Agenda and minutes

The Chair welcomed all in attendance, particularly, Councillor A Hussain and Co-opted Member, Ms E Stewart (Leeds LINk) to their first meeting of Scrutiny Board (Health).

To identify items which have been admitted to the agenda by the Chair for consideration.

(The special circumstances shall be specified in the minutes.)

The Chair admitted the following supplementary information to the agenda:

Agenda Item 7 – Provision of Dermatology Services – Update

Written submissions from Leeds Dermatology Patient’s Panel and Andrew Langford, Chief Executive of the Skin Care Campaign. (Minute No. 40 refers)

Agenda item 9 – Pharmaceutical Needs Assessment

Consultation / information pack and community and engagement plan. (Minute No. 42 refers)

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.

Councillor E Taylor declared a personal interest in agenda item 7, Provision of Dermatology Services – Update, in her capacity as an employee of NHS Leeds. (Minute No. 40 refers)

To receive any apologies for absence and notification of substitutes.

Apologies for absence were submitted by Councillors Armitage and Lobley.  Notification had been received that Councillor G Latty was to substitute for Councillor Lobley.

To confirm as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 21^st September 2010.

RESOLVED – That subject to the inclusion of co-opted member, Mr A Giles under Minute No. 26, apologies for absence and notification of substitutes, the minutes of the meeting held on 21^st September be confirmed as a correct record.

To consider a report of the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development presenting the Scrutiny Board (Health) with an updated position regarding the proposed development of dermatology services within Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust (LTHT), and specifically the relocation of dedicated dermatology inpatient services to Chapel Allerton Hospital (CAH) from Leeds General Infirmary (LGI).

The Head of Scrutiny and Member Development submitted a report which presented the Scrutiny Board with an updated position on the proposed development of dermatology services within Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust (LTHT): This specifically made reference to the relocation of dedicated dermatology inpatient services to Chapel Allerton Hospital (CAH) from Leeds General Infirmary (LGI).

The Chair welcomed to the meeting the following officer and representatives to present the report and respond to Members’ questions and comments:

-  Steven Courtney, Principal Scrutiny Adviser (introduction)

-  Victor Boughton, Chair, Leeds Dermatology Patients Panel (LDPP)

-  Professor Bill Cunliffe – Secretary, Leeds Dermatology Patients Panel (LDPP)

-  Judith Lund, Directorate Manager (Speciality Medicine) – LTHT

-  Dr. Mark Wilkinson, Consultant Dermatologist / Clinical Lead for Dermatology – LTHT

In brief summary, the main areas of discussion were:

Leeds Dermatology Patients Panel (LDPP)

• Concern about the process for consulting on planned infrastructural changes, particularly around expectations and reasons behind the move.
• Issues of poor communication with LTHT and some considerable delays in progressing the move.
• Reduction in the number of single rooms and the availability of private treatment cubicles at CAH, and the potential impact on patients’ privacy and dignity.

Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust (LTHT)

• Recognition of LDPP role and their involvement at Patient and Planning meetings. 
• Confirmation that the move to CAH had been a success, including transfer of trained dermatology nursing staff.
• Confirmation that infrastructure work (in relation to treatment areas) had been postponed until after the ward transfer, at the request of nursing staff.
• Actions being taken to address issues of privacy and dignity, including, fitting thicker curtains around the bed space, increasing bed space area and sub-dividing treatment areas.
• Confirmation that work was being undertaken to address actions arising from the LDPP meeting on 14^th October 2010.

The Scrutiny Board discussed the possibility of arranging a site visit to CAH, before and after implementation of the actions agreed at the LDPP meeting on 14^th October 2010.  The Principal Scrutiny Adviser agreed to coordinate such arrangements and contact Members of the Scrutiny Board with possible dates.

RESOLVED –

(a)  That the contents of the report be noted; and

(b)  That a site visit to CAH be arranged to take place before and after implementation of the actions outlined at the LDPP meeting on 14^th October 2010.

(Councillor Illingworth joined the meeting at 10.12 am during the consideration of this item.)

