Agenda and draft minutes

The Chair opened the meeting and thanked all those present for their attendance. 

It was noted that while the meeting was being webcast live to enable public access, it was not being held as a public meeting in accordance with the Local Government Act 1972.  As such, the meeting was a remote consultative meeting of the Adults, Health and Active Lifestyles Scrutiny Board.  Any recommendations arising from the meeting which would be submitted to the next formal meeting of the Board for consideration and agreement. 

All members of the Board were invited to introduce themselves.

To disclose or draw attention to any interests in accordance with Leeds City Council’s ‘Councillor Code of Conduct’.

There were no declarations made at the meeting.

To note for information the draft minutes of the Adults, Health and Active Lifestyles Scrutiny Board meeting held on 21 June 2022.

Draft minutes from the meeting of the Scrutiny Board (Adults, Health and Active Lifestyles) held on 21 June 2022 were presented for consideration and comment. 

The Principal Scrutiny Adviser highlighted the following matters arising for members information:

·  Following consideration and discussion around the implementation of the Health and Care Act 2022 and implications for the Board, confirmation that a briefing note, based on the update provided by the Centre for Governance and Scrutiny had been circulated to all members of the Scrutiny Board. 

·  Further to Minute 9: Terms of reference, confirmation of minor changes that were being made to the Terms of Reference of other Scrutiny Boards, as follows:

o  The functions of the Director of Resources that relate to Civic Enterprise Leeds and Community Infrastructure Levy are to be removed from the remit of the Environment, Housing and Communities Scrutiny Board.

o  The functions of the Director of Resources that relate to Civic Enterprise Leeds are to be included within the remit of the Strategy and Resources Scrutiny Board.

o  The functions of the Director of Resources that relate to the Community Infrastructure Levy are to be included within the remit of the Infrastructure, Investment and Inclusive Growth Scrutiny Board.

RECOMMENDED

That the draft minutes of the Scrutiny Board held on 21 June 2022 and the update on matters arising outlined above, be noted

To consider a report from the Head of Democratic Services introducing a range of information associated with visiting policies and patient advocacy arrangements within local health care and care home settings across Leeds.

The Head of Democratic Services submitted a report that introduced a range of information associated with visiting policies and patient advocacy arrangements within local health care and care home settings across Leeds.

Members were asked to consider the details presented in this report and the associated appendices and determine any specific further scrutiny activity.

The following were in attendance:

·  Cllr David Jenkins – Deputy Executive Member for Adult and Children's Social Care and Health Partnerships

·  Caroline Baria (Deputy Director Integrated CommissioningAdults and Health Directorate)

·  Jo Regan (Director of Nursing for Operations - Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust)

·  Rob Newton (Associate Director Policy and Partnerships - Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust)

·  Sara Munro (Chief ExecutiveLeeds and York Partnership Foundation NHS Trust)

·  Steph Lawrence (Executive Director of Nursing and Allied Health Professionals - Leeds Community Healthcare NHS Trust)

·  Heather McClelland (Chief Nurse - St Gemma’s Hospice)

·  Michelle Atkinson (Chief Officer - Leeds Care Association)

·  Harriet Wright (Community Project Worker - Healthwatch Leeds)

·  Andrew Paterson (Relative Representative)

In introducing the range of information presented, the Deputy Executive Member for Adult and Children's Social Care and Health Partnerships outlined the following points:

·  The details presented outline the approaches taken across the health and care sector in Leeds during the course of the pandemic in relation to visiting arrangements for people who have been in-patients in a health care setting, or residents in a care home setting.

·  The arrangements for visiting have been kept under constant review and have been revised and updated as the guidance has changed through the past couple of years.

·  Visiting arrangements have been a particularly sensitive matter as health and care providers have sought to balance the huge benefits that visiting brings people and their families in terms of emotional wellbeing, with the risks of spreading the COVID-19 virus.

·  Specific considerations and arrangements were put in place, particularly for people nearing the end of life or people with dementia, where contact with family members and loved ones, was critical to their wellbeing.

·  The various health and care teams working across Leeds’ health and care system have worked together to reduce the risk of transmission of COVID-19, to protect people most at risk due to their health and care needs.

·  At the start of pandemic, systems were set up as part of the health and care response, and significant focus had been given to visiting arrangements and patient advocacy during the various stages of the pandemic – particularly after the strict lockdown measures began to ease. 

