Agenda item

The Committee will receive the following reports and is asked to respond to any recommendations contained within;

 

1.    CCG Task Group Report

2.    Public Health Transition Task Group Report

3.    Transfers to Care Task Group Report

4.    Continence Services: Rapid Scrutiny Report

5.    Joint Air Quality Task Group Report (joint with Environment Select Committee).

The Committee received reports from Task Groups and Rapid Scrutiny Groups.

 

CCG Task Group Report 

 

The Committee agreed to the creation of the Task Group at its meeting on 15 November 2012 to consider the effective development of the CCG.

 

The Task Group report was presented by Cllr Peter Colmer.  It was noted that the CCG comprised three local groups: North East Wiltshire (NEW), West Wiltshire, Yatton Keynell and Devizes (WWYKD) and Sarum, covering the Salisbury area. 

 

Resolved:

 

To endorse the recommendations of the CCG Task Group as follows:

 

1.       The Health Select Committee, within the newly-elected Wiltshire Council, should establish a CCG Task Group to undertake the recommendations below.

 

2.       The Task Group should devise its own Terms of Reference.

 

3.       The Task Group should investigate what progress the CCG makes against the priorities identified in its Strategic Plan 2013/14.

 

4.       The performance of each of the three local groups of the CCG should be monitored, with a review requested from each area within their first year.

 

5.       The Task Group examines what mechanisms the CCG has in place to deal with conflicts of interest that could arise during the commissioning/procurement process.  

 

6.       The Task Group considers what arrangements the CCG is making to engage with patients and the public, and what mechanisms are in place to measure and monitor the effectiveness of these.

 

7.       The Health Select Committee considers identifying an individual service, commissioned by the CCG, with a view to establishing a further Task Group to investigate the ‘patient pathway’ within that service.

 

 

Public Health Transition Task Group Report

 

The Committee agreed to the creation of the Task Group at its meeting on 15 November 2012 to consider the transfer of Public Health from the NHS to the Council.

 

The Task Group report was presented by Cllr Peter Hutton.  He confirmed that the Task Group was satisfied that the transfer was progressing smoothly and, as a result the Task Group should be disbanded. 

 

Resolved:

To endorse the recommendations of the Public Health Transition Task Group as follows:

 

The Health Select Committee disbands the Public Health Transition Task Group.

 

That an update report on the transition is presented to the Health Select Committee at its meeting on 14 November 2013.

 

 

Transfers to Care Task Group Report

 

The Committee agreed to the creation of the Task Group at its meeting on 15 November 2012 to consider the systems which allow patients to leave hospital promptly and to go into the care facility of their choice.

 

The Task Group report was presented by Cllr Nigel Carter.

 

It was noted by Sue Geary that recommendation 4 in the report made reference to ‘the Partnership Group’; this should be more correctly referred to as ‘the Steering Group’.

 

Amendment

Cllr Colmer proposed an amendment to alter the wording of recommendation 4 from “...documents produced by the partnership group” TO “documents produced by the Steering Group”. This was seconded by Cllr Nina Phillips and unanimously agreed by the committee.

 

Resolved:

To endorse the recommendations of the Transfers to Care Task Group, with amendments, as follows:

 

1.       The Health Select Committee, within the newly-elected Wiltshire Council, should establish a Transfer to Care Task Group to undertake the recommendations below.

 

2.       The Task Group should devise its own Terms of Reference.

 

3.       The Task Group meets at the earliest opportunity.

 

4.       The Task Group should review the proposed protocol and policy documents produced by the Steering Group. 

 

5.       The Task Group should review the results of the project being undertaken at the RUH.  In addition, it should consider the identified reasons for delays, with a view to asking the Health Select Committee to establish a further Task Group to investigate specific causes of delay. 

 

6.       The Task Group considers the financial aspects in this area and the challenges they impose on decision making.

 

 

Continence Services: Rapid Scrutiny Report

 

The report was presented by Cllr Carter, who led the Rapid Scrutiny Exercise. 

 

Brian Warwick expressed his concern that the changes to the continence service had been implemented without any consultation with carers.  He was keen that carers should have a stronger voice as he did not believe that they were listened to. He had hoped that the rapid scrutiny exercise would have resulted in a faster resolution to the problem.

 

Cllr Carter endorsed Mr Warwick’s views.  It was noted that the service was not directly under the control of the Council, the CCG being the lead body, and Cllr Carter was keen to establish how officers were liaising with colleagues in the NHS.

 

The Chairman stated that Mr Warwick’s concerns should also be raised with Cllr Milton as the portfolio holder for this area, who may be able to take this forward more quickly.

 

It was noted that Medequip had not given evidence to the Rapid Scrutiny.  It was queried whether Medequip audited their complaints in any way.  It was also queried whether Medequip was adhering to its contract, as it could be that the service specification was too loose. 

 

The Committee acknowledged that monitoring the outcome of service delivery was difficult as there were no indicators other than service users’ experiences. It agreed that the current service was inadequate and was not delivering the level of care required, but also agreed that there was no evidence of underfunding in this area.

 

Resolved:

To endorse the recommendations of the Rapid Scrutiny Exercise – Continence, as follows:

 

1.       The Health Select Committee, within the newly-elected Wiltshire Council, should establish a Task Group to consider the Continence Service and to undertake the recommendations below.

 

2.       The Task Group consider the assessment/re-assessment process, in particular the nature of it, the criteria involved and timescales around it.

 

3.       The Task Group will investigate the logistics of the service, with reference to Medequip and the options offered, in relation to the requirement for greater flexibility and client choice, and considers the monitoring of performance issues. 

 

4.       The Task Group look at patient outcomes and requirements, including availability of appropriate continence products, frequency of supply, buffer stocks and flexibility.

 

5.       The Task Group review the Council’s role, responsibilities and authority in continence care under its Health and Wellbeing remit.

 

6.       The Task Group examine the terms and conditions of the Disability Living Allowance and its applications.

 

 

Joint Air Quality Task Group Report (joint with Environment Select Committee).

 

The Air Quality Task Group had originally appeared on the work programme of the Environment Select Committee (ESC).  However, it had been agreed by the O & S Management Committee at its meeting on 6 September that it should become a joint Task Group with the Health Select Committee to ensure that both ‘cause and effect’ of air quality were considered. 

 

Cllr Alan Hill, as chairman of the Task Group, was in attendance to present the report of the joint Air Quality Task Group.

 

Maggie Rae, Corporate Director, confirmed that operations around air quality have been increased. It was stated that air quality is not a new science.  The Council, under its public health duties, has the power to address any serious air quality issues that may arise.

 

Resolved:

To endorse the recommendations of the joint Air Quality Task Group as follows:

 

1.       Scrutiny of the Air Quality Strategy remains in the Forward Work Plan for the new Council’s Overview and Scrutiny function, subject to any comment from the inspector.

 

2.       Oversight of the monitoring regime and the equipment be undertaken to ensure it is fit for purpose

 

3.       The Task Group believes that, whilst Wiltshire Council is not legally obliged to improve air quality, even when it exceeds the Government optimum in a particular location, and there are no sanctions available if we do not, it is incumbent upon us as a responsible Authority to attempt to reduce the exceedances to below recommended levels.

 

4.       That Air Quality Alliances review all the Council, school and business travel plans in their area.