To approve as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting of the Social Care Health and Housing Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on 9 September 2013 and to note actions taken since that meeting.

RESOLVED

That the minutes of the meeting of the Social Care Health and Housing Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on 9 September 2013 be confirmed and signed by the Chairman as a correct record, subject to the following amendments:-        

·        Cllrs C C Gomm (in place of G Clarke)

·        Nick Murley Assistant Director Resources

To receive from Members any declarations of interest and of any political whip in relation to any agenda item.

·        Cllrs Mrs Goodchild, Clark and Duckett declared interests as members of their family were service users.

·        Cllr Smith declared an interest for item 12 as he was a member of the Community and Voluntary Service.

To receive any announcements from the Chairman and any matters of communication.

The Chairman announced that Cllr Ruth Gammons had resigned from the Council.  Everyone on the Committee wished to join the Chairman in her grateful thanks to Ruth for her significant contribution to the work of the Council and the Social Care, Health and Housing Committee.

Following the visit to Biggleswade Hospital and the Greenacres facility on Friday 1 November, Members were invited to attend the Commissioning Fare taking place in the Council Chamber on that day.

To receive petitions from members of the public in accordance with the Public Participation Procedure as set out in Annex 2 of Part A4 of the Constitution.

No petitions were received.

To receive any questions, statements or deputations from members of the public in accordance with the Public Participation Procedure as set out in Annex 1 of part A4 of the Constitution.

No questions, statements or deputations were received.

To consider any decision of the Executive referred to this Committee for review  in accordance with Procedure Rule 10.10 of Part D2. 

The Committee were advised that no decisions of the Executive had been referred to the Committee under the Call-in Procedures.

To consider any items referred to the Committee at the request of a Member under Procedure Rule 3.1 of Part D2 of the Constitution.

To receive for information a verbal update from the Executive Member for Social Care Health and Housing.

To receive a verbal update from the Chief Executive at Bedford Hospital.

The Chairman welcomed Stephen Conroy, Acting Chief Executive at Bedford Hospital to the meeting.  Prior to the meeting, the Committee had received an update from the Bedford Hospital NHS Trust on the Care Quality Commission  (CQC) inspection and Hospital action plan.  Full details of the action plan were available on the Bedford Hospital website.

Stephen Conroy reported he was confident that CQC Inspectors would be assured that that action plan put in place by Bedford Hospital by 31 October 2013, resolved the issues and ensured the Hospitals full compliance.  An invitation was extended to all Members of the Committee to visit Bedford Hospital wards.

An update on Paediatric Services was also circulated prior to the meeting.  The Trust had eight consultant paediatricians in post in addition to its current staff and was currently reviewing pathways and clinical protocols to rebuild the service.

With regards to the Hospital’s deficit budget, the Trust Development Authority (TDA) and NHS England would look into the possibility of partnerships with a range of organisations as there was no clear pathway to become a Foundation Trust with Milton Keynes Hospital.  More work on the proposed shape of this proposal and timescales was underway.  Dr Diane Gray, Director of Strategy and System Redesign, Bedfordshire Clinical Commissioning Group (BCCG) shared her concerns about the current financial model going forward and stated that all parties would be involved in continued conversation, however a long term solution would take time to agree.

In light of the update Members discussed the following:-

·        The issue of staff morale.  Stephen Conroy explained that morale was low amongst the nursing staff and he expected it to remain so until the CQC Inspectors had returned and paediatric services were back.  The uncertainty was unsettling for staff and the Hospital would continue to focus on managing this .

·        The manner in which Members of the Committee could receive assurances from other hospitals used by residents in the area regards their performance.  Diane Gray, Director of Strategy and System Redesign, BCCG, commented that work had been undertaken by a member of her team and this data would be shared with the Committee.

Ruth Featherstone, Chairman of Central Bedfordshire Healthwatch stated that she had raised two issues with Bedford Hospital regards staff ratios to patients and the handling of complaints.  In response Stephen Conroy informed the Committee that nursing staff numbers had been increased by 20.  It had proved difficult to recruit to the vacant posts and a recruitment drive had taken place in Madrid.  The newly appointed staff would fill those posts currently filled by agency staff by Christmas.  With regards to complaints, the Hospital received a small percentage and would usually log 30 complaints in a month, 15 of which would be formal complaints.  This was compared to 1200 patients seen by the hospital in a month.  The most common complaint was issues arising from end of life care.

