Agenda and minutes

The Chair welcomed everyone to the meeting, in particular Councillor Bentley as it was her first meeting of the Board and Mr Mack was welcomed back as the co-opted member representing Leeds Voice.

In accordance with his powers under Section 100B(4)(b) of the Local Government Act 1972, the Chair admitted to the agenda two late reports:

·  The report of the Chief Executive of Leeds Teaching Hospital NHS Trust to the Trust Board Meeting on 30^th July 2009 entitled ‘Renal Haemodialysis Satellite Unit at LGI’ (Minute No. 18 refers).  This report had only been published on 24^th July 2009 and needed to be considered alongside other reports on the same subject on the agenda.

·  A report from the Yorkshire Ambulance Service NHS Trust entitled ‘Renal Transport Service’ (Minute No. 19 refers).  This report had been unavailable at the time of the agenda despatch and needed to be considered by the Board at this meeting, as an associated report on the provision of renal services in Leeds was also included on the agenda and the reports needed to be considered at the same time.

To declare any personal/prejudicial interests for the purpose of Section 81 (3) of the Local Government Act 2000 and paragraphs 8 to 12 of the Members’ Code of Conduct.

In respect of Agenda Item 10 ‘Recommendation Tracking’ (Minute No. 21 refers), Co-opted member Mr E Mack declared a personal interest due to his involvement with community health development with Leeds Voice.

To receive any apologies for absence.

Apologies for absence were submitted on behalf of Councillor Rhodes-Clayton.

To receive and approve the minutes of the previous meeting held on 30^th June 2009.

RESOLVED –

(a)  That with the addition of Councillor Congreve to the list of apologies, the minutes of the meeting held on 30^th June 2009 be confirmed as a correct record.

(b)  That NHS Leeds provide the Board with a written reply on how the Out of Hours Service was coping with swine flu.

(c)  That appropriate experts attend a future meeting to address the Board on childhood obesity.

To consider the attached report of the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development attaching  information to allow the Board to consider current proposals from LTHT associated with the provision of renal services across the Trust, particularly in terms of provision at LGI.

The Head of Scrutiny and Member Development submitted a report attaching information on current proposals from Leeds Teaching Hospitals Trust (LTHT) associated with the provision of renal services (dialysis) across the Trust, particularly in terms of provision at Leeds General Infirmary (LGI). 

To assist the Board, the following information was attached to the report:

·  Appendix 1 – a timeline of decisions, actions and considerations associated with the provision of renal services by LTHT since February 2006.

·  Appendix 2 – a briefing note from LTHT on the current provision of renal services and considerations.

·  Appendix 3 – a joint report from NHS Leeds and Specialist Commissioning Group (SCG) (Yorkshire and Humber) on their role as commissioners of renal services and current considerations.

·  Appendix 4 – a submission on behalf of the LGI Kidney Patients Association (KPA).

·  Appendix 5 – a submission on behalf of the St. James’ Kidney Patients Association (KPA).

·  Appendix 6 – a submission on behalf of the National Kidney Federation.

The report of the Chief Executive of Leeds Teaching Hospital NHS Trust to the Trust Board Meeting on 30^th July 2009, entitled ‘Renal Haemodialysis Satellite Unit at LGI’, was also accepted as a late item.

A separate report associated with Patient Transport Services was presented elsewhere on the agenda.

The Chair welcomed the following representatives to the meeting to present an overview of provision of renal services within Leeds and explain why there had been a change in the previous decision to reopen a renal dialysis facility at Leeds General Infirmary (LGI):

·  Maggie Boyle (Chief Executive) – Leeds Teaching Hospital NHS Trust

·  Philip Norman (Divisional General Manager) – Leeds Teaching Hospital NHS Trust

·  Nigel Gray (Director of Development and Commissioning (Adult Services)) – NHS Leeds

·  Paula Dearing (Head of Development and Commissioning (Long-term Conditions and Urgent care)) – NHS Leeds

·  Jackie Parr (Senior Commissioning Manager) – Specialised Commissioning Group (Yorkshire and the Humber)

The Chief Executive of LTHT presented the background to the issues, including a brief history of events and decisions, and the reasons for the recommendation that would be presented to the NHS Trust Board on 30^th July 2009, that a renal dialysis unit should not be created at the LGI site.  The main points identified included:

·  There was sufficient capacity within the current system to deal with current/ future demand for renal dialysis;

·  Circumstances had changed, which meant that there was not a clear business case to support capital investment in the region of £1.5M;

·  LTHT needed to make more efficient use of current resources to create additional capacity, such as the introduction of a 3-shift system to support the proposal not to proceed with a unit at LGI;

·  There were other areas where patients were currently being denied some services.

The Senior Commissioning Manager then outlined the role of the Specialised Commissioning Group (Yorkshire and the Humber) in commissioning renal services for the region.  This included commissioning a  ...  view the full minutes text for item 18.

To consider the attached report of the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development presenting the Scrutiny Board with a report from the Yorkshire Ambulance Service on the current performance of its Patient Transport Service for renal patients.

The Head of Scrutiny and Member Development submitted a report presenting the Board with a report from Yorkshire Ambulance Service (YAS) on the current performance of its Patient Transport Service for renal patients.

The Chair welcomed the following representatives from the YAS to present the report and address any additional questions not identified by the Board in the previous item:

·  Sarah Fatchett - Director of Operations (Patient Transport Service)

·  Diane Williams - Assistant Director (Patient Transport Service – Communications)

The Director of Operations stated that since the last time they had attended the Scrutiny Board (Health) when many concerns were expressed by Members, they had worked hard to improve the service to give people a better confidence in what the YAS was delivering.  The first priority of the service was to meet its targets and to look at in particular the needs of service users who were travelling for a long while.

