Agenda and minutes

To receive any apologies for absence.

Apologies were received from Councillor Jackie Branson, Councillor Andrew Joy and Councillor Rod Cooper – Councillor Lance Quantrill attended as the Conservative substitute.

Apologies were also received from Councillor Cynthia Garton and from Councillor Alan Dowden – Councillor Dominic Hiscock attended as the Liberal Democrat substitute.

All Members who believe they have a Disclosable Pecuniary Interest in any matter to be considered at the meeting must declare that interest and, having regard to the circumstances described in Part 3 Paragraph 1.5 of the County Council's Members' Code of Conduct, leave the meeting while the matter is discussed, save for exercising any right to speak in accordance with Paragraph 1.6 of the Code. Furthermore all Members with a Personal Interest in a matter being considered at the meeting should consider, having regard to Part 5, Paragraph 4 of the Code, whether such interest should be declared, and having regard to Part 5, Paragraph 5 of the Code, consider whether it is appropriate to leave the meeting while the matter is discussed, save for exercising any right to speak in accordance with the Code.

Members were mindful that where they believed they had a Disclosable Pecuniary Interest in any matter considered at the meeting they must declare that interest at the time of the relevant debate and, having regard to the circumstances described in Part 3, Paragraph 1.5 of the County Council's Members' Code of Conduct, leave the meeting while the matter was discussed, save for exercising any right to speak in accordance with Paragraph 1.6 of the Code. Furthermore Members were mindful that where they believed they had a Non-Pecuniary interest in a matter being considered at the meeting they considered whether such interest should be declared, and having regard to Part 5, Paragraph 2 of the Code, considered whether it was appropriate to leave the meeting whilst the matter was discussed, save for exercising any right to speak in accordance with the Code.

To confirm the minutes of the previous meeting (HASC 8 March 2022).

The Minutes of the meeting held on 8 March 2022 were confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

To receive any deputations notified under Standing Order 12.

The Committee received a deputation from Anna Miles the scheme manager for MHA Communities in Winchester regarding Item 6 on the agenda – the pre scrutiny of SP23 savings proposals and, in particular, the proposal to cease grant funding schemes.

The deputation outlined the work conducted by MHA Communities as a friendship and social activities scheme within the community for older people and noted that 1500 older people participate each week across Hampshire. Members heard how the grant funding received from Hampshire County Council was key in helping older people live independently and that the proposed changes would mean a reduction in MHA’s activities and services which could lead to older people requiring care at an earlier stage in their lives.

The Chairman thanked Anna for attending and for making her deputation. The Committee noted the valuable work that was conducted by the organisation.

To receive any announcements the Chairman may wish to make.

The Chairman made the following announcements:

·         Covid 19 - cases were decreasing across the county and testing was now mainly taking place in health settings. Public Health continued to work with health leads to be responsive to any changes in guidance whilst empowering care settings to manage Covid 19 incidents. The Spring booster vaccine campaign was set to continue until the end of May for care homes and the end of June for the wider offer.

·         System Resilience Report – further to the 2021 report, a second update was being prepared for the June Cabinet meeting regarding activities undertaken across the health and social care system to maintain system resilience in the discharge of people from hospital settings. The report would be shared with HASC when available.

·         Southern Health estates – HASC members had received an email (dated 23 May 2022) regarding recent developments being undertaken by Southern Health to some of their buildings.

·         South Central Ambulance Service (SCAS) CQC outcome – following a CQC inspection in November 2021, SCAS had been instructed to make improvements to it’s safeguarding arrangements. The Chairman noted that he would be requesting SCAS’s attendance at the next HASC meeting to provide assurance that the required improvements have been put in place.

For the Select Committee to consider the findings of the Working Group on the Savings Programme to 2023 proposals relating to certain Adult Social Care Grant Schemes and funding for Social Inclusion services. To pre-scrutinise the proposals going forward to the Executive Member for Adult Services and Public Health.

