To receive and, if so determined, to agree as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting held on 4^th December 2013.

RESOLVED:  That the Minutes of the meeting held on 4^th December 2013 be agreed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

Members to give notice of any interest and the nature of that interest relating to any item on the agenda in accordance with the adopted Code of Conduct.

The following declarations of personal interests were reported to the meeting:

Councillor Lloyd in relation to the Stroke Association.

Councillor Harding in relation to her role with the Save Trafford General campaign.

Councillor S.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.

To receive a presentation and establish progress against the North West Ambulance Service Community Strategy.

The Committee received a presentation from the North West Ambulance Service, outlining their services, performance and information relevant to the borough of Trafford.  It was noted that there are 4 stations within Trafford, including Stretford where the station is successfully co-located with GMP, and other stations located at Urmston, Sale, and Altrincham.  Members were advised that the NWAS was committed to working with the community in Trafford with Community Responder teams made up from volunteers, and had many links where AED’s (Automatic External Defribrillator) were installed.

The Committee was informed that the NWAS was currently reviewing its estates portfolio with reference to ambulance stations, and looking at opportunities for refurbishment, closure, relocation, and co-location with other frontline services. It was also seeking to maximise opportunities for integration with complementary community-based provision.

Members were also provided with an update on the service’s plans for achieving Foundation Trust status.

Discussions followed including current resources in transporting patients to Wythenshawe Hospital following the downgrading of A&E services at Trafford General Hospital, working with hospital triage methods, and GP referral patterns.  It was identified that there was a need for educating the public concerning their initial decision to ring for an ambulance, other than in an emergency; and Members were advised of initiatives in place in this regard.

As part of the ongoing dialogue with NWAS, Members raised long-standing concerns regarding the recorded levels of performance at Trafford, in comparison with all other areas of Greater Manchester and the wider region, and requested further information in this area.

The Chairman concluded by thanking the representatives from the North West Ambulance Service for attending the Health Scrutiny Committee Meeting, and for their ongoing commitment to providing services for the residents of Trafford.

            RESOLVED:

(1)       That the content of the presentation be noted and welcomed.

(2)       That further information be sought on NWAS’ performance levels, in comparison with other areas of Greater Manchester and the wider region.

To receive an updated report of the Executive Member, Community Health and Wellbeing.

The Commissioning and Service Development Manager was in attendance to introduce an updated report of the Executive Member, Community Health and Wellbeing. The report gave a comprehensive update on performance over the previous six months, including the refreshed arrangements for the delivery of commissioned alcohol services aimed at meeting the needs of Trafford residents, in line with the updated Alcohol Strategy.

The report stated that Trafford continues to be the only Greater Manchester area to be better than the England average for Alcohol Treatment Prevalence.  However, alcohol misuse continues to be a high priority for the borough in the Joint Strategic Needs Assessment, and has now become a strategic priority for Trafford’s Health and Wellbeing Board, the Safer Trafford Partnership, and Trafford’s Clinical Commissioning Group.

The Committee was advised that the Drug and Alcohol Team works closely with the police, probation and health services to monitor and restrict the offending behaviour of individuals through Integrated Offender Management (Trafford Spotlight).

It was noted that the Alcohol Strategy had now been updated to take into account the recent changes in legislation and policy direction, and that a multi-agency response to tackling these issues had been further embedded.

In discussing the report and presentation, Members did express concern at a lack of clarity regarding the statistical information presented in relation to detoxification programmes, and expressed the hope that future reports would address this issue, not least because the issue of the effectiveness of different detoxification programmes was not uncontroversial.

The Chairman thanked the Officer presenting the report and indicated that the Committee would like to be kept informed of further progress at a future date.

            RESOLVED:

(1)       That the report be noted and welcomed.

(2)       That a further report on the work to address alcohol problems in the Borough, including updated and clarified statistics in relation to detoxification programmes, be submitted to the Committee at a future meeting.

To receive an update from the Chairman on the meeting of the Joint Health and Overview Scrutiny Committee held at Manchester Town Hall on 29^th January 2014.

The Committee received an update on outcomes from the meeting of the Joint Health Scrutiny Committee held at Manchester Town Hall on 21 January 2014. Members expressed concerns about some of the discussions which had taken place in that forum regarding the performance levels of University Hospital South Manchester, and the reasons and evidence base underlying this. It was noted that correspondence had already been received from the hospital in consequence; and that Members were likely to raise their concerns further at the next meeting of the Joint Committee scheduled for 7^th April 2014, and seek further explanation from the hospital.

RESOLVED:  That the outcome of the meeting held on 21 January 2014, and the next steps to be taken, be noted.

To receive updates from the Topic Group Chairmen, and to receive a draft report on the Personalisation Review.

Councillor Holden reported on the progress of, and emerging outcomes from, the Personalisation Review, and advised Members that the final report would be presented to the next meeting of the Committee.

The Committee received an update on the Healthy Weight Review from Councillor Mrs. Young, who advised Members that a brief introductory review would be undertaken, with the aim of completion by the end of April. This would provide a basis for scoping a potential wider review in the following municipal year. 

Councillor Mrs. Young briefed the Committee on responses received from the hospitals whose performance had featured in the Dignity in Care Scrutiny Report, and advised Members that an update report would be presented to a future meeting of the Committee.  A range of issues was then discussed by Members including how best to monitor progress of the recommended improvements at the hospitals, including cleaning services at Trafford General Hospital following notification that there was to be a cutback in this area. Comments were received from a representative of Trafford Healthwatch, and it was noted that this organisation had a significant and ongoing role in supporting and monitoring these issues.

            RESOLVED: That the content of the update reports be noted.