical Services to Wraysbury – as a Member of Wraysbury Parish Council and a patient of the Datchet Practice.
27/10 ELECTION OF VICE-CHAIRMAN
In the absence of the Vice-Chairman, the Panel were asked to appoint a Vice-Chairman for the duration of the meeting as the Chairman would have to declare a prejudicial interest in item 5 and leave the meeting for the duration of that item.
- RESOLVED: That Councillor Lenton be appointed Vice-Chairman for the duration of the meeting.
28/10 MINUTES
- RESOLVED: That the Part I minutes of the meeting of the Panel held on 13 July 2010 be approved as a correct record.
The Panel received an update on Heatherwood and Wexham Park Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust’s current financial position and progress on key activities within the Trust’s Turnaround Plan. Ms Burgess, Chief Executive of the Trust, advised that the Trust was on target to achieve £16.5m of savings in the current financial year as planned. She advised that at present the Trust was reporting a deficit of £7.5m, which was £600k more than planned, but explained that it was hoped that the £600k would be recovered in the remainder of the financial year.
In response to a number of questions, Ms Burgess commented upon measures that had been put in place to improve the reliability of the Trust’s data. She explained that, although it had been a large task and the work had been very labour intensive, the Trust’s data was now a lot more reliable, although there were still some challenges that had to be resolved.
Ms Burgess also commented upon how the Trust gathered information from patients and referred to a number of consistent issues that had been identified and how they were being addressed. She explained the role of the “Patient’s Champion” and how they gathered real time comments from patients, outlined the role of the PALS service and advised that patients were being encouraged to provide feedback at follow up clinics.
Arising from the discussion it was confirmed that the Trust would provide further information at the next meeting of the Panel on the discharge arrangements and the quality of care.
30/10 PUBLIC CONSULTATION ON MENTAL HEALTH INPATIENT FACILITIES SERVING EAST OF BERKSHIRE
The Panel received a presentation by the Julian Emms, Deputy Chief Executive of the Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, on the consultation on mental health inpatient facilities. A short DVD was show which outlined the key information on the options contained within the consultation document. Members were advised that a full public consultation was currently underway on the three options that had been proposed for the location and nature of mental health inpatient facilities across East Berkshire.
Members were advised that, although each option would improve the quality of accommodation and the number of beds available, the financial outcomes for all three options were different. It was noted that Option 1 (all inpatient services moving to Prospect Park Hospital, Reading) and Option 2 (all inpatient services to move to Prospect Park Hospital, except those for older people, which would be located in a redecorated Charles Ward at St Mark’s Hospital, Maidenhead) would lead to savings of £2m. However Option 3 (the creation of a new mental health inpatient unit at Upton Hospital, Slough to provide all general adult and older people beds for people from East Berkshire) would require capital of £21M, including Private Finance (PFI) commitment to build the facility.
Arising from the discussion, it was suggested that further details on the financial models be provided when the results of the consultations were being evaluated and reported upon. In response to comment as to why Option 3 was being consulted upon, Mr Emms advised that, as the option was well supported in the Slough area, it was considered appropriate that it remained in the consultation. However, he stressed that people were being made aware of the implications on the impact on the capacity to deliver other services should that option be pursued.
In response to concerns raised about the transport links to Prospect Park, Mr Emms advised that the Trust had put aside money to fund appropriate transport solutions for patients and visitors.
- RESOLVED: That the Trust be advised that the Panel supports Option 2 as it considers that option would provide the most appropriate level of care for Borough residents.
(Those voting for the resolution – Councillors Baskerville, Mrs Kemp, Lenton, D Wilson. Those abstaining Councillors Mrs Napier and Mrs Proctor.)
31/10 WHITE PAPER, EQUITY AND EXCELLENCE: LIBERATING THE NHS
The Panel received a presentation from David Williams, Director of Commissioning at East Berkshire Primary Care Trust on the NHS White Paper: Equality and Excellence - Liberating the NHS. Mr Williams provided an outline of the proposal contained within the White Paper, which he stated represented the most radical shake-up of the NHS since 1948. He explained how the proposals were centred on patients and carers, how they aimed to achieve quality and outcomes that would be among the best in the world and how they put clinicians in the driving seat. He advised that the structure being proposed would be more efficient and dynamic, with a radically smaller national, regional and local bureaucracy and would give the public a greater say in how the NHS was run.
He commented upon the role of GP Consortia, which would require GP practices to work together, in partnership with local authorities and communities, to commission the majority services and referred to the Health and Well Being Boards, which would be the key mechanism to support democratic legitimacy and to promote partnerships and integration. He outlined the timescales for the implementation of the proposals and commented upon the discussions that were currently taking place locally with partner organisations and the work that was taking place to establish shadow arrangements prior to those implementation dates.
The Lead Member for Adult and Community Services advised Members that a report was being prepared for submission to the next meeting of Cabinet providing a response from the Council on the White Paper.
32/10 PROVISION OF MEDICAL SERVICES TO WRAYSBURY
The Panel received a report from the Berkshire East Primary Care Trust that provided an update on progress with the provision of a GP surgery in Wraysbury.
The Panel was addressed by Councillor Andrew Davies, Chairman of Wraysbury Parish Council, who referred to the commitment given by the PCT and the Datchet Practice 4 years ago that a surgery would be provided in Wraysbury. He questioned the decision taken by the partners of the Datchet practice not to pursue the proposal to provide a branch surgery facility at Wraysbury Village Hall and referred to the recent survey of the former Dr Hassan’s patients that had been undertaken and questioned why local and parish councillors had not been consulted.
Councillor Lenton commented upon the two alternative sites within Wraysbury that could be converted for use as a GP surgery and stressed that they should be pursued as a matter of urgency. Mr Williams advised that the PCT would meet with relevant partners to discuss and evaluate those sites but stressed that, in the light of the current financial situation, robust business cases would have to be developed.
It was agreed that local Ward Councillors, the PCT, Parish Council and the Datchet practice should look at the two potential sites as a matter of urgency and that a progress report be submitted to the next meeting of the Panel.
33/10 SERVICE MONITORING REPORT
The Panel received and commented upon the latest service monitoring report for activity within the Adult, Community and Health Services during the period to 31 July 2010. It was noted that the Adult Social Care budget showed a projected over spend of £144k and that the officers were looking at options to reduce that deficit.
In response to a question, the officers commented further on the review that was being undertaken on high cost residential placements. Members were advised that a range of options across all client groups were being explored and stressed the importance of seeking the right balance between promoting greater independence for people in placements who may have been accustomed/reliant upon greater dependencies.
34/10 WORK PROGRAMME
Members noted the items that had been identified for submission to the next meeting. It was also agreed that a special meeting be held to consider the reports that would be submitted to the September meeting of Cabinet on the Preliminary Budget and the Council’s response to the NHS White Paper.
35/10 LOCAL GOVERNMENT ACT 1972 – EXCLUSION OF THE PUBLIC
- RESOLVED UNANIMOUSLY: That under Section 100(A)(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public be excluded from the remainder of the meeting whilst discussion takes place on item 11 on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 3 of part I of Schedule 12A of the Act.