Agenda and minutes

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 following item was submitted as a late item.

-  Agenda item 13 – Request for Scrutiny – Children’s epilepsy surgery (minute 24 refers)

The Scrutiny Board also agreed to accept the following supplementary information for consideration during the meeting:

-  Agenda item 8 – Request for Scrutiny – Men’s Health (minute 23 refers):

·  Headline data/ information provided by the Director of Public Health, related to men’s health in Leeds.

-  Agenda item 9 – Request for Scrutiny – Dermatology (minute 25 refers):

·  Letter from Dr Yvette Oade, Chief Medical Officer (Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust) – 19 July 2013

·  Response from Leeds Dermatology Patients Panel – 25 July 2013

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

A further document, entitled ‘Helping Men get Help’ was subsequently submitted (and accepted) as part of the consideration of the Request for Scrutiny – Men’s Health (minute 23 refers).

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.

There were no disclosable pecuniary interests declared to the meeting.

To receive any apologies for absence and notification of substitutes.

Apologies for absence were received on behalf of Councillors K Bruce, M Robinson, E Taylor and C Towler.

Notification of the following substitute members attending was reported:

-  Councillor N Buckley attending as a substitute member for Councillor M Robinson;

-  Councillor R Grahame attending as a substitute member for Councillor E Taylor;

-  Councillor J Hardy attending as a substitute member for Councillor K Bruce; and,

-  Councillor M Harland attending as a substitute member for Councillor C Towler.

To confirm as a correct record, the minutes of the meeting held on 21^st June 2013.

RESOLVED – That the minutes of the meeting held on 21 June 2013 be approved as a correct record.

To receive and consider a report from the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development presenting an update on progress and the implications of current NHS Trusts in Leeds working towards and achieving Foundation Trust status.

The Head of Scrutiny and Member Development submitted a report that sought to introduce an update on progress and the implications of current NHS Trusts in Leeds working towards and achieving Foundation Trust status. 

The following representatives were in attendance to help the Scrutiny Board consider the matters before it:

-  Dr Dean Spencer (Portfolio Director, Delivery & Development (North), NHS Trust Development Authority)

-  Chris Reed (Interim Chief Executive, Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust)

-  Neil Franklin (Chair, Leeds Community Healthcare NHS Trust)

-  Caroline Schonrock (Foundation Trust Programme Manager, Leeds Community Healthcare NHS Trust)

-  Leaf Mobbs (Director of Commissioning, Strategy and Performance, Leeds West CCG)

Those in attendance were invited to introduce the item and provide any additional comments that may be of particular interest to the Scrutiny Board.

The details presented included:

·  Details of the role and function of the NHS Trust Development Authority – both in general terms and more specifically in relation to the current support arrangements in place to assist Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust achieve NHS Foundation Trust status sometime in the future.

·  An update from Leeds Community Healthcare NHS Trust in working towards achieving NHS Foundation Trust status in the relatively near future.

·  A report from the interim Chief Executive from Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust.

The Scrutiny Board considered the details presented and discussed a number of issues, including:

·  LTHT’s progress against a range of performance targets, including A&E waiting times and ‘Referral to treatment times’.

·  Achieving financial targets as part of the Foundation Trust requirements and the relationship between costs and service quality;

·  The relationship between clinical audit, research and service quality;

·  Complaints systems and handling at LCH and LTHT;

·  The use of hospital estate, backlog maintenance and the overall capital programme at LTHT;

·  Maintaining high quality care and patient safety.

RESOLVED –

(a)  That an overview of progress to be maintained, and progress be considered at a future meeting, with particular focus on:

·  Clinical Audit

·  Complaints

·  Patient Confidentiality

·  Preventative medicine

(b)  That LTHT to provide a written update/ position statement on Seacroft Hospital.

(c)  That the NHS TDA provide an outline of the role of the Director of Communications (including number of staff, budget and main stakeholders)

(Councillor Fox joined the meeting at 10:00am and Councillor R Grahame joined the meeting at 10:20am, during consideration of this item).

(Councillor G Hussain left the meeting at 11:00am, during consideration of this item).