The Chairman and Members thanked Stephen Conroy for his attendance and helpful contribution.

NOTED the updates.

To consider whether a Joint Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee is required in relation to a review of Paediatric Services at Bedford Hospital.

The Committee received a briefing paper on the proposals by Bedfordshire Clinical Commissioning Group (BCCG) to start the process to change  paediatric services in Bedfordshire.  The Committee was asked to consider whether they felt the changes to paediatric services in Bedfordshire constituted a substantial variation of services and if so to consider and agree a Joint Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee (JHOSC) was necessary.  Members were advised that Bedford Borough Council had agreed to a JHOSC.

Dr Diane Gray, Director of Strategy & System Re-design, BCCG, advised Members that pre-consultation engagement would be completed by 31 October.  The formal consultation would be launched on 11 November. and finished on 10 January 2014 with a final decision on the model of delivery made by the CCG’s governing body by 5 March 2014.  Officers advised that other authorities had been invited to join the JHOSC, however at the current time they did not feel it was necessary.

RECOMMENDED

1.      That the Committee consider the Paediatric Services Review by the Bedfordshire Clinical Commissioning Group to be a substantial variation of service.

2.      That a Joint Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee (JHOSC) be established with Bedford Borough Council constituted by the following Members

·              Cllr Rita Drinkwater

·              Cllr Naomi Sheppard

·              Cllr Mark Smith

·              Cllr Susan Goodchild

Substitutes:

·              Cllr Doreen Gurney

·              Cllr Ray Berry

To inform Members of the annual report of the local Adult Safeguarding Board and consider its implications.

To receive a report detailing the statistics for 2012/13 on the number of complaints received; complaint outcomes (upheld/not upheld); performance; issues complained about; and learning and improvements resulting from complaints for Adult Social Care.

The Committee considered the Adult Social Care Customer Feedback report.  The report fulfilled the Council’s statutory duty to monitor the effectiveness of the complaints procedure.  The Director of Social Care, Health and Housing was concerned that not enough complaints were coming through, as each complaint provided a means of considering how to change services for the better.  An example of this was Direct Payments, which had lead to an action plan to improve the service.

Members noted that the number of compliments the service had received and commented that customers should be encouraged to give their feedback.

NOTED the report.

To receive the quarter 1 Performance Monitoring report for Social Care, Health and Housing.

Members received the performance report for Social Care, Health and Housing for Quarter 1 of 2013/14.  The Assistant Director of Resources explained there were three measures currently under performing.  The first of these (C2 MTP) was red and related to the number of “Extra Care” flats to be provided, this was due to the likely delivery date for Dukeminster being June 2015, which was outside the original target of 2014.

The performance of C6 MTP, Customers received self-directed support was also rated red.  Performance has improved to an outturn of 75.9% and this exceeded the national target of 70%.

The percentage of decent homes (Council stock) was rated as amber and the target of 100% may not be achieved.  However all remaining indicators were on target.

NOTED the report.

To receive the General Revenue Budget monitoring for quarter 1.

The Committee received the General Fund Revenue Budget Management Report for Quarter 1 for Social Care, Health and Housing that set out the financial position at the end Quarter 1 of 2013/14.  The project General Fund outturn overspend was 0.6%.

NOTED the report.

To receive the Capital Budget Management outturn for quarter 1.

The Committee received the Capital Budget Management report for period ended 30 June 2013 for Social Care, Health and Housing.  The report set out  capital financial position for the first quarter in 2013/14.

NOTED the report.

To receive the Housing Revenue Account outturn report for quarter 1.

The Committee received the Quarter 1 Housing Revenue Account projected outturn position for 2013/14 for both revenue and capital.

NOTED the report

To consider the currently drafted Social Care Health and Housing Overview and Scrutiny work programme for 2013/14 and the Executive Forward Plan.

The Committee considered their work programme and the latest Executive Forward Plan.  Reports on the Care Bill, Meppershall Care Home and a Healthwatch update would be received at the 16 December meeting.

RESOLVED that the work programme be endorsed subject to the amendments as detailed in the Minute above.