Watford and Three Rivers Health Partnership
Minutes of Meeting held on 4 March 2011
The Penn Chamber,
Three Rivers District Council Offices, Rickmansworth
Attendees:
Lesley Palumbo – Watford Borough Council (Chairman)
Harry Bhamrah – Herts Link
Councillor Phil Brading - Public Services and Health Portfolio Holder, Three Rivers District Council
Andrea Elton - WHHT
Jeannette Harley – Three Rivers CVS
Susan Lynch – Watford and District YMCA
Charlotte Masters – Three Rivers District Council
Karen Moody – Herts Partnership Foundation Trust
Caroline Roche – Watford Borough Council
Susan Street – Herts County Council Health and Community Services
Karl Stonebank – Three Rivers District Council
Helen Taunt – Watford FC Community Trust
Peter Wright – NHS Hertfordshire
Chris Fagan – Three Rivers District Council.
In Attendance: John D O’Callaghan and Joe Capon - Herts Sports Partnership
Apologies: Helen Armstrong – ACS – OPPD; Kevin Barrett – WatCom; Chris Bryce –Herts Police; Dee Dillistone – ACS; Bob Jones – Watford CVS; Robert Kerr – WatCom; Kathryn Robson – Watford Borough Council; Marion Seneschall – Three Rivers CAB; Andy Stovold – Three Rivers District Council; Stephen Taft – Strategic Partnership Unit, Herts County Council; Robin Trevillion – NHS Hertfordshire; Wendy Tooke – NHS Hertfordshire; Zillah Turner – WatCom, Caron Williams – Watford CAB.
1. Welcome
Lesley Palumbo welcomed everyone to the meeting and those present introduced themselves. A particular welcome was expressed to Helen Taunt, who had just commenced work with the Watford FC Community Trust
It was reported that Stephen Taft had reached the end of his contract with the County Council. A vote of thanks to him was passed for his contribution to the Partnership.
2. Minutes of Previous Meeting: – 25 November 2011
The Minutes were confirmed.
Matters Arising
Minute 2 - Matters Arising
Peter Wright reported that the Partnership Protected Area project in Meriden Ward was now well under way.
The Chairman stated that a report on projects at the Holywell Community Centre would be added to the agenda for the Executive group meeting on 25 March.
Minute 5 – First contact Scheme
The Chairman reported that Samantha Ames was making contact with managers of local registered social landlords (Housing Associations) via their Partnership the Housing and Regeneration Initiative (HARI).
Minute 7 – Tobacco Control Project
The Chairman drew attention to events being organised in Watford to publicise No Smoking Day on Ash Wednesday, 9 March and asked member organisations to publicise the initiative as much as possible.
Minute 10 – Dates of Future Meetings
It was noted that the date of the next meeting had been altered from Friday 17 to Thursday 16 June. Peter Wright asked whether the meeting could be held at the newly-extended Maple Cross Community Centre, at which NHS Hertfordshire would be holding outreach clinics. The Chairman replied that this would have to be investigated.
Minute 11 – Health Event at the Stanborough Centre, St Albans Road, Watford on 15 March 2011
Jeannette Harley reported that the event was fully booked and tabled details of the programme. The available funding would enable the holding of another event later in the year.
The Chairman congratulated Jeannette on her initiative in securing the funding and on the response from so many interested organisations.
Action: Bob Jones to report to Executive Group on Holywell Community Centre
Jeannette Harley to report to Executive Group on the outcome of the Health Event
Chris Fagan to investigate holding the next Partnership meeting at the Maple Cross Community Centre
3. Executive Group Meeting
The minutes of the Executive Group meeting held on 14 January 2011 were received.
Minute 3 – Local Response to Funding Reductions
Susan Street reported that following a meeting between County and District Councils in February the County Council had prepared information on future funding for mutual schemes but that this had not completed its internal assessment process before publication. She would seek to ascertain its progress and supply a copy for circulation when it was approved for publication.
Minute 4 – Key Priorities and Action Plans
Caroline Roche and Charlotte Masters reported that most Leisure Centre staff had received referrals training and local GPs were ready to refer patients when the referral scheme was operational. Referrals could operate across local authority boundaries.
Peter Wright observed that in a cash-strapped environment the scheme would need to generate a large number of referrals to prove its worth.
The Chairman asked for a progress report to come to the next Partnership meeting.
Action: Kevin Barrett to report on GP referrals;
Susan Street to forward information on County Council funding when published
4. Herts Sports Partnership - Presentation
John O’Callaghan and Joe Capon gave a presentation on the work of the Herts Sports Partnership and showed a DVD.