To consider a report of Leeds Initiative on progress with development and next steps regarding the Vision for Leeds 2011 to 2030.

The Scrutiny Board received a report from Leeds Initiative which provided an update on work undertaken to date to develop a new Vision for Leeds 2011 to 2030.

Appended to the report for Members’ information was a copy of the consultation document ‘What if Leeds …’, consultation and communication plans for the Vision for Leeds 2011 to 2030, together with a consultation timetable.

The Chair welcomed to the meeting the following officers to present the report and respond to Members’ questions and comments:

-  Martin Dean, Deputy Head of Leeds Initiative and Interim Head of International Relations

-  Christine Farrar, Policy Director – Health Improvement and Partnerships – Leeds Initiative.

In brief summary, the main points of discussion were:

• The benefits of social media and networking sites forming part of the consultation process.
• Clarification about the overall cost of producing the vision – final figure to be reported back to the Scrutiny Board.
• Acknowledgement of the need for greater engagement with private sector workers / organisations.
• Types of consultation with children and young people, e.g. through youth service and breeze website, and ethnic minority groups, e.g. equality hubs, etc.
• Concern that the same groups and individuals were being consulted.

RESOLVED – That the report and information appended to the report be noted.

(Councillor Matthews left the meeting at 11.45 am during the consideration of this item.)

To consider a report of the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development presenting the Scrutiny Board (Health) with details of the current draft Pharmaceutical Needs Assessment (PNA) for Leeds which is intended to inform the decision-making in relation to pharmaceutical services over the next three years. 

(N.B. The consultation pack to follow as supplementary information)

The Head of Scrutiny and Member Development submitted a report which presented the Scrutiny Board with details of the current draft Pharmaceutical Needs Assessment (PNA) for Leeds, which was intended to inform the decision-making in relation to pharmaceutical services over the next three years. 

The Chair welcomed the following representatives to the meeting:

-  Dr. Damien Riley, Executive Director of Primary Care / Medical Director – NHS Leeds

-  Emma Wilson, Head of Strategic Support and Development (Primary Care) – NHS Leeds.

In brief summary, the main highlighted points were:

• The Scrutiny Board welcomed the draft Pharmaceutical Needs Assessment, particularly in terms of the availability of local services it  highlighted.  Members suggested publicising the document to members of the public, local voluntary groups and organisations.
• Clarification that the public consultation events had been publicised on the NHS website and information had been circulated to pharmacists and libraries.
• The Scrutiny Board requested a further update report together with a copy of the final document following its publication in late January / February 2011.

RESOLVED –

(a)  That the report and information appended to the report be noted; and

(b)  That a further update report together with a copy of the final document be submitted to the Scrutiny Board at an appropriate time.

To receive and consider a report from the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development outlining the Scrutiny Board’s work programme for the remainder of the current municipal year.

(N.B. Appendix 3 to follow as supplementary information)

A report was submitted by the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development which detailed the Scrutiny Board’s work programme for the remainder of the current municipal year.

The following information was appended to the report:

-  Scrutiny Board Work Programme 2010 / 11

-  Response to the consultation paper around Democratic Legitimacy in Health

-  Summary of additional information and the associated implications on Children’s cardiac surgery services – national review

-  Minutes of the Executive Board meeting held on 25 August 2010

-  Leeds LINk work plan 2010/11.

In brief summary, the main highlighted points were:

• In relation to Leeds Community Health Services, the Scrutiny Board was advised that discussions were ongoing with government around the potential / preferred future organisational model.
• It was reported that a white paper on Public Health was expected to be published in December 2010. The Scrutiny Board was due to consider the proposals at its meeting in January 2011.

RESOLVED – That the issues highlighted in the report be noted and the updated work programme, as presented, be approved.

To note that the next meeting of the Board will be held on Tuesday 23^rd November 2010 at 10.00am with a pre meeting for Board Members at 9.30am.

Tuesday 23^rd November 2010 at 10.00 am with a pre-meeting for Board Members at 9.30 am.

(The meeting concluded at 12.03 pm.)