To receive and consider a report from the Head of Scrutiny and Member

Development presenting a Request for Scrutiny submitted by Leeds Men’s Health Network, regarding a potential scrutiny inquiry of men’s health in the City.

The Head of Scrutiny and Member development submitted a report advising the Scrutiny Board of a formal request for scrutiny in relation to Men’s Health in Leeds.  Information regarding the received request was appended to the report and a summary of headline data, prepared by the Director of Public Health, was provided as supplementary information.

A further document, entitled ‘Helping Men get Help’, was circulated for members’ consideration.

The Chair reminded the Scrutiny Board that its role was to consider whether or not the issues raised warranted further, more detailed consideration that, if agreed, would take account of a range of information / evidence, as appropriate.

Mr Barry Ewart (Secretary, Leeds Men’s Health Scrutiny Network) was in attendance to help the Scrutiny Board consider the matters before it, and was invited to outline the request for scrutiny and provide any additional comments for the Scrutiny Board to take into account.

The Scrutiny Board considered the details presented and discussed a number of issues, including the specific links to ‘Narrowing the Gap’ – a specific theme previously identified by the Scrutiny Board as an area of work for 2013/14.

RESOLVED –

(a)  To incorporate the request for scrutiny into the work schedule for 2013/14 (precise timing to be determined), as part of the broad theme of ‘Narrowing the Gap’.

(b)  To present draft terms of reference and an outline timetable to a future meeting for consideration.

To receive and consider a report from the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development presenting a request for scrutiny submitted by Dr Colin Ferrie, Consultant Paediatric neurologist and Mr Paul Chumas, Consultant Paediatric Neurosurgeon, both clinicians at Leeds General Infirmary (LGI).  The request relates to the treatment of children with epilepsy.

The Head of Scrutiny and Member development submitted a report advising the Scrutiny Board of a formal request for scrutiny in relation to Children’s Epilepsy Surgery.  Information regarding the received request was appended to the report.

The Chair reminded the Scrutiny Board that its role was to consider whether or not the issues raised warranted further, more detailed consideration that, if agreed, would take account of a range of information / evidence, as appropriate.

The following representatives were in attendance to help the Scrutiny Board consider the matters before it:

-  Dr Colin Ferrie (Consultant Paediatric Neurologist, Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust)

-  Dr Bryan Gill (Medical Director (Quality and Governance), Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust)

Dr Ferrie and Dr Gill were invited to outline the request for scrutiny and provide any additional comments for the Scrutiny Board to take into account.

The Scrutiny Board considered the details presented and discussed a number of issues, including:

·  The potential shift from procuring ‘additional capacity’ for children’s epilepsy surgery to successful providers being consider the ‘sole’ providers of services;

·  The consideration of ‘patient’s need’s’ and ‘geographical distribution’ within the procurement process;

·  The consistency of the procurement process;

·  Concerns associated with the overall ‘Safe and Sustainable’ programme.

RESOLVED –

(a)  To incorporate the request for scrutiny into the work schedule for 2013/14 (precise timing to be determined) and to invite NHS England to be to provide a written briefing/ update on the Safe and Sustainable review of Children's Neurosurgical Services for consideration at a future meeting.

(b)  For the Chair of the Scrutiny Board to advise the Yorkshire and Humber network of Health Scrutiny Chairs of the concerns raised and the proposed actions.

To receive and consider a report from the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development presenting a Request for Scrutiny submitted by Leeds Dermatology Patient’s Panel (LDPP), regarding perceived shortages in acute medicine and the proposals of Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust (LTHT) in response.

The Head of Scrutiny and Member development submitted a report advising the Scrutiny Board of a formal request for scrutiny in relation to Children’s Epilepsy Surgery.  Information regarding the received request was appended to the report.

The Chair reminded the Scrutiny Board that its role was to consider whether or not the issues raised warranted further, more detailed consideration that, if agreed, would take account of a range of information / evidence, as appropriate.

