Agenda and minutes

The Chair welcomed everyone to the inaugural meeting of the Joint Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee (Yorkshire and the Humber), formed to consider a proposed substantial NHS service reconfiguration around the delivery of Children’s Congenital Heart Services in England.

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 proposed and the Joint Committee agreed to accept the following document as supplementary information:-

·  Safe and Sustainable – A New Vision for Childrens Congenial Heart Services in England – Presentation Slides prepared by Cathy Edwards, Director of Yorkshire and Humber Specialised Commissioning Group (Agenda Item 70 (Minute 6 refers)

The document was not available at the time of the agenda despatch, but made available on the Council’s Internet site after the meeting.

To declare any personal/prejudicial interests for the purpose of Section 81 (3) of the Local Government Act 2000

The following personal declarations were declared at the meeting:-

·  Councillor S Frazer  in his capacity as a Member of the Governing Council of York Hospital Foundation Trust and as a retired Member  of UNISON and TGWU (Agenda Item 7) (Minute 6  refers)

·  Councillor B Rhodes in her capacity as a retied Member of UNISON

(Agenda Item 7) (Minute 6 refers)

To receive any apologies for absence and notification of substitutes.

Apologies for absence were received on behalf of Councillors T Barker (North Lincolnshire Council) and P Elliott (North East Lincolnshire Council).

Notification had been received for Councillor S Butterworth (Hull City Council) to substitute for Councillor J Hewitt and Councillor G Mullis (Doncaster MBC) to substitute for Councillor C Mills.

To consider a report of the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development presenting the Joint Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee (Yorkshire and the Humber) with draft Terms of Reference for amendment and/or agreement, in relation to the national consultation around the proposed reconfiguration of Children’s Congenital Heart Services in England.

The Head of Scrutiny and Member Development submitted a report presenting the Joint Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee (Yorkshire and the Humber) with draft Terms of Reference for amendment and/or agreement, in relation to the proposed reconfiguration of Children’s Congenital Heart Services in England, and the associated national public consultation.  The draft Terms of Reference were appended to the report for information/comment of the meeting.

There was broad agreement for the draft Terms of Reference as presented and a general discussion around the following issues:

·  The role of the Joint Committee and how this related to the public consultation around the proposed service reconfiguration.

The Committee was advised that under the guidance of the Direction issued by the Secretary of State for Health, the nature and potential impact of the proposed reconfiguration required a Joint Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee to be established.  This body would undertake the statutory Overview and Scrutiny Committee role and would be the body to provide a formal response to the recommendations. It was confirmed that this did not prevent individual contributions to the public consultation process.

It was also confirmed that while the public consultation focused on four specific proposed reconfiguration models, this did not preclude the Joint Committee recommending alternative arrangements and/or putting forward other recommendations.

·  The Overview and Scrutiny protocol/arrangements in relation to North East region

It was outlined that the North East region of local authorities was likely to have similar joint scrutiny arrangements in place for those councils in that region.  However, the precise details of such arrangements could not be confirmed.

·  The need for guidance in relation to purdah, the proposed work of the Joint Committee and the timing of that work.

The Principal Scrutiny Adviser outlined that due to the timing of the public consultation and timescales agreed by the Joint Committee of Primary Care Trusts (i.e. a third party body), the work of the Joint Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee (Yorkshire and Humber) could legitimately continue during the pre-election period (i.e purdah).  The Principal Scrutiny Adviser agreed to seek specific clarification in this regard and provide this to members of the Joint Committee.

RESOLVED –

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

b)  That approval be given to the proposed terms of reference in relation to the national consultation around the proposed reconfiguration of Children’s Congenital Heart Services in England in accordance with the details submitted.

c)  That, in relation to purdah and any potential impact on the work / timing of work of the Joint Committee, the Committee’s Principal Scrutiny Adviser be requested to circulate specific guidance to Members for their information/retention .

To consider a report of the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development presenting details of the identified options for consultation for the Reconfiguration of Children’s Congenital Heart Services in England.