The Deputy Director for Integrated Commissioning confirmed how visiting arrangements within local health care facilities, largely focused on care homes, had evolved during the pandemic. It was noted that local policies and arrangements were under constant review due to various changes to national guidance. The balance between the benefits to patients’ well-being arising from having visitors and the need to reduce the transmission of COVID-19 was vital to understand how and why the guidance changed and, in some instances differed, based on patient  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.

To consider a report from the Head of Democratic Services introducing a range of information in relation to maternal health and associated service provision in Leeds.

The Head of Democratic Services submitted a report that introduced a range of information in relation to maternal health and associated service provision in Leeds.

The following were in attendance to present the information and contribute to the Board’s discussion:

·  Cllr Salma Arif - Executive Member for Public Health and Active Lifestyles

·  Claire Goodman (General Manager, Women’s Clinical Service Unit, Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust)

·  Dr. Tom Everett (Lead Clinician, Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust)

·  Emily Griffiths (Associate Director of Pathway Integration, Integrated Care Board)

·  Liz Wigley (Senior Pathway Integration Manager (Children and Families team), Integrated Care Board)

Apologies were received on behalf of Rebecca Musgrave (Head of Midwifery, Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust) who was unable to attend due to service issues.

The Associate Director of Pathway Integration ICB and Senior Pathway Integration Manger ICB introduced the update, which provided:

·  An update on the Leeds Maternity Strategy work;

·  The current position of the Leeds Fertility IVF service; and,

·  The implications of the Ockenden Review findings and how any recommendations are being taken forward across the local maternity system in Leeds.

The update on the Leeds Maternity Strategy work focused on a ‘life journey’ approach and a plan to join maternity service provision with other health and care services – with the offering assistance outside of hospital, such as use of libraries and community hubs for advice on maternity services. 

The Board was advised there was a focus on the following priority actions:

·  New perinatal surveillance,

·  Robust care pathways,

·  Staff training,

·  Management of complex pregnancies,

·  Risk assessments,

·  The care of newborn babies, and,

·  Involvement with maternity care partnership.

Members were also updated on the reconfiguration of maternity services and centralisation to Leeds General Infirmary (LGI).

The General Manager for Women’s Clinical Service and Lead Clinician provided a general update regarding the Fertility Clinic, including:

·  A procurement process to partner with the Trust in order to manage, deliver and enhance fertility clinic services commenced in May 2021.

·  The procurement process had been focused on improving the overall patient experience and delivering high quality care and services.

·  In February 2022, Care Fertility had been awarded the contract and the Fertility Clinic staff had been transferred across – via a TUPE process. 

·  Confirmation that across Yorkshire and the Humber, providers are currently commissioned to provide eligible women one cycle of NHS funded fertility treatment. 

·  Since the new service commenced, patient experience had been rated excellent. Some backlogs in service provision had initially been noted but the issues had now been resolved.

Board members were also provided with details of the Trust’s response to the Ockenden Review findings and recommendations.   

Board members raised and discussed several relevant areas, including:

·  The availability and timeliness of support to mothers experiencing miscarriage – and specifically re-occurring miscarriage.

·  The need for ongoing assurance regarding the quality of the new fertility services.

·  The promotion of breast feeding and the provision of infant feeding support for new mothers and their family.

·  Engaging different communities to build and enhance trust and  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

To consider and discuss the Scrutiny Board’s work schedule for the 2022/23 municipal year.

The Head of Democratic Services submitted a report that presented a draft work schedule for the municipal year, 2022/23.  The draft work schedule reflected details of potential work areas highlighted and discussed at the Board’s previous meeting.  Presented alongside the draft work schedule was a summary of the areas highlighted and a proposed response on how matters were to be taken forward. 

In presenting the draft work schedule, the Principal Scrutiny Adviser confirmed that the draft work schedule had been shared with the relevant Executive Board Members, Directors and partners for comment and advise, as appropriate.  No comments and/or advice had been received at the time of the meeting.

The report also presented the draft minutes from the Executive Board meeting held on 22 June 2022.  Board members were asked to consider and note the draft minutes, insofar as they related to the remit of the Scrutiny Board; and consider any matter where specific scrutiny activity may also be warranted.

RECOMMENDED –

That the draft work schedule be presented to the next formal meeting of the Scrutiny Board for further consideration and approval.

Tuesday, 20 September 2022 at 1:30pm (pre-meeting for all Board members at 1:00pm).

The next meeting was scheduled for Tuesday 20^th September 2022 at 1:30pm, with a pre-meeting for all members of the Scrutiny Board at 1:00pm.

(The meeting concluded at 16:00)