The Committee considered the findings of the Working Group on the Savings Programme to 2023 proposals relating to certain Adult Social Care Grant Schemes and funding for Social Inclusion services and pre-scrutinised the proposals going forward to the Executive Member for Adult Services and Public Health.

Councillor Briggs, a member of the working group, presented the group’s report and outlined the process that had been undertaken through the series of meetings and discussions. The detail of the working group meetings and conclusions was included within the report presented. Councillor Taylor, a member of the working group, noted that the group were not asked to make alternative recommendations to those presented and that she had not been in agreement with them. Councillor Harrison, a member of the working group, noted that he was also not in agreement with the recommendations of the group.

The Committee agreed the following:

a)    To acknowledge that a robust Working Group process, chaired by Councillor Penman, and consisting of 7 members of HASC in total was established and worked to throughout the past 6 months.

b)    To note that Member participation was strong, regular and consistent

throughout.

c)    To note that 5 meetings took place in total including 3 prior to the public

consultation, 1 during the consultation and a final meeting in late April to discuss the outcomes of the consultation

d)    To acknowledge that Members were kept fully informed throughout the

process by officers and were given every opportunity at each of the

meetings to fully debate the issues and ask relevant questions.

e)    To note that Members were properly updated on the outcomes of the

consultation exercise including being notified of the concerns raised by

those who responded.

f)     To note that following the Working Group process, the savings

recommendations are going to be taken forward to the Executive Member in June with the report to include the main points that result from the HASC debate of the draft Executive Member report.

The Committee then moved to pre-scrutinise the proposals that would be put forward to the Executive Member at her Decision Day. The Director of Adults’ Health and Care presented the report and the background to the proposals in detail. Broadly, the Committee heard that:

·         The County Council’s Savings Programme to 2023 entailed a reduction in Council expenditure by at least £80 million by 31 March 2023 to deliver a balanced budget.

·         The County Council’s Adults’ Health and Care Department had savings targets of £40.6m by 31 March 2023. Informed by feedback from the Balancing the Budget Consultation, proposals on how these savings could be achieved were developed by the Department.

·         A 6-week public consultation on the proposals had been carried out from 7 February 2022 to 21 March 2022.

·         Making challenging yet necessary proposals to reduce funding as set out within the report and in the knowledge that service users may be impacted was a difficult process for the Council. However, officers had been scrupulous in their research and in forming  ...  view the full minutes text for item 69.

To consider a report of the Chief Executive on issues brought to the attention of the Committee which impact upon the planning, provision and/or operation of health services within Hampshire, or the Hampshire population.

a)    Dental Services Update

b)    Care Quality Commission Inspection Report – Southern Health NHS Foundation Trust Action Plan 

c)    Care Quality Commission Inspection – Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust Maternity Services

a)    Dental Services Update - NHS England and H&IOW CCG/ICS

Alison Cross, Senior Commissioning Manager from NHS England, attended virtually via MS Teams to present the item. Sara Tiller, representing the CCG/ICS, was also present as dental commissioning was due to transfer to the ICS in future.

A written update had been provided in response to questions that the Committee had raised at a previous meeting and members had been concerned that residents were having difficulties accessing NHS dental care.

In response to Members’ questions, it was noted that:

·         On a national scale, NHS dental provision was low but that private practice was increasing rapidly. Dentists qualified after 5 years of training and the NHS required a further 1 year of additional training. To enter into private practice, the additional training was not a requirement.

·         There was a national shortage of dentists, therapists, receptionists and nurses.

·         The contractual procurement obligations were very restrictive in enabling additional NHS practices to be established. The procurement of additional dentistry provision was underway but was not anticipated to be in place until at least April 2023.

·         Patients who were unsatisfied should raise complaints formally to enable them to be tracked. It was agreed to share the email address and telephone number for raising a complaint with all Committee members.

·         The recruitment for a new role within the CCG/ICS was underway and the post would be aimed at helping recruit and retain NHS dentists.

