BOROUGH OF POOLE
HEALTH AND SOCIAL CARE OVERVIEW AND SCRUTINY COMMITTEE
25 NOVEMBER 2008
The Meeting commenced at 7.05pm and concluded at 8.35pm
Present:
Councillor Bulteel (Chairman)
CouncillorsBurden (substitute for Cllr Montrose), Mrs Evans, Gillard (substitute for Cllr Mrs Deas), Gregory (substitute for Cllr Mrs Butt), Mrs Haines, Mrs Long, Matthews and Meachin
Non-voting Co-opted Members present:
Judy Birch
Roger Wilson
In attendance:
Liz Baron:Acting Principal Overview and Scrutiny Support Officer
James Barton:Director – Poole Mental Health and Social Care, Dorset Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
Louise Bate:LINks Development Officer, Help and Care
Dr Adrian Dawson:Director of Public Health, NHS Bournemouth and Poole
Stuart Lovack:Associate Capital Projects Director, Poole Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
Pauline Malins:Director of Communications, Poole Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
Cllr Mason:Borough of Poole
Angela Schofield:Chairman, NHS Bournemouth and Poole
Sue Sutherland:Chief Executive, Poole Hospital NHS Foundation Trust
Charlie Sheldrick:Head of Adult Social Care and Wellbeing, Borough of Poole
Jan Thurgood:Strategic Director (Adult Social Services), Borough of Poole
Members of the public present:0
HSC34.08APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
Apologies for absence were received from Cllr Montrose (substituted by Cllr
Burden), Cllr Mrs Deas (substituted by Cllr Gillard), Cllr Mrs Butt (substituted
by Cllr Gregory) and Cllr Mrs Walton.
In the absence of the Vice Chairman, Cllr Mrs Haines was elected Vice-Chairman of the Health and Social Care Overview and Scrutiny Committee for the duration of this one Meeting only.
HSC35.08DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
Cllr Bulteel declared a personal interest in a number of items on the Agenda
as he was an employee of Leonard Cheshire Disability.
Cllr Burden declared a personal interest in a number of items on the Agenda
as he was the Borough of Poole’s Representative on Dorset Healthcare NHS
Foundation Trust’s Board of Governors.
Cllr Gillard declared a personal interest in Agenda Item 4, ‘Poole Hospital
NHS Foundation Trust – Presentation on Capital Developments’ as two close
family members were employees of Poole Hospital NHS Foundation Trust,
Forest Holme Specialist Palliative Care Unit.
Cllr Mrs Long declared a personal interest in Agenda Item 4, ‘Poole Hospital
NHS Foundation Trust – Presentation on Capital Developments’ as she was a
public member of Poole Hospital NHS Foundation Trust.
HSC36.08MINUTES
(i)RESOLVED that the Minutes of the Meeting held on 16 September 2008, having been previously circulated, be taken as read, confirmed as a true record and signed by the Chairman.
(ii)RESOLVED that the Minutes of the Special Meeting held on 15 October 2008, having been previously circulated, be taken as read, confirmed as a true record and signed by the Chairman.
HSC37.08POOLE HOSPITAL NHS FOUNDATION TRUST – PRESENTATION ON CAPITAL DEVELOPMENTS
The Chairman welcomed Sue Sutherland, Chief Executive of Poole Hospital
NHS Foundation Trust, who gave a brief introduction to the Trust’s Capital
Developments Programme.
The Programme had been put out for public consultation in late 2007 as part of the consultation on the Trust’s Development Control Plan and had also been raised as a key project as part of the Trust’s application for Foundation Trust status.
The Development Control Plan confirmed the need for a new maternity unit, an expansion of the Accident and Emergency Department (including a new, dedicated entrance) and provision of a new day surgery unit / day care centre.
Stuart Lovack, Associate Capital Projects Director, presented detailed design plans to the Committee for consideration, explaining that the design had been selected as the preferred option out of six possible options set out in a Design Options Report published August 2007. This preferred option presented the optimum solution to a number of on-site considerations addressing accessibility / public entrances, site density, car parking and communications space. Crucially, the design incorporated a new public entrance which would be separate from the new A&E Department entrance.
A detailed analysis of the needs of the Emergency Unit was currently underway and it was expected that the new design plan would help improve both patient flow and patient dignity and respect.
Plans for the maternity unit included relocation away from the current site onto the main hospital site in the area currently occupied by the Churchfield Road Ambulance Station. Subject to all approvals being granted, it was anticipated that the 2-year development would commence January 2010.
The Trust was committed to a sustainability agenda in setting out its Development Control Plan.
Questions:
- Cllr Gregory commented that in outlining the plans for the site, there had been no mention of travel plans or of an expansion in parking facilities, despite an assumption that the number of patients treated by the Trust would increase.
In response, the Chief Executive confirmed that the Trust’s Business Plan forecast an increase in patient numbers and that car parking issues would therefore need to be thoroughly examined before detailed plans could be put to the local authority’s Planning Committee. A green travel plan would be developed which may include the need to provide additional offsite parking. At this stage it was too early to speculate on whether it was necessary to add an additional floor onto the existing multi-storey car park, but this was a possibility which could be considered.