The Herts Sports Partnership (HSP) was based at the University of Hertfordshire and received core funding from the National Lottery. The HSP ran the County Council’s Active Together Programme and 10 Community Sports Networks. Its focus was to work with partners to promote greater levels of physical activity, which could bring benefits such as better health for individuals, greater community cohesion and crime reduction. The HSP was involved with NHS Hertfordshire, 10 local authorities, two universities and 18 leisure facility operators, many in the private sector. It acted as a conduit for Government sports funding and monitored the effectiveness of spending to see to achieve maximum value for money. The HSP linked with 2,500 sports clubs, about 20,000 coaches and about 100,000 volunteers. It used surveys such as the Active People Survey, which had been run since 2005/06, to identify local needs and to plan to meet them, e.g. by developing coaches and supporting new facilities. An example of this work was the Active Together Programme, which targeted activities for over–50s across the County. It acted as a consultee on new developments.
Survey information indicated that three-quarters of local people took less than adequate exercise. There was a need to change sedentary habits and this was the object of work such as the Change4Life Programme. The HSP approach was to encourage people to take small steps to increase activity.
Commenting on the presentation, members said that exercise provision needed to be geared to different age-groups as for example people over 50 did not identify with over-80s and some exercise class leaders introduced activities for middle-aged groups which was more suitable for younger age-groups. Attention was drawn to widely-publicised activities such as the Countryside Management Service walks.
The Chairman thanked John O’Callaghan and Joe Capon for their presentation.
5. NHS Changes – Healthy Lives, Healthy People
Peter Wright gave a presentation on the White Paper and the preparations in Hertfordshire for the implementation of the new healthcare arrangements. It was agreed that the presentation slides would be sent to all members.
The White Paper divided the health provision into two areas;
Public Health Protection, including air pollution, housing overcrowding, fuel poverty and violent crime; and
Health Services.
In West Hertfordshire most of the GP commissioning organisations for Watford, Three Rivers, Dacorum and probably St Albans were exploring a grouping into a single consortium to be called the Herts Valleys Federation. A GP practice in Radlett was trialling the new system, with Pathfinder status. In the interim, each body would retain its own status. Peter would continue to advise Watford and Three Rivers on public health issues.
The PCT was involved in planning for the changes while seeking to maintain the morale of NHS staff ahead of the changeover in 2013.
Action: Chris Fagan to circulate details of the presentation
6. Other Business
Intermediate Care Services for Patients in Watford, Bushey and Rickmansworth
A consultation paper from NHS Hertfordshire was tabled, with information about an event on Friday 11 March. The papers had already been circulated amongst the Partnership for individual organisations to respond to.
7. Impact of Public Sector Cuts
Representatives spoke of the adjustments they were making to their services and activities to achieve necessary savings.
Karen Moody reported that HPFT was seeking efficiency savings over four years. A series of stakeholder events would be held to consider changes to be introduced in October. It was intended to focus on earlier assessment of needs and eligibility for services while maintaining full availability of contact services. South West Herts would pilot the changes.
Councillor Phil Brading reported that despite Three Rivers District Council receiving one of the worst reductions in Government grant, efficiency savings meant that there would be no impact on front-line Health-related services.
Caroline Roche reported on Watford Borough Council’s Sports Framework setting out priorities for increasing physical activity which would shortly be published on the Council’s website.
Charlotte Masters reported that Three Rivers would be funding a Free Swim scheme for under-19s during school holidays and over-60s on one day per week. It would also be providing two new street gyms in South Oxhey and Maple Cross and upgrading a number of play areas. Peter Wright asked for details for publicity across the County.
Helen Taunt advised that as she had only just commenced work with Watford FC Community Trust she would report on current work to a future meeting.
Susan Street reported that all voluntary organisations in receipt of County Council funding had been contacted and full details of County Council funding would be published following a Cabinet meeting in March. Charges for some luncheon clubs might be increased to reflect the actual costs of food provision.
Sue Lynch reported that the YMCA would be affected by cuts but the impact would not be as severe as had been expected. A key area would be in Community Health Services. There could be reductions in work with ESCOs as this service implemented some reductions. They were looking to develop links with GPs.
Andrea Elton reported that the WHHT had to make savings. An important area was its application for Foundation Trust status. The savings were likely to impact adversely on elective surgery.
Karl Stonebank reported that the Three Rivers projects using LSP and match funding included a Step-up project in which Herts MIND were participating to extend educational and employment prospects for the disadvantaged in South Oxhey, which was expected to be operational by the end of March. Improvements and extensions to Community Centres in Maple Cross and Mill End at which NHS Hertfordshire had committed to run outreach health sessions.
Jeannette Harley reported that the County Council had notified member bodies of Three Rivers CVS had experienced reduction of about 15% in funding following a review by the County with an emphasis on sustainability.
Peter Wright reported that NHS Hertfordshire was on course to eliminate its budget deficit by the end of the financial year.
The Chairman reported that Watford Borough Council was having to make significant efficiency savings but was seeking to preserve front line services by making savings in back office services. There would be fee increases for services such as allotments. An area of concern was an increase in homeless people resulting from cuts in benefits and housing policy changes. There was already a declining provision of additional affordable housing. Watford was having to place homeless people in bed and breakfast accommodation for the first time in 10 years.
8. Dates of Future Meetings
Thursday 16th June, at Maple Cross Community Centre (venue to be confirmed).
Action: Chris Fagan to confirm the venue.
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