Agenda and minutes

Venue: Civic Hall, Leeds, LS1 1UR. View directions

Contact: Steven Courtney (0113) 24 74707  Email: steven.courtney@leeds.gov.uk

Items
No. Item

121.

Chair's Opening Remarks

Minutes:

The Chair opened the meeting and welcomed everyone in attendance.

 

The Chair reported the sudden and untimely passing of Councillor Clive Fox, who had been a member of the Scrutiny Board for a number of years, and a key contributor during this time.  Members offered their condolences for Councillor Fox’s family during this difficult time. 

 

The Scrutiny Board stood and observed a minute of silent reflection in memory of Councillor Fox.

 

122.

Late Items

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

 

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

Minutes:

In accordance with his powers under Section 100B(4)(b) of the Local Government Act 1972, the Chair agreed to accept the following late and supplementary information for consideration at the meeting:

 

·  NHS Specialised Services: Impact assessment of proposed changes to specific service specifications

o  Submission by Embrace

(Minute 126 refers)

 

·  Urgent and Emergency Care 

o  Submission by Leeds North Clinical Commissioning Group

(Minute 128 refers)

 

The above documents were not available at the time of the agenda despatch, but had been made available to the public at the meeting. Copies of the papers had also been made available on the Council’s website.

 

123.

Declaration of Disclosable Pecuniary Interests

To disclose or draw attention to any disclosable pecuniary interests for the purposes of Section 31 of the Localism Act 2011 and paragraphs 13-16 of the Members’ Code of Conduct.

Minutes:

There were no disclosable pecuniary interests declared to the meeting. 

 

 

124.

Apologies for Absence and Notification of Substitutes

To receive any apologies for absence and notification of substitutes.

Minutes:

The following apologies for absence had been received and were reported to the Scrutiny Board. 

 

·  Councillor S Varley

·  Councillor E Taylor

 

No substitute members were in attendance.

 

125.

Minutes - 21 March 2014 and 28 March 2014 pdf icon PDF 74 KB

To confirm as a correct record, the minutes of the meetings held on 21 March 2014 and 28 March 2014.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

RESOLVED – That the minutes of the previous meetings held on 21 March 2014 and 28 March 2014 be approved as a correct record.

 

126.

NHS Specialised Services: Impact assessment of proposed changes to specific service specifications pdf icon PDF 63 KB

To receive a report from the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development providing an opportunity for the Scrutiny Board to further consider and formally respond to consultation around proposed changes to 14 Specialised Service specifications. 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Head of Scrutiny and Member Development submitted a report which introduced the following:

 

·  Proposed changes to 14 specialised service areas

·  Written submission/ briefing by Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust

 

The following additional information was provided for the Scrutiny Board to consider (Minute 122 refers):

 

·  Written submission by Embrace – the specialist transport service for critically ill infants and children in Yorkshire and the Humber

 

The following representatives were in attendance to help the Scrutiny Board consider the information presented:

 

·  Laura Sherburn (Interim Head of Specialised Commissioning) – NHS England (South Yorkshire & Bassetlaw Area Team)

·  Dr Mark Smith (Chief Operating Officer – Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust)

·  David Berridge (Medical Director (Operations) – Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust)

 

In addressing the Scrutiny Board, the Interim Head of Specialised Commissioning (NHS England (South Yorkshire & Bassetlaw Area Team)) provide a brief reminder of the Board’s previous consideration on proposed changes to specific service specifications. 

 

As outlined in the paper presented to the Scrutiny Board, it was confirmed that of the proposed changes to 15 specialised service areas, it was considered appropriate that the specific impact assessments in the following areas warranted specific consideration by the Scrutiny Board:

 

·  Adult Cardiac Surgery Service Specification (A10/S/a);

·  Complex Disability Equipment Prosthetics Service Specification (D01/S/d); and,

·  Paediatric Critical Care – Level 2 (E07/S/b)

 

Members were assured there were no ‘patient safety’ issues to consider and the overall purpose of the proposed changes was to improve the quality of services; to standardise and raise the level of consistency in the provision of specialised services across the country.

 

Members were also assured that the proposed changes to the Adult Cardiac Surgery and Complex Disability Equipment Prosthetics Service Specifications sought to clarify and strengthen the previous specifications.  There was no indication that the proposed changes would necessitate any changes to the existing provider landscape across Yorkshire and the Humber. 

 

Representatives from Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust were supportive of the comments made at the meeting and confirmed that the proposed changes would not present any significant challenges to the Trust. 

 

It was highlighted that the Paediatric Critical Care – Level 2 represented a new specification for 2014/15 and the key impacts were highlighted as follows:

 

·  Potentially more patients treated in tertiary centres or Level 2 Units – although any increase in activity was unquantified.

·  Potential increase in paediatric transport activity across the region.

·  The need for more work to assess the volume of activity, in order to understand the impact of the proposed change on both the receiving and referring organisations in terms of capacity and sustainability.

·  The need for more work around the potential impact of rapid repatriation, steps on the care pathway and patient and carer choice.

·  It was not known how readily new standards relating to staffing numbers and training packages could be met. 

 

The issues around the potential increase in paediatric transport activity across the region and the potential impact of rapid repatriation were further emphasised by the written submission from Embrace.  However, it was reported  ...  view the full minutes text for item 126.

127.