- Cllr Mrs Long commented that current disabled parking provision in the multi-storey car park was insufficient and that the spaces themselves were too small to allow disabled drivers easy access to and from their vehicles.
In response, the Associate Capital Projects Director stated that the Trust recognised there was a need to reorganise disabled car parking provision and that new bays, of a more appropriate size, would be reprovided as part of the project. The size of turning circles would also be given close consideration, amidst suggestions that these were currently too small;
- The Chief Executive confirmed that once detailed car parking plans had been developed by the Trust, Officers would return to the Committee to share these with Members;
- In response to a query from Cllr Mrs Long, it was established that the proposed new escalator link which would be situated at the new front entrance would be suitable for use mainly by able-bodied people. People with disabilities or mobility issues would be signposted to use elevators to access upper levels of the hospital site;
- Cllr Mrs Long requested that the Trust give particular consideration to the orientation of any other new development planned in the vicinity when developing its plans for the maternity ward, as it was crucial that patients’ privacy was maintained by the building not being overlooked.
- Cllr Mrs Evans requested that adequate ‘dropping off’ provision be made at the new maternity unit in order to enable pregnant women as easy access as possible to the unit;
- Cllr Mrs Evans requested that the Trust develop plans to provide more adequate staff parking, noting that congestion caused by over-spill parking on neighbouring roads was a regular source of frustration for local homeowners;
- In response to a comment from Cllr Mrs Evans, the Chief Executive acknowledged that since the Hospital had imposed a complete on-site smoking ban, staff and patients / visitors had started using public highways to smoke and that this was causing littering and distress to neighbouring householders. To combat the problem, the Trust had launched street patrols with a two-fold objective of preventing littering and encouraging staff to give up smoking. The Trust would continue to give the issue its full attention in order to reduce the problem, which it admitted was ‘a source of embarrassment’.
- In response to a query from Cllr Meachin, it was confirmed that the Trust had no immediate plans for the disposal of the old St Mary’s maternity unit. Options for disposal could include maintaining the site to provide additional hospital space or selling the site for development as housing;
- It was generally acknowledged that the Hospital was disadvantaged by its lack of a helipad and the Trust was therefore considering the practicalities of installing this facility. At present no decision had been reached on whether to recommend the feature be provided or not;
- the planned new entrance foyer would include space for several retail units which would enhance the overall patient experience. It was not possible to say at this early stage how many retail units would be accommodated;
- The Trust was progressing plans to enhance the appearance of the interconnecting walkway between the car park and hospital by means of new lighting, decorating and artwork;
- Cllr Gregory urged the Trust to give very close attention to the utilisation of the latest techniques for low energy usage on site.
- The Chairman requested the Trust give some consideration to long-term parking provision and associated parking charges for expectant fathers.
On behalf of the Committee, the Chairman thanked the Chief Executive of Poole Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and the Associate Capital Projects Director for their presentation on the Trust’s planned Capital Development Programme. In addition, the Chairman drew Members’ attention to the Trust’s latest Annual Health Check assessment from the Healthcare Commission, which rated the Trust’s Quality of Services as ‘Excellent’ and Use of Resources as ‘Good’. Members congratulated the Trust on its exemplary assessment and recorded their pride in and appreciation of the work of the Hospital.
HSC38.08LOCAL INVOLVEMENT NETWORK (LINks) UPDATE
The Committee welcomed Louise Bate, LINks Development Officer, Help and Care, who gave a presentation on the development of the Poole Local Involvement Network, a mechanism by which local people were enabled to monitor, review and give feedback on local health and social care services. A copy of the presentation is appended to the Minutes for information (Appendix A).
Members were given a broad overview of the role of the network and the legislative context, (the 2007 Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act), which gave the LINk the authority to:
- Enter specific types of services and view the care provided;
- Ask for information and expect a response within a specific timescale;
- Make recommendations and expect a response within a specific timescale; and
- Refer matters to the local Overview and Scrutiny Committee and expect a response.
Help and Care, the appointed ‘host’ organisation for the LINk, was keen to ensure that membership was drawn from as broad, diverse and inclusive a base as possible, including faith groups, older people, rural communities, children, transitory populations and black and minority ethnic groups. At present 170 members had registered as members of the Poole LINk.
A LINk Stewardship Group had been established in October in order to plan the network’s work programme and make recommendations on governance arrangements. Training was planned over the Christmas and new year period, which would include relationship building and learning with the Overview and Scrutiny Committee and health and social care commissioners and providers.
On behalf of the Committee the Chairman thanked Louise for her update on the development of Poole LINk and formally proposed that himself, the Vice Chairman and the Lib Dem Lead Member for Health meet with the Stewardship Group as soon as practicable in the new year in order to discuss closer ways of working between Poole’s Health and Social Care Overview and Scrutiny Committee and the LINk.
On being put to the vote the proposal was passed unanimously.
