REPORT ON THE HEALTH AND ADULT SOCIAL SERVICES OVERVIEW AND SCRUTINY COMMITTEE HELD IN WANDSWORTH TOWN HALLONTUESDAY 18TH JUNE 2013
I attended this as an observer with speaking rights. I commented briefly on four items. These were St. George’s Quality Accounts, the Progress Report, the Closure of 10 Fontenoy Road and the Public Health Business Plan. I did not think appropriate to comment on the report on the financial problems of NHS Croydon although I had extensive knowledge as an interested individual about them.
On Quality Accounts I followed my brief concerning the mixed picture (good on mortality and safety –less good on patient experience) but also speculated a bit as to whether particularly challenging cost improvement targets last financial year may have affected patient experience.
On the Progress Report I pushed a little on validity of some of the experience indicators for social services (among them quality of life in social care) and had a constructive dialogue about them. Social services recognised that they needed to develop these.
On Fontenoy Road I followed up a concern fed in to Healthwatch about provision for training in the use of kitchen equipment and received a public assurance to that effect.
Last on the Public Health Business Plan I expressed qualified support for collaboration over crime and accident and emergency departments subject to proper safeguards for privacy. I do not think this has come up locally in the last ten years but can recall that this was the line the then Chair of Wandsworth Community Health Council took before then.
Last I should say that the Deputy Chair of the Committee, who was in the Chair, treated me with a courtesy that had been lacking in the person chairing the previous meeting of the OSC (in April).
Donald ROY
Monday 15th July 2013