Agenda item

(1)       The Chairman introduced the item and drew Member’s attention to the Forward Work Programme set out on page 17 of the Agenda. Following on from the previous item, it was highlighted that the East Kent Maternity Services Review had already been put down to take place on 1 June. Three other items were listed as items which were ongoing pieces of work and which would be brought back to the Committee at the most appropriate time.

(2)       One of these subjects was Patient Transport Services and it was acknowledged that the imminent procurement about to be undertaken by NHS Commissioners may affect timing. An ancillary point was made that this topic could be seen from a broader perspective and possibly include reference to volunteer driver services. The suggestion was also made that a specific review of the South East Coast Ambulance Service be undertaken.

(3)       The point was made that 2012/13 was to be a transition year as preparations were made for the new system coming in on 1 April 2013. This meant that capacity and flexibility needed to be kept with regards the Forward Work Programme to be able to react to these changes. Part of this new system was to be a stronger emphasis on both health and wellbeing. One Member expressed the view that there was increased activity relating to the wellbeing agenda, but there was not enough connection between what was occurring at the local and at the county level, for example through the shadow Health and Wellbeing Board. A request was made that HOSC play a stronger role in scrutinising broader wellbeing issues. The Chairman explained that he had already scheduled a meeting with the Cabinet Member for Business Strategy, Performance and Health Reform and the connection between scrutiny and wellbeing was to be one of the subjects discussed.

(4)       Related to the theme of connections between Committees, the request was made that the respective Officers of HOSC and the Social Care and Public Health Cabinet Committee keep each other informed of the work programmes of the two Committees to avoid duplication and promote a joined up approach. It was reported that the Officers of the two Committees were located in the same room, so this would facilitate the sharing of information.

(5)       The Chairman referred to the work which was ongoing to prepare for the establishment of the Kent and Medway NHS Joint Overview and Scrutiny Committee to consider the adult in-patient mental health services review. Several Members expressed the view that mental health services more generally needed to be kept under review. Specifically, dementia services and Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services were raised as topics which might be suitable for further review.

(6)       The Chairman drew Members’ attention to information which had been circulated by email to Members the previous day on the Orpington Health Services Project. Representatives from the Sevenoaks area felt that this was a topic which could perhaps be best considered at the local level rather than HOSC. However, on looking at the details, one Member identified dermatology as the service most accessed at Orpington by Kent residents. This suggested there could be value in a wider review of dermatology services in Kent.

(7)       The Chairman undertook to explore these suggestions further in consultation with the Vice-Chairman and Group spokespersons, assisted by Committee Officers and report back to the Committee. He also suggested that there might be value in examining the issue of legacy debt and enquiring what work was being undertaken locally to ensure the new Clinical Commissioning Groups would have no historic debt to contend with. In connection with this, cancer services as a QIPP case study was also put forward. Members of the Committee felt this was a useful suggestion.

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