Agenda and draft minutes

Please let us know if you are planning to attend and have any access requirements or other needs which we need to take account of.

Venue: Meeting Rooms A&B, Knowsley Street, Bury Town Hall

Items
No. Item

HSC.219

DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

Members of Health Scrutiny Committee are asked to consider whether they have an interest in any of the matters on the agenda and if so, to formally declare that interest.

Minutes:

Councillor Joan Grimshaw declared a personal interest in all matters under consideration as a Member of the Patient’s Cabinet.

Councillors Fitzgerald and Mallon declared personal interest in respect of agenda item HSC.224 as Councillors in Whitefield.

 

HSC.220

MINUTES pdf icon PDF 61 KB

Minutes from the last meeting held on the 17th June 2015 are attached.

Minutes:

HSC.220

MINUTES OF THE LAST MEETING

 

Members of the Committee considered the minutes from the last meeting held on the 17th June 2015.

Members expressed concern with regards to minute HSC.98 - Pennine Acute Trust Maternity Services Update, members agreed that there had been a period of sustained questioning in relation to this issue.  Members reported that it was only as a result of their persistent questioning that the issues in relation to “poor outcomes” had revealed that lives had been lost at the Trsut.

                                                  

Members agreed that the minutes should be amended to include the level of seriousness voiced by Elected Members in respect of the serious untoward incidents involving Maternity services at Pennine Acute NHS Trust.

 

It was agreed:

 

That the subject to the above amendment that the minutes of the last meeting held on 17th June 2015 be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair

HSC.221

PUBLIC QUESTION TIME

Questions are invited from members of the public present at the meeting on any matters for which this Committee is responsible.

Minutes:

There were no questions from members of the public present at the meeting.

HSC.222

ANNUAL COMPLAINTS REPORT - ADULT SOCIAL CARE SERVICES pdf icon PDF 94 KB

A verbal presentation will be given by Sharon Wells, Customer Engagement Manager Department for Communities and Wellbeing.  Reports attached.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

 

 

Members of the Committee considered a verbal presentation from Sharon Wells, Customer Engagement Manager, Bury MBC, in respect of complaints received to Adult Social Care Services from 1st April 2014 to 31st March 2015.  The accompanying report contained the following information:

 

There is a statutory requirement to produce an Adult Social Care Annual Complaints Report.  The paper provides statistical data in graph format for the reporting period.  The number of complaints received has increased by 5, 68% of complaints were responded to within 30 working days; the number of concerns raised by MPs and Councillors were 19; two cases were considered by the Local Government Ombudsman.

 

The Customer Engagement Manager reported that the Department provides services to approximately 4,886 individuals, 79 complaints therefore equates to 1.5% of customers.  The Department received 410 compliments.

 

Those present were given the opportunity to ask questions and make comments and the following points were raised:

 

In response to a Member’s question; the Customer Engagement Manager reported that the details of complaints that are upheld or partially upheld will be shared with the local and senior management team.

 

In response to concerns raised by Member’s in relation to the proposal to record complaints resolved within 48 hours as informal complaints; the Customer Engagement Manager reported that the change is to ensure that complaints are resolved as quickly as possible and the proposal is in the best interest of customers.  The Assistant Director reported that if a complaint is resolved within 48 hours, it is still logged and recorded.  Members sought assurances that the proposed changes to the recording of complaints would not result in reporting trends being missed.

 

With regards to the recording of data in relation to the ethnicity of a complainant, the Customer Engagement Manager agreed to review how the data was reported and whether it was in line with reporting mechanisms, within other council documents.

 

Members sought clarification in relation to the training provided to onsite/on-call wardens operating in sheltered housing.

 

It was agreed:

 

1.        The report be noted.

2.        The Assistant Director, Strategy, Commissioning and

Procurement would provide an update for the next meeting in respect of the following:

a.    The proposal to record complaints responded to within 48 hours as informal complaints.

b.    How data is recorded in relation to complaints made be customers from the Black and Minority Ethnic community.

c.    Training provided to wardens in sheltered housing in respect of what to do in a medical emergency, including accessing properties.

 

HSC.223

NON EMERGENCY PATIENT TRANSPORT SERVICE pdf icon PDF 505 KB

Representatives from Blackpool CCG, Hadrian Collier and Sue Sutton will be in attendance.  Report attached.

Minutes:

Hadrian Collier Communications and Engagement Specialist, Blackpool Clinical Commissioning Group and Asiya Jelani, Arriva Transport Solutions attended the meeting to provide members of the Committee with an update in relation to the non-emergency transport service.  The presentation contained the following information:

 

The service is provided by Arriva Transport Solutions (ATSL) and is commissioned by Blackpool CCG.  For the non-emergency contract there are 27 rigorous quality Key performance indicators (KPIs) including eight enhanced standards for cancer and renal dialysis patients – all quality standards are monitored on a monthly basis.

 

In January 2014, NHS Blackpool issued ATSL with a Performance Improvement Notice as the standards of performance measured by the KPIs were not being met in full.  ATSL submitted a performance improvement plan, details of which were circulated to Members; the plan identified each area and how improvements would be delivered.