Children's Epilepsy Surgery pdf icon PDF 60 KB

To consider a report from the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development providing further information to the Scrutiny Board in relation to the provision of Children’s Epilepsy Surgery.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Head of Scrutiny and Member Development submitted a report that introduced further information relating to the provision of Children’s Epilepsy Surgery. The Scrutiny Board considered an initial letter to and subsequent response from NHS England in this regard, appended to the report. 

 

The Principal Scrutiny Adviser reminded members that in July 2013 the Scrutiny Board had previously considered a request for scrutiny and agreed to consider issues related to the provision of Children’s Epilepsy Surgery in Leeds and the associated procurement process. 

 

The following representatives were in attendance to help the Scrutiny Board consider the information presented:

 

·  Laura Sherburn (Interim Head of Specialised Commissioning) – NHS England (South Yorkshire & Bassetlaw Area Team)

·  Dr Mark Smith (Chief Operating Officer – Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust)

·  David Berridge (Medical Director (Operations) – Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust)

 

In addressing the Scrutiny Board, the Interim Head of Specialised Commissioning (NHS England (South Yorkshire & Bassetlaw Area Team)) briefly outlined the NHS England’s response, which covered the following areas:

 

·  Background and context to identifying four providers to deliver a Children’s Epilepsy Surgery Service – acknowledging there was no specialised surgical service centre (for children under 5) located in Yorkshire and the Humber or the North East of England;

·  Response to the issues raised by the Scrutiny Board, following the initial request for scrutiny.

·  The development of the North East Paediatric Neurosciences Network 

 

The Chair expressed concern that, despite the relatively small number of children/ families likely to be affected, the existing provision did not sufficiently reflect the population profile or geography of Yorkshire and the Humber.  There was also concern that the lack of provision might be seen as an erosion of services and have a negative impact on other service areas, including other neuroscience services, at Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust.

 

Addressing the Scrutiny Board, representatives from Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust (LTHT), made a number of points and outlined a range of matters, including:

 

·  Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS trust was fully supportive of its clinicians in maintaining and further developing paediatric neurosurgical service;

·  There was a larger population of children (aged 6 and over) that require epilepsy surgery and there was a desire to maintain and develop such a service in Leeds.

·  It was recognised that the establishment and development of an effective Neurosciences Network (covering Sheffield, Newcastle and Leeds) would be beneficial to each centre and the populations they serve.

·  More recently there had been a much greater degree of cohesive and a collaborative approach in relation to the establishment and development of a North East Paediatric Neurosciences Network;

·  Through the North East Paediatric Neurosciences Network, the Trust planned to contact NHS England in order to seek a review of provision within Yorkshire and Humber / the North of England.

 

The Scrutiny Board discussed the report and the details highlighted at the meeting and welcomed the more collaborative approach in relation to the establishment and development of a North East Paediatric Neurosciences Network reported. 

 

The Scrutiny Board also welcomed the proposal  ...  view the full minutes text for item 127.

128.

Urgent and Emergency Care pdf icon PDF 101 KB

To consider a report from the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development presenting an update regarding the review of Urgent Care and work of the Urgent Care Board in Leeds. 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Head of Scrutiny and Member Development submitted a report that provided a summary of the Board’s previous consideration of urgent and emergency care during the municipal year 2013/14. 

 

The following additional information was provided for the Scrutiny Board to consider (Minute 122 refers):

 

·  Written submission by Leeds North Clinical Commissioning Group

 

The following representatives were in attendance to help the Scrutiny Board consider the information presented:

 

·  Nigel Grey (Chief Officer – Leeds North Clinical Commissioning Group)

·  Debra Taylor-Tate (Strategic Commissioning Lead (Urgent Care) – Leeds North Clinical Commissioning Group)

·  Steven Courtney (Leeds City Council, Principal Scrutiny Adviser)

 

The Principal Scrutiny Adviser summarised the Scrutiny Board’s consideration of urgent and emergency care during the current municipal year, 2013/14.

 

In addressing the Scrutiny Board, representatives from Leeds North Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) reminded the Scrutiny Board that Leeds North CCG held a co-ordinating role for work around urgent and emergency care across the City.  In outlining the written submission provided, a number of specific areas were highlighted, including:

 

·  Operational urgent care and the 4 hour emergency care standard.

·  Work of the Strategic Urgent Care Board and the development of the vision for urgent and emergency care across the City.

·  Development of the following workstreams to deliver the vision:

o  Frail and Elderly;

o  Mental Health;

o  Children and Young People;

o  Alcohol.

o  Preparation for the forthcoming Tour de France.

 

The Scrutiny Board discussed the report and the details highlighted at the meeting.  A number of matters were raised and discussed, including:

 

·  Public and Patient involvement, including that of HealthWatch Leeds, in the ongoing review of urgent and emergency care across the City.

·  Reporting and governance arrangements associated with the Strategic Urgent Care Board.

·  The similarity of current urgent and emergency care issues with those facing the national and local system for the past 10 years. 

·  The current economic imperative in relation to the review of urgent and emergency care across the City.

·  How improvements would be judged and the associated ‘measures of improvement’.

 

RESOLVED –

 

(a)  To note the information presented and discussed at the meeting.

(b)  To maintain an overview of the ongoing review of urgent and emergency care across the City and to receive further update reports in the new municipal year (i.e. 2014/15). 

 

The Chair thanked those in attendance for their contributions to the meeting and concluded by thanking all members of the Scrutiny Board for their attendance and contributions throughout the municipal year.

 

(The meeting concluded at 11:40am)