Agenda item

Reports to Follow

Councillor Fitzgerald gave an overview of the Other External Bodies standing items. It was detailed emphasizing that the work being scrutinized was not their own but rather the work of others. They highlighted the increased activity and the establishment of various bodies over the past two years, contrasting it with the previous situation where there was minimal activity between scrutiny committee meetings.

There was a focus on the sustainability plan and mentioned attending a meeting about the evolution of combined authorities across the country. The Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) Health Scrutiny meeting on October 15th covered topics such as dealing with the deficit and the growth in demand due to poor population health. An update from Health Innovation Manchester was also provided.

It was noted that every locality must submit its own plan by December, and the committee decided to scrutinize Bury's localities plan in January. This plan would include contributions from hospital trusts and address issues related to various illnesses and conditions.

It was also mentioned the importance of service reconfiguration in achieving sustainability and highlighted the role of Health Innovation Manchester in initiatives like virtual wards and the use of data for better healthcare outcomes.

Councillor Fitzgerald informed the committee she attended a Joint Health Reviews Group meeting for the Northern Care Alliance, where issues such as virtual wards and the demand for services were discussed. The group also raised concerns about the lack of prevention and its impact on increasing demand. It was suggested that this issue should be further explored in future meetings.

Another group, the Test and Finish Group on gender-based violence, was mentioned. This group, which emerged from the combined authority's overview and scrutiny, focuses on women's health and crime. The presenter noted the importance of addressing safety in travel as part of this group's work.

It was informed attended a national Combined Authority chairs meeting, which discussed the scrutiny protocol for combined authorities, holding mayors accountable, and the English devolution. The meeting emphasized the need for proper scrutiny at the combined authority level and the challenges of achieving political balance in these groups.

The update concluded by highlighting the importance of understanding national changes and their potential impact on local scrutiny processes. It was stressed the need for the committee to stay informed and involved in these developments.

Councillor Gold raised a point about the use of acronyms in reports, suggesting that the first instance of an acronym should be accompanied by its full form. The presenter agreed to work towards this.

Another member emphasized the importance of aligning Bury's submission to the GMCA sustainability plan with the locality plan for health and care transformation. They highlighted the ongoing efforts to improve population health, reduce unnecessary hospital admissions, and enhance the quality of care.

There was also a discussion on the role of Healthwatch in providing feedback and ensuring quality in health and care services. It was acknowledged the valuable contributions of Healthwatch and the importance of continued collaboration.

It was Agreed:

·         The update be noted