MEMORANDUM Date: 30 June 2005

To: All Members of the Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire & Luton Joint Health Scrutiny Committee
cc: G Bocutt, Luton BC
W Hamilton, Hamilton Consulting (UK) Ltd
S-A Cole, Hertfordshire CC
D Moses, Hertfordshire CC
N Rotherham, Hertfordshire CC / From: COUNTY SECRETARY'S
DEPARTMENT
Ask for: Emma Lund
Ext: 25563
Minicom: 6611
BEDFORDSHIRE, HERTFORDSHIRE & LUTON JOINT HEALTH SCRUTINY COMMITTEE

MONDAY 20 JUNE 2005

MINUTES

ATTENDANCE

MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE

Bedfordshire County Council

R Drinkwater (substituting for A Carter)

Hertfordshire County Council

M Downing

S Quilty

Luton Borough Council

S Roden (substituting for S Timoney)

J Wates (substituting for M Yasin)

Patient and Public Involvement Forum Representatives (Non-Voting)

M Paul

Also present:

G Bocutt, R Davison (part), L Dent (part), O Edwardson (part), W Hamilton, W Hancock (part), S Knighton (part), D Moses, F Pidd (part), N Rotherham, S Wood (part)

1. / APOLOGIES AND CHAIRMAN’S ANNOUNCEMENTS / ACTION
Apologies were received from D Ross of Bedfordshire County Council, S Timoney and M Yasin of Luton Borough Council and C Reynolds, Hertfordshire PPIF Representative.
A Carter has replaced D Reedman on the Committee and S Quilty has replaced K Coleman.
2. / ELECTION OF CHAIRMAN
M Downing was nominated by S Quilty and was elected unopposed.
3. / ELECTION OF VICE-CHAIRMAN
A Carter was nominated by M Downing and was elected in his absence unopposed.
4. / DECLARATION OF PERSONAL AND PREJUDICIAL INTERESTS
No personal or prejudicial interests were declared.
5. /

DECLARATION OF WHIP

It was confirmed that Members of the Committee were not under any mandate from either their Authority or political party in respect of the items to be scrutinised by the Joint Committee.
7. / MINUTES OF THE MEETING HELD ON 13 APRIL 2005
The minutes of the meeting held on 13 April 2005 were confirmed as a correct record.
8. / UPDATE ON CURRENT ISSUES – WEST HERTS HOSPITAL TRUST
W Hamilton advised that a £45 million overspend across the strategic health authority area has been incurred, of which £13 million is a deficit by West Herts Hospital Trust.
Some aspects of the plans proposed by the Trust to recover its financial position will fall within the definition of ‘substantial variations in service’ and will therefore be subject to regulation 4 consultation. A meeting between the Chairman and Vice-Chairman of the Hertfordshire County Health Committee and the Chief Executive of the Strategic Health Authority took place on 17 June and discussions were held on how the proposed scrutiny of the recovery plans will proceed. It is anticipated that meetings between the Bedfordshire and Luton joint health scrutiny committee Chairman and Vice-Chairman and the Bedfordshire and Luton NHS Bodies will take place soon.
A special meeting of the Hertfordshire County Health Scrutiny Committee will be held in July in order to agree the process for consultation. PCT Committees, PPI Forums and PCT Chief Executives will be kept informed throughout the process.
9. / ANNUAL REPORT OF THE BEDFORDSHIRE & HertFORDsHIRE ambulance and pARAMEDIC SERVICE PPIF FORUM
The Committee noted the Annual Report of the Bedfordshire & Hertfordshire Ambulance and Paramedic Service Patient and Public Involvement Forum. Will Hancock and Mike Paul undertook to act as points of contact for any questions from Members relating to the report.
10. / BEDFORDSHIRE & HERTFORDSHIRE AMBULANCE AND PARAMEDIC SERVICE – ANNUAL REPORT AND NOTIFICATION OF ANY PROPOSED SERVICE DEVELOPMENTS OR VARIATIONS WHICH WILL BE SUBJECT TO REGULATION 4 CONSULTATIONS
The Committee received a presentation by Will Hancock, Chief Executive of the Bedfordshire & Hertfordshire Ambulance and Paramedic Service. Mr Hancock gave an overview of the history of the Trust, detailed the way in which services are currently delivered and provided an outline of future plans.
The Committee noted the increase in demand for the service of up to 10% per year, and noted that this is associated with a rise in medical crises related to chronic illnesses as well as a rise in trauma calls.
The Committee noted the Service’s views on traffic calming, and in particular the use of road humps which can damage emergency vehicles and risk patient safety. It was suggested that the Trust raises this issue with the Highways Authorities at County Council level.
In response to a member question on benchmarking, Mr Hancock advised that the star-rating system is underpinned by the balanced scorecard and that further performance information will be available in summer 2005. Under new arrangements by the Healthcare Commission, local Overview and Scrutiny Committees are to be consulted on performance assessment in October and March, and will formally consider performance information at that time.
11. / ‘INVESTING IN YOUR MENTAL HEALTH’ – REPORT OF THE SPECIALIST MENTAL HEALTH ADVISER
The Committee received a presentation from its specialist mental health adviser, Frankie Pidd, on the consultation proposals for ‘Investing in Your Mental Health’.
The Committee agreed that the presentation would form the basis of its response to the consulting bodies on the proposals. It was further agreed that a meeting of the Committee would be held towards the end of the consultation period in order that the views of all interested parties may be included in the Committee’s final response.
The Committee noted that the consultation is proceeding as planned and agreed to re-endorse the consultation process.
12. / ‘INVESTING IN YOUR HEALTH’ – PRESENTATION ON THE PROPOSED PERFORMANCE INDICATORS FOR MONITORING THE IMPLEMENTATION AND IMPACT OF ‘INVESTING IN YOUR HEALTH’
The Committee received a presentation from Simon Wood, Director of Strategy at the Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Strategic Health Authority, detailing the proposed performance indicators for monitoring the implementation of ‘Investing in Your Health’.
The Committee noted the proposals and agreed to work to the programme outlined.
It was proposed that performance data to the previous March be presented to the Committee each September; Mr Wood is to confirm the feasibility of this process and report back to the Committee with a decision as to whether this reporting process will commence in September 2005 or September 2006. / Simon Wood
13. / ‘INVESTING IN YOUR HEALTH’ – TO CONSIDER THE COMPONENTS OR ELEMENTS OF ‘INVESTING IN YOUR HEALTH’ WHICH WILL BE SUBJECT TO NHS BODIES’ CONSULTATIONS UNDER REGULATION 4 OVER THE NEXT YEAR
Regulation 4 of The Local Authority (Overview and Scrutiny Committees Health Scrutiny Functions) Regulations requires formal consultation for a substantial development of the health service in the area of a local authority, or for a substantial variation in the provision of such service.
However, the current financial issues affecting the Strategic Health Authority, have meant that those aspects of ‘Investing in Your Health’ which fall under regulation 4 have yet to be determined.
Consequently, a paper had not been prepared for this item and it was agreed that the item would be deferred to the next meeting.
Once the regulation 4 aspects of the proposal have been agreed a decision will be taken as to the appropriate processes for consultation, including those aspects which are to be scrutinised by this Committee.
14. /

DATE OF NEXT MEETING

Subject to confirmation, the next meeting will take place on Wednesday 7 September 2005 at 10.00 at County Hall, Hertford.
If this date is agreed it will replace the meeting previously scheduled for 19 September 2005.

Bill Hamilton

Adviser to the Committee

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050620 Joint Health Minutes