Agenda item

(1)       The Scrutiny Research Officer updated the Committee on the following actions that had been taken since 2 September:

(a)       Minute Number 19 - Emotional Wellbeing Strategy for Children, Young People and Young Adults. At HOSC on 4 March the Committee requested that NHS West Kent CCG be invited to attend a meeting of the Committee in six months to provide an update. In September NHS West Kent CCG requested that an update be provided once the contract had been awarded which the Chairman agreed to. An update paper was circulated to Members on 5 September.

(b)       Minute Number 25 - Kent and Medway NHS and Social Care Partnership Trust. At HOSC on 8 April during the Kent and Medway NHS and Social Care Partnership Trust (KMPT) item, a Member requested information about the Trust’s work with the community and voluntary sector as part of their next update to the Committee. Upon clarification, the Member confirmed that information related to the new Live Well Kent contract being delivered by the Shaw Trust and Porchlight.

A written briefing regarding the Live Well Kent contract - a new community mental health and wellbeing service commissioned jointly by Kent County Council (KCC) and the seven CCGs in for Kent was circulated to Members on 26 September. A Member requested that the written briefing was resent to Members and the Scrutiny Research Officer undertook to do this.

(c)        Minute Number 51 - SECAmb: Update.  Mr Angell reminded the Committee that at HOSC on 2 September, the Committee requested that South East Coast Ambulance NHS Foundation Trust (SECAmb) share the findings of the Patient Impact Review and CQC Inspection Report upon publication.

Mr Angell noted that the CQC Inspection Report for SECAmb was published on 29 September (on the same day as Agenda publication); the Trust received an overall rating of Inadequate by the CQC and NHS Improvement subsequently placed the Trust into Quality Special Measures.

Mr Angell stated that he had attended the Quality Summit with the Chairmen of the six HOSCs in the South East. He reported that concerns were raised about the number of formal committees the Trust may need to attend following the publication of the CQC report which could impact on the delivery of improvements by the Trust.

Mr Angell explained that, in order to minimise this, there was a proposal for the Chairs of the six HOSC to form a working group to monitor the Trust's improvement plan and to report back to their individual committees. A Member enquired if Members would have access to minutes and papers of the working group, the Scrutiny Research Officer explained that the Terms of Reference were being drafted and it was her understanding that Members would have access to those. Mr Inett asked if Healthwatch could be involved in the working group, the Scrutiny Research Officer undertook to raise this with the South East Health Scrutiny Network.

(d)       Minute Number 49 – All Age Eating Disorder Service in Kent and Medway. At HOSC on 2 September a Member enquired about the difference between waiting time standards between children & young people and adults. NHS West Kent CCG notified the Committee on 3 October that the same access standards would now apply to children & young people and adults - treatment should start within a maximum of 4 weeks from first contact with a designated healthcare professional for routine cases and within 1 week for urgent cases.

(e)       Minute Number 52 – Healthwatch Kent: Annual Report and Strategic Priorities. The Scrutiny Research Officer explained  that following the incident at HOSC on 2 September relating to Disclosable Pecuniary Interests, as referred to in the previous Minutes,  she needed to remind Members that under the Constitution:

A Member with a Disclosable Pecuniary Interest or Other Significant Interest in a matter to be considered, or being considered at a meeting must:

§  disclose the interest; and

§  explain the nature of that interest at the commencement of that consideration or when the interest becomes apparent (subject to paragraph 5 of this Procedure Rule); and unless they have been granted a dispensation:

§  not participate in any discussion of, or vote taken on, the matter at the meeting; and

§  withdraw from the meeting room whenever it becomes apparent that the business is being considered; and

§   not seek improperly to influence a decision about that business.

A Member with an Other Significant Interest, may attend a meeting but only for the purpose of making representations, answering questions or giving evidence relating to the business, provided that the public are also allowed to attend the meeting for the same purpose, whether under a statutory right or otherwise. The Member will withdraw from the meeting room immediately after making representations, answering questions or giving evidence.

The Scrutiny Research Officer informed Members that a copy of the Members Interest section of the Constitution had been placed on each desk. She stated that if any Member felt that they were unable to ask a question during the Healthwatch item, they were to inform her in writing after the meeting and she would approach Healthwatch Kent for a written response which would be circulated to the Committee. She noted that if there were any further queries, Healthwatch Kent would be invited back to attend the Committee.

(2)       The Chairman explained that there was an error in Minute Number 46 under paragraph 5; “Kent and Medway Sustainability and Transformation Plan” needed to be replaced with “East Kent Strategy Board”.

(3)       RESOLVED that:

(a)       the Minutes of the meeting held on 2 September are correctly recorded, subject to the amendment in paragraph 2 above and that they be signed by the Chairman;

(b)       a working group is established, made up of the Chairmen from the six Health Scrutiny Committees in the South East, to monitor the SECAmb’s improvement plan and to report back to their individual committees.