 

Following implementation of the improvement plan, ATSL made steady progress, the maintenance of performance continues to date and NHS Blackpool lifted the Performance Improvement Notice in September 2014.

 

The Arriva Representative reported that the new satellite sites are in place across Greater Manchester including sites in Ramsbottom and Bolton.

 

The Arriva Representative reported that regular engagement takes place; including monthly contract meetings with commissioners, as well as regular meetings with each of the renal units and acute trusts and additional meetings with staff from the booking centres, Blackpool CCG and patient representatives.  ATSL also undertakes patient feedback surveys twice a year.

 

Those present were given the opportunity to ask questions and make comments and the following points were raised:

 

The Arriva representative reported that the staff from Northwest Ambulance Service transferred into Arriva, following an initial period, Arriva reviewed the staff rotas and found it necessary to alter the staff working patterns to provide cover.

 

In response to a Member’s question, the Arriva Representative reported that with regards to planning for periods of peak demand, Arriva now holds historical data which enables the control room to plan in advance.  The planning is part of a continuous process and is undertaken ninety days in advance.

 

The Communications and Engagement Specialist, Blackpool Clinical Commissioning Group reported that as part of the procurement process there was extensive engagement with the Acute Trusts, Commissioners, GPs and patients with regards to the KPIs.  Patient feedback in relation to the KPI, “patients to arrive within -45 or +15 minutes of scheduled appointment time”, has indicated that patients would rather arrive too early for an appointment.  If a patient is running late an Arriva representative would ring ahead to notify the clinic/hospital.

 

The Arriva representative reported that there are a number of variables to consider when planning the delivery of the non-patient transport service; the number of crew members required, the type of vehicle, the nature of the patients illness/disability, the requirement not to be on a vehicle for too long.  The Arriva representative reported that all these variables needed to be taken in to account in order to deliver an efficient and effective service to  ...  view the full minutes text for item HSC.223

HSC.224

PROPOSED CHANGES TO WHITEFIELD AMBULANCE SERVICE pdf icon PDF 215 KB

 

Representatives from the North-west Ambulance Service Marie Gamlin, Acting Sector Manager, Sarah-Jane Jones Roberts, Operational Manager will be in attendance.  Letter attached.

 

Minutes:

Marie Gamlin, Actor Sector Manager, Northwest Ambulance Service

Sarah-Jayne Jones Roberts, Operational Manager, Northwest Ambulance Services, attended the meeting to provide members with a verbal briefing in respect of the proposal to close and relocate Whitefield ambulance service.  An accompanying letter had been circulated to members containing the following information:

 

The North West Ambulance Service NHS Trust is currently undergoing an extensive review of its estates portfolio throughout the region. NWAS currently has one 24 hour and one 12 hour emergency ambulance operating from the Whitefield station.

 

As part of this proposal, the 12 hour vehicle would relocate to Bury ambulance station and a rapid response vehicle (RRV) would operate from Whitefield fire station.

 

The Actor Sector Manager reported that the ambulances are on the road for the majority of their shifts which means for most of the time, stations are vacant. Once a patient has been taken to hospital, the vehicle will usually be despatched straight to the next patient and will rarely return to station except for a rest break, restocking or cleaning.  It is anticipated that the remaining staff who occupy the offices will vacate the site in late 2015, at which time; a proposal will be made for disposal.

 

By opting for the relocation and eventual disposal of the whole site, the Trust believes it can save approximately £107k per annum, and any monies from the sale of current site would be reinvested in frontline services.

 

Those present were given the opportunity to ask questions and make comments and the following points were raised:

 

In response to a Member’s question, the Operational Manager reported that there will still be Ambulances based at the stations at Ramsbottom and Bury, as well as three rapid response vehicles.

 

Councillor Fitzgerald, Besses Ward Councillor expressed concern that the building may fall into disrepair following the move.  The Acting Sector Manager reported that work has been undertaken with the NWAS Estates Manager to ensure the site is left in safe condition work will be disposed of as quickly as possible.

 

In response to a Member’s question the Acting Sector Manager reported that the new site, will enable better access to the A56 and the motorway and will result in significant improvements in response times.

 

The decision to consider co-location with the Fire Service is part of a national move towards greater integration of the emergency services.

 

It was agreed:

 

1.   The decision to re-locate Whitefield Ambulance Station be noted.

2.   The Principal Democratic Services Officer will liaise with the Whitefield and Unsworth Township Co-ordinator with a view to this item being considered at the next meeting of the Whitefield and Unsworth Township Forum Meeting.

 

HSC.225

WORK PROGRAMME UPDATE *FOR INFORMATION* pdf icon PDF 36 KB

Work programme update report attached.

Minutes:

It was agreed:

 

1.   The Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee approves the Health Scrutiny Work Programme.

2.   There will be an additional meeting of the Health Scrutiny Committee held on Tuesday 22nd September 2015.

 

HSC.226

URGENT BUSINESS

Any other business which by reason of special circumstances the Chair agrees may be considered as a matter of urgency.

Minutes:

There was no urgent business reported.