To receive and, if so determined, to agree as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting held on 9 January 2013. 

RESOLVED: That the minutes of the meeting held on 9 January 2013 be agreed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

The following declarations of Personal Interests were reported to the meeting:

Councillor Lloyd, in relation to the Stroke Association;

Councillor Brophy, in relation to her employment within the NHS;

Councillor Taylor, in relation to her employment within the NHS;

Councillor Mrs. Bruer – Morris, in relation to her employment within the NHS.

Councillor Mrs. Wilkinson in relation to VCAT.

RESOLVED: That the Declarations of Interest made to the meeting be noted. 

To receive, for the Committee’s information, the resolution made by the Joint Health Scrutiny Committee to NHS Greater Manchester on 14 January 2013. 

The Committee received an update on the work of the Joint Health Scrutiny Committee set up by Trafford and Manchester Councils to receive, and be consulted upon, the New Health Deal for Trafford.

The Committee were informed that at a meeting held on 14 January 2013, the Joint Committee passed the following resolution.

“The committee agrees that in the event that NHS Greater Manchester, following the recommendations from the Trafford Strategic Programme Board, rejects the Committee’s concerns, and proceeds with the proposals decided at the Programme Board’s meeting of 19 December 2012, to authorise its Chair and Vice Chair to refer to the proposals to the Secretary of State as a substantial variation which is not in the interests of the health service and patients of the Borough of Trafford and the City of Manchester”.

The Chairman reported that following the meeting of NHS Greater Manchester on the 24th January, a referral had been made to the Secretary of State for Health on behalf of the Joint Committee.  The Democratic Services Manager outlined the next stages of the referral process to the Committee.

The Democratic Services Manager updated the Committee that Regulations about the future of Health Scrutiny had been issued on the 8^th February.  The Committee had responded to the Government’s proposals in autumn 2012 (Minute No 15 refers). The Regulations required the Council to consider how it wished to discharge its health scrutiny functions. The Committee repeated its view that Health Scrutiny Committee should remain responsible for this.

RESOLVED:-

That the Health Scrutiny Committee note the resolution of the Joint Health Scrutiny Committee.

To receive an update on the operation Shadow Health and Wellbeing Board prior to its establishment as a decision making body in April 2013. 

The Committee received a detailed report on the work of the shadow Health and Wellbeing Board (SHWB) which had been operating since May 2012. The report set out details of the responsibilities of the Board, an update on the progress it had made in the period since its establishment and governance arrangements.

The Executive Member for Community Health and Wellbeing and the Director of Public Health attended the meeting to present the report and answer any questions from the committee.

They reported that the SHWB had started to oversee the development of strategies and plans to address health inequalities and improve health and wellbeing. The Shadow Board also maintained an overview of the delivery of the priorities set out in existing joint strategies. A Joint Strategic Needs Assessment (JSNA) had been produced and published and would be refreshed from 1^st April 2013. 

They also reported that the SHWB had overseen the development of the draft Trafford Joint Health and Wellbeing Strategy (JHWS) 2013-16.  The Strategy had been co-produced with key stakeholders (local residents, statutory bodies, voluntary sector and the Trafford Partnership). The JHWS was at Phase 3 consultation and engagement and work was continuing during January – March 2013 to receive feedback on the identified eight priority areas of childhood obesity, child and emotional wellbeing, physical activity, reduction in alcohol harm, long term conditions, deaths from heart disease, stroke and cancer, support for people with enduring mental illness and dementia and to reduce common mental disorders. The JHWS would be formally launched at the Trafford Partnership Annual Conference in April 2013.  The Director of Public Health said that he would circulate a summary document to Members of the Committee.

The Committee were also informed about the transfer of responsibility for public health to the Council and the actions that were being taken to achieve an effective transition.

Members of the Committee asked a number of questions of the Executive Member and the Director of Public Health about the work of the HWB and the transfer of public health to the Council and thanked them for their attendance and informative presentation.