Overall the Committee agreed that there still remained significant difficulties for residents in accessing dental care. The Committee agreed that a further update should be requested for the September meeting. 

RESOLVED:

i)     That the Committee noted the update and requested a further report be brought to the September HASC meeting to address the ongoing issues.

ii)    That the Committee noted the challenges which existed as a result of a restricted contract/procurement process and agreed to lobby Hampshire MP’s to assist in this regard.

b)    Care Quality Commission Inspection Report – Southern Health NHS Foundation Trust Action Plan

Ron Shields, Chief Executive of the Southern Health NHS Foundation Trust, attended to present the report.

Following a CQC inspection, the Trust had received a ‘requires improvement’ rating in two areas – ‘are services safe?’ and ‘are services effective?’. The other domains were rated as ‘good’. Following a full report on the inspection to HASC in March 2022, the Committee had requested sight of the action plan in place to address the improvement areas. The detailed action plan was included within the agenda pack for the Committee to review.

In response to Members’ questions, it was confirmed that:

·         The Governing Board were providing effective scrutiny of the Trust and that this had been a focus for continual improvement to ensure that issues were being fully considered.

·         That the ‘ongoing’ status referred to within the action plan meant that the action point was still progressing but also that it did not have a defined end point and would continually be a work in progress  ...  view the full minutes text for item 70.

To consider the report of the Chief Executive on proposals from the NHS or providers of health services to vary or develop health services in the area of the Committee.

a)    Whitehill & Bordon Health Hub update (Commissioners)

b)    Proposal to create an elective hub for Hampshire and Isle of Wight  (Commissioners)

c)    Building Better Emergency Care Programme (Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust)

a)    Whitehill and Bordon Health Hub update – CCG/ICS

Sara Tiller from the CCG/ICS attended to present the update item. Members noted that the revenue funding envelopment for the Hub had been agreed and that progress had moved forward to the development of leases with the GP practice and with Southern Health. It was noted that work was underway with the future tenants of the Hub.

Members agreed that it would be of benefit to understand how specifically the Hub would provide different and more improved services to residents within the area.

RESOLVED:

i)     That the Committee welcome the progress towards a Whitehill & Bordon Health Hub and request a further update in November 2022.

b)    Proposal to create an elective hub for Hampshire and Isle of Wight - CCG/ICS

There was a written update which had been provided for the Committee.

RESOLVED:

i)     The Committee note the proposal to increase elective capacity through creating a new elective hub and request a further update in Autumn 2022 on progress with the scheme and what is being done to manage and prioritise the backlog of elective care in the meantime.

c)    Building Better Emergency Care Programme (Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust)

Before this item was heard, Councillor Pankhurst made a declaration that she was an employee of South Central Ambulance Service working for NHS 111.

Chris Evans, the deputy Chief Executive of Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust, and Paul Jeffries, the Assistant Director of Operations at South Central Ambulance Service, attended to present the item.

Members noted the progress that had been made in planning for the capital works to redevelop the Emergency Department buildings and to help deliver a new model of care to patients. The Committee heard that following a series of engagement exercises to inform planning, the full business case for the works was due for submission in May 2022.

In response to Members’ questions it was noted that:

·         Contingency funding had been set aside in response to the rise in inflation.

RESOLVED:

i)             That the Committee welcome the progress in the Building Better Emergency Care Programme and request a further update in September 2022 regarding:

·      how the building works will be managed alongside maintaining business as usual at the hospital

·      What the Trust is doing to manage emergency care pressures in the meantime, heading in to the winter period

To consider and approve the Health and Adult Social Care Select Committee Work Programme.

The Director of Transformation and Governance presented the Committee’s work programme.

Councillor Taylor requested an update on plans by Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust to build a new hospital. It was noted that a Joint Committee had been established to monitor the progress of the new hospital but agreed that a short update to the HASC would be helpful.

RESOLVED:

That the Committee’s work programme be approved, subject to any amendments agreed at this meeting.