The Head of Scrutiny and Member Development submitted a report presenting details of the identified options for consultation for the Reconfiguration of Children’s Congenital Heart Services in England.

Appended to the report were copies of the following documents for the information/comment of the meeting:

·  Safe and Sustainable – A New Vision for Children’s Congenital Heart Services in England – Consultation Document – 1^st March 2011 to 1^st July 2011

·  Safe and Sustainable – Review of Children’s Congenital Heart Services in England: Briefing 2 – Spring 2011

The following representatives were in attendance to present the key issues highlighted in the report and to address any specific questions identified by the Committee:

-  Cathy Edwards (Director) – Specialised Commissioning Group (Yorkshire and the Humber)

-  Dr Kevin Smith (Medical Adviser) - Specialised Commissioning Group (Yorkshire and the Humber)

The Director and Medical Adviser, Specialised Commissioning Group (Yorkshire and the Humber) circulated a copy of presentation slides and provided the Committee with a detailed presentation which covered the following specific issues:

? Timetable

? Joint Committee of Primary Care Trusts (JCPCT) Meeting

? Consultation

? What will the Service look like?

  - The National Review Recommendations/Regional Approach

  - Care close to home

  - Services should meet standards

  - Care should be planned around people

? Congenital Heart Networks

? Specialised Surgical Centres

? Key Facts/Figures

? Key Influencing Factors

? Further Analysis

? Evaluation Criteria Applied

? Yorkshire and Humberside Patient Flows to Surgical Centres

? Other considerations

In brief summary, the main issues highlighted and points of discussion were:

·  Availability of a summary version of the consultation document;

·  Acknowledgment that cross border issues were likely to have a have a significant impact on the proposed configuration of services and there was a need to focus on projected patient flows in greater detail

·  The role of the Joint Committee focusing on the needs of the Yorkshire and Humber region, with specific reference to the following points:

o  A detailed analysis and consideration of the likely implications of each proposed model of care/ configuration of services was required (i.e. a local impact assessment);

o  The need to recognise that Leeds was well placed geographically, which appeared not to have been taken into account sufficiently;

o  Population densities across the region and comparisons to other areas

o  Projected patient numbers in terms of emergency and planned surgery

·  The need to invite comments on the proposals from the region’s Hospital Trusts  .

·  The need to raise public awareness of the proposals and wherever possible seek  the views of parents and families likely to be affected by the proposals

RESOLVED –

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

b)  That a vote of thanks be conveyed to Cathy Edwards and Dr Kevin Smith, for their attendance and contribution to the meeting.

c)  To receive further contributions from representatives from the Specialised Commissioning Group (Yorkshire and the Humber) at a future meeting;

d)  To invite appropriate representatives from the Safe and Sustainable Review Team to give evidence at a future Committee  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.

To consider a report of the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development on the next steps for the Joint Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee (Yorkshire and the Humber) in relation to its consideration of the proposed options to reconfigure Children’s Congenital Heart Services in England, and the implications for the Yorkshire and Humber region.

The Head of Scrutiny and Member Development submitted a report on the next steps for the Joint Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee (Yorkshire and the Humber) in relation to its consideration of the proposed options to reconfigure Children’s Congenital Heart Services in England, and the implications for the Yorkshire and Humber region.

RESOLVED-

a)  That the contents of the report be noted.

b)  That the Committee’s Principal Scrutiny Adviser be requested to produce a witness/ evidence timetable for consideration at the next meeting on 29^th March 2011, to include appropriate representatives from the following organisations:

·  Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust

·  Safe and Sustainable Review Team

·  Paediatric  Transport Team (Embrace)

·  The current Children’s Cardiac Network (Yorkshire and the Humber)

c)  That  representatives from the Safe and Sustainable Review team be invited to give evidence at the next Committee on 29^th March 2011.

d)  That details of the analysis arising from the regional Impact Assessment be made available and considered by the Joint Committee  as and when such information becomes available.

Tuesday 29^th March 2011 at 10.30am in the Civic Hall, Leeds (Pre-meeting for Board Members at 10.00am)

(The meeting concluded at 3.45pm)