The Committee were informed that the Health and Wellbeing Board (HWB) would become a statutory Committee of the Council under section 102 of the Local Government Act 1972 from 1^st April 2013. The Scrutiny Committee stated that it was important that the HWB and the Committee developed an effective working relationship. The Committee were informed that an initial event to develop these relationships would be held in the spring. The Chairman and Vice Chairman would also meet with the Executive Member for Community Health and Wellbeing to discuss the matter in more detail.

RESOLVED:

1)    That the report be noted.

2)    That the Chairman and Vice Chairman report back on proposals to ensure that the Committee provides effective scrutiny of the work of the Health and Wellbeing Board.

To receive, for the Committee’s consideration, information relating to the NHSs’ Health Check Support Programme

The Committee were advised that responsibility for commissioning the risk assessment element of the NHS Health Check would transfer to local authorities in April 2013 as part of their wider responsibilities for public health.

A LGA circular stated that local authorities and Health and Wellbeing Boards (HWB) were being encouraged to familiarise themselves with how the NHS Health Check programme was being transferred in their areas.

The Committee indicated that they would keep this under review as part of their scrutiny of the HWB.

RESOLVED:

That the report be noted.

To receive, for the Committee’s information, the Executive response to budget scrutiny 2013-14. 

The Executive’s response to budget scrutiny was submitted for the Committee’s information. The Chairman informed the Committee that the Scrutiny Committee had considered the response in detail at its meeting on the 6^th February.

RESOLVED:

That the report be noted.

To receive, for the Committee’s consideration, the response to the letter dispatched shortly after Health Scrutiny Committee on 17 October 2012 in respect of the recommendations arising from the Ageing Well review.  TO FOLLOW

Further to Minute 15, the Committee received a letter on the Ageing Well review from the Programme Manager – Personalisation and Market Development.  The Committee had asked for further information about recommendations 23 and 25 and the letter set out the approach that was being taken in respect of those recommendations.

The Committee noted that the Executive Member for Transformation and Resources has not yet responded to their recommendation about Members being directly informed by email of any consultations on services potentially affecting vulnerable groups before consultations are publically launched (recommendation 14).

RESOLVED:

1)    That the response to recommendations 23 and 25 be noted

2)    That the Executive Member for Transformation and Resources be reminded about the outstanding response to recommendation 14.

To receive an update from the Topic Group Chairmen on the progress made by Topic Group C and D. 

Councillor Butt updated the Committee on the progress being made by the Topic Group looking at Dignity in Care. Members had been allocated tasks and were working through them. A meeting of the Topic Group would be held on the 19^th February.

The work of the Topic Group reviewing Personalisation was outlined by Councillor Holden. A detailed work plan had been prepared and this would be circulated to Members of the Committee shortly.

RESOLVED:

That the updates be noted.

Any other item or items (not likely to disclose "exempt information") which, by reason of special circumstances (to be specified), the Chairman of the meeting is of the opinion should be considered at this meeting as a matter of urgency.

The Chairman allowed the following item to be considered as urgent business as it related to an issue which had arisen following the publication of the agenda to allow the Committee to be promptly apprised of a significant national development with potentially significant implications within its remit.

The Committee received a report setting out a summary highlighting the key issues identified in the Francis Report on the failings of patient care at the Mid Staffordshire NHS Trust between 2005 and 2009. The report has highlighted a number of issues that were relevant to the Health Scrutiny function. The report highlighted the important of effective local scrutiny of health services and the issues that Members would need to take into account.

The Committee asked that a report be produced that set out any improvements that may need to be put in place.

The Chairman also informed the Committee that she had been made aware of the relocation of urology services from Trafford General Hospital to University Hospital, South Manchester. Members were concerned they had been made aware of the matter via press release rather than being informed directly. The Committee asked Officers to request further information as to why the decision had been taken to change the service and that further information be provided to them.

RESOLVED:

1)    That the report be noted.

2)    That a further report on the impact of the Francis Report ion Health Scrutiny be submitted to future meeting.

3)    That Officers be asked to find out more information about the transfer of the urology service and circulate this to Members of the Committee in due course.