RECOMMENDED that the Chairman and Vice Chairman of the Health and Social Care Overview and Scrutiny Committee, together with the Lib Dem Lead Member for Health, meet with the Poole LINk Stewardship Group as soon as practicable in the new year in order to discuss closer ways of working between the two bodies.
In response to Members’ questions the following issues were clarified:
- The LINk was completely independent of health and social care providers and commissioners, who had a duty to respond to enquiries by the LINk;
- It was important to ensure that there was no duplication between the work of the LINk and the work of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee. Good communication between the two groups was necessary to ensure that the two bodies’ work programmes complemented each other;
- The ‘working wheel’ diagram illustrated the diversity of the membership base from which Help and Care hoped to attract members to the LINk. Whilst Help and Care had not yet managed to secure membership from all the groups shown on the wheel, it was reported that a good range of members had already registered;
- The LINk could refer items to Poole’s Health and Social Care Overview and Scrutiny Committee and expect a response;
- It was confirmed that the LINk would ensure its workload was equally balanced between health and social care items;
- The LINk provided a form of independent scrutiny of health and social care;
- It was unclear what was meant by reference to ‘Communities of Interest’ on the LINks working wheel diagram and it was suggested that this phrase should be changed;
- The Committee reaffirmed its intention to co-opt two members of the Poole LINk onto the Health and Social Care Overview and Scrutiny Committee as non-voting members, as soon as practicable.
HSC39.08FORWARD PLAN
Members considered a recommendation that up to two special evening seminars be convened in the new year in order to allow the Committee to develop its response to each local Trust’s declaration to the Healthcare Commission as part of the Annual Health Check for 2008/09.
As had occurred in previous years, it was suggested that, as part of their presentation on their overall declaration to the Healthcare Commission, each Trust be asked to comment specifically on one particular standard, to be decided by the Committee. It was agreed that the Strategic Director (Social Services) and Principal Overview and Scrutiny Support Officer would consider potential themes and circulate these to Committee Members for discussion and a decision.
In addition, it was agreed that the Chairman would write, on behalf of the Committee, to each local Trust congratulating them on their high ratings following the 2007/08 Health Check assessment. Trust assessments for 07/08 were noted as follows:
Dorset Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust:
Quality of Services:Excellent
Use of Resources:Excellent
Bournemouth and Poole Teaching Primary Care Trust:
Quality of Services:Good
Use of Resources:Good
Royal Bournemouth and Christchurch Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust:
Quality of Services:Good
Use of Resources:Excellent
Poole Hospital NHS Foundation Trust:
Quality of Services:Excellent
Use of Resources:Good
South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust:
Quality of Services:Good
Use of Resources:Good
RECOMMENDED that
(i)up to two special evening seminars be convened in the new year in order to allow the Committee to develop its response to each local Trust’s declaration to the Healthcare Commission as part of the Annual Health Check for 2008/09; and
(ii)that the Chairman writes, on behalf of the Committee, to the Chief Executive of each local Trust to congratulate each Trust on its high rating following the 2007/08 Health Check assessment.
HSC40.08URGENT BUSINESS
(i)AUDIOLOGY ‘WALK-IN’ SERVICE IN POOLE
In accordance with Section 100B(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the Chairman allowed consideration of this urgent item following receipt of a formal request by Cllr Meachin that Members consider the lack of access to Audiology Walk In Repair Services in Poole.
A report was circulated to Members for information, which outlined the reasons for the delay in the facility being provided, namely (i) a delay in architects’ and design layout plans due to a number of additional schemes being developed simultaneously by Boots the Chemists (the proposed site of the new walk-in service) and (ii) a need to clarify the overall cost of the proposed building scheme and an increase to the lease agreement.
Members expressed their disappointment that NHS Bournemouth and Poole had been unable to fulfil its commitment to establish a two session per week Walk In Repair Service in Poole which would be operational by 1 October 2008 and agreed that the Trust should be held to deliver its renewed commitment to establish a Walk In Service in Poole before the end of the current financial year.
Members agreed that the Audiology Working Party, comprising Health and Social Care Overview and Scrutiny Committee members (Cllrs Mrs Deas, Meachin and Walton) and Trust Lead Officers (Angela Schofield (Chairman), Sarah Elliott (Director of Service Provision) and Tony Corcoran (Head of Audiology Services)), be reconvened as soon as possible in order to discuss a way forward.
RECOMMENDED that the Audiology Working Party, comprising Health and Social Care Overview and Scrutiny Committee members (Cllrs Mrs Deas, Meachin and Walton) and Trust Lead Officers (Angela Schofield (Chairman), Sarah Elliott (Director of Service Provision) and Tony Corcoran (Head of Audiology Services)), be reconvened as soon as possible in order to discuss the establishment of an Audiology Walk-In Repair Service in the centre of Poole by the end of the financial year.
HSC41.08DATE AND TIME OF NEXT MEETING
RESOLVED that the next meeting of the Health and Social Care Overview and Scrutiny Committee would take place at 7.00pm on Tuesday 20 January 2009 in the Committee Suite, Civic Centre.
CHAIRMAN
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