Agenda item

(1)       The Chairman introduced the Forward Work Programme and highlighted some of the items proposed for future meetings. The Chairman requested that should any Member have any specific question relating to the 9 March item, Partnership between Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust and Medway NHS Foundation Trust, then they should be forwarded to the Committee Researcher by the end of Friday 13 January. In addition, the Chairman commented that the idea of an event around April time looking at ‘One Year to Go’ before the new NHS system is introduced on 1 April 2013 had been passed on to the Health and Wellbeing Board, no response has yet been received.

(2)       On this subject, Members felt that it would be beneficial for them to receive information on the Health and Wellbeing Board and what it was considering because there was a possible role for the Committee in adding value to the development of the Joint Strategic Needs Assessment and the Joint Health and Wellbeing Strategy. The Researcher to the Committee undertook to ensure Members received information about future Health and Wellbeing Board Agendas.

(3)       On the subject of the partnership between Darent Valley and Medway Maritime, one Member explained that the Governors of each Trust were visiting the other on 1 and 15 February and felt any interested Member would be able to take part in either or both and undertook to provide the relevant contact details to the Committee Researcher in case any Member wished to enquire further.

(4)       A representative of the Kent LINk requested the opportunity to bring back a report on mental health issues in April and undertook to provide the necessary information to the Committee Researcher.

(5)       A range of views were expressed on the development of locality boards and how they would fit in with health scrutiny. There had been a paper on this subject included in the Agenda for 14 October 2011 and since then there had been developments around the Committee structure at Kent County Council which may also have an impact on the way health scrutiny develops. The Chairman felt that while it was something of a chicken and egg situation, the Committee would be able to accommodate and respond appropriately to any issue which came through the locality boards.

(6)       There were a number of broader points made about the role and effectiveness of the HOSC. One the one hand, the view was expressed that it was difficult to see what practical results the Committee was achieving in improving the local health service. On the other hand, the view was expressed that the Committee had created a major shift in the way the local NHS approached public consultation, with the recent work on maternity services in East Kent an example, and that this was a positive achievement.

(7)       There was clear consensus around the fact that the development of the Health and Wellbeing Board and other changes in the health and local government sectors would mean a change to the way health scrutiny was carried out. One Member felt it would be of assistance to have a reminder of the statutory powers of the HOSC and the Chairman undertook to ensure there was a paper in the next Agenda.

(8)       AGREED that the Committee approve the Forward Work Programme.