Members thanked the representatives from the YAS for addressing the Board’s previous concerns and making improvements to the YAS.

RESOLVED –

(a)  That the current performance report of the Yorkshire Ambulance Service be noted.

(b)  That the Yorkshire Ambulance Service update the Scrutiny Board (Health) on service changes at a future meeting of the Board.

To consider the attached report of the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development presenting the joint performance report from NHS Leeds and Leeds City Council which provides an overview of progress against key improvement priorities and performance indicators relevant to the Board at Quarter 4, 2008/09.

The Head of Scrutiny and Member Development submitted a joint report from NHS Leeds and Leeds City Council providing an overview of progress against key improvement priorities and performance indicators relevant to the Board at Quarter 4, 2008/09.

The Chair welcomed the following officers to present the key issues highlighted in the report and address any specific questions identified by the Board:

·  Graham Brown (Performance Manager) – NHS Leeds

·  John England (Deputy Director) – Leeds City Council, Adult Social Services.

Officers were invited by the Chair to give a brief overview of the progress made against key improvement priorities and performance indicators.  It was reported that the overall purpose of the report was to help demonstrate progress being made by NHS Leeds and Leeds City Council working jointly to address a number of areas aimed at improving health and well-being across the City.

In brief summary, the following issues were then raised by Members:

·  NI 8: Adult Participation in sport and active recreation – concerns that the targets were low in comparison to the level of childhood obesity as indicated in NI 55 (Obesity in Yrs R and 6 primary school children).  It was noted that obesity was known to lead to serious future health problems.

Officers advised that this target was set nationally by Sport England.  It was acknowledged that a more sophisticated measure needed to be developed at local level.  Public Health were aware and concerned of the obesity figures for Yr 6.

o  Bariatric Surgery

Members were advised that this could be undertaken on the NHS. The NHS did however commission this surgery from other providers and the operation therefore could be carried out in private hospitals.  Officers agreed to provide the Board with the data.

o  Weight loss camp for children run by Carnegie Weight Management at Leeds Metropolitan University - Members expressed concern that Leeds NHS Trust was not using this facility. 

Officers agreed to find out the level of uptake by Leeds’ residents.

·  NI 112: Teenage pregnancy rates

Officers advised that these figures were the latest available information and apologised that 2009 was probably a typographical error.  Officers agreed to confirm this with Members and also to supply them with a full definition of this indicator, that is whether it included all conceptions.

·  NI 70: Reduce emergency hospital admissions caused by injury to children – concern was expressed by Members that there were no targets and the indicator did not specify whether the injuries were unintentional or deliberate.

Officers advised that this indicator was set by central Government and that the apparent increase in hospital admissions might be the result of improved data collection.

·  NI 134: Number of emergency bed days per head of population – a Member expressed concern that there had been no emergency bed available for two residents in his Ward.

Officers advised that this was a fairly new target; the definition having been slightly changed from previously.  Officers advised that there were no concerns about the availability of  ...  view the full minutes text for item 20.

To consider the attached report of the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development to assist the Board in monitoring progress on recommendations from previous inquiries.

The Head of Scrutiny and Member Development submitted a report attaching an update on outstanding recommendations from previous inquiries of the Board in order to assist the Board in monitoring progress.

Steven Courtney, Principal Scrutiny Adviser, presented the report and advised the Board that the recommendations made on Community Development and Localisation were still being monitored. 

Members indicated that, as the recommendations had not yet been achieved,  they would like to continue monitoring their progress.

RESOLVED –

(a)  That the contents of the report and appendices be noted.

(b)  That the Board continue to monitor the progress of the Community Development and Localisation recommendations.

To consider the attached report of the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development presenting an outline work programme for the Board to consider, amend and agree as appropriate.

The Head of Scrutiny and Member Development submitted a report presenting an outline work programme for the Board to consider, amend and agree as appropriate.  Attached to the report was a draft Terms of Reference for the Board’s proposed inquiry into alcohol related harm.

Steven Courtney, Principal Scrutiny Adviser, presented the report.

With regard to the Work Programme, Members requested that appropriate experts on childhood obesity be invited to address the Board at a future meeting.

With regard to the draft terms of reference for the Inquiry into the role of the Council and its partners in reducing alcohol related harm, Members requested that a young adult from the university population be added to the list of witnesses and that brewery witnesses include representatives from pubs that were tied to certain breweries.

RESOLVED –

(a)  That the contents of the report and appendices be noted.

(b)  That the outline work programme as attached at Appendix 1 be agreed with the inclusion of inviting appropriate experts on obesity to address a future meeting of the Board.

(c)  That the draft terms of reference in relation to the proposed Inquiry into reducing alcohol related harm as outlined in Appendix 2, with the additions to the witnesses as requested above, and the associated inquiry selection criteria pro-forma as outlined in Appendix 3 be noted and agreed.

Tuesday 22^nd September 2009 at 10.00am (Pre-meeting at 9.30am).

Noted that the next scheduled meeting of the Board was on Tuesday 22^nd September 2009 at 10.00am, with a pre-meeting for Board Members at 9.30am.  However a Special meeting of the Board might be organised depending on the results of the NHS Trust Board meeting on 30^th July 2009.

The meeting concluded at 1.35pm.