The following representatives were in attendance to help the Scrutiny Board consider the matters before it:

-  Mr Victor Boughton (Chair, Leeds Dermatology Patient’s Panel)

-  Prof Bill Cunliffe (Secretary, Leeds Dermatology Patient’s Panel)

-  Mr Kenneth Ward (Member, Leeds Dermatology Patient’s Panel)

-  Mr Phillip Sunderland (Member, Leeds Dermatology Patient’s Panel)

-  Dr Bryan Gill (Medical Director (Quality and Governance), Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust)

Members of the Leeds Dermatology Patient’s Panel were invited to outline the request for scrutiny and provide any additional comments for the Scrutiny Board to take into account.

Dr Gill was invited to provide any additional comments on the request for scrutiny and, in particular, the submission provided by Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, for the Scrutiny Board to take into account.

The Scrutiny Board considered the details presented and agreed to form a working group of the Scrutiny Board to consider the issues identified in more detail. 

RESOLVED –

(a)  To form a working group of the Scrutiny Board and incorporate the request for scrutiny into the work schedule for 2013/14.

(b)  That the scope of the working group would include consideration of proposed changes around medical rotas for other specialities (i.e. not just dermatology).

(c)  Recognising the need to act swiftly, that a working group meeting be arranged as soon as practicable, with all relevant parties invited to participate in that meeting.

(Councillor M Harland and Councillor N Buckley left the meeting at 12:00 noon, during consideration of this item).

To receive and consider a report from the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development presenting a range of information relevant to ‘Urgent and Emergency Care’ identified by the Scrutiny Board as one of the general themes for its work over the course of the municipal year, 2013/14.

The Head of Scrutiny and Member Development submitted a report that presented a range of information relevant to the ‘Urgent and Emergency Care’ identified by the Scrutiny Board as one of the general themes for its work over the course of the municipal year, 2013/14. 

The Principal Scrutiny Adviser introduced the item and made reference to the presented report, which included:

-  Current details of the national review of Urgent and Emergency Care in England;

-  Information form Leeds Clinical Commissioning Groups; and,

-  The potential timing and scope of the Scrutiny Board’s future consideration of issues around Urgent and Emergency Care.

RESOLVED –

(a)  That the Chair of the Scrutiny Board, in conjunction with the Principal Scrutiny officer, work towards drafting a response to Stage 1 of the public engagement activity, associated with the national review of Urgent and Emergency Care in England, ahead of 11 August deadline.

(b)  That the Chair of the Scrutiny Board, in conjunction with the Principal Scrutiny officer, discuss the Scrutiny Board’s general approach with Chair of Leeds’ Health and Wellbeing Board and HealthWatch Leeds.

(c)  That the Chair of Leeds Urgent Care Board to be invited to a future meeting of the Scrutiny Board (possibly October 2013) to outline the work of the Leeds Urgent Care Board.

(d)  That further consideration be given to the on-going national review of Urgent and Emergency Care in England, at a future meeting (possibly October 2013).

(Councillor R Grahame left the meeting at 12:15pm and Councillor J Lewis left the meeting at 12:20pm, during consideration of this item).

To consider the Board’s work schedule for the forthcoming municipal year.

The Head of Scrutiny and Member Development submitted a report that outlined the on-going development of the Scrutiny Board’s work schedule for 2013/14.

The Principal Scrutiny Adviser introduced the item and reminded the Scrutiny Board that, at its meeting on 21 June 2013, members had identified the following themes to form the broad direction of the its work programme for 2013/14:

-  Narrowing the Gap;

-  Service quality;

-  Urgent and emergency care;

-  Progress / implications associated with achieving NHS Foundation Trust status;

-  Information flows/ data sharing

It was also highlighted that work to translate these themes into a more detailed work schedule was continuing, with the aim of presenting this to the next meeting of the Scrutiny Board. 

The Scrutiny Board also reflected on the issues considered elsewhere on the agenda, which inevitably would impact on the future work schedule, including the three requests for scrutiny that the Scrutiny Board agreed to undertake. 

RESOLVED –

(a)  To re-establish the Health Service Developments Working Group, and to invite a representative from HealthWatch Leeds to act as a formal ‘co-opted member’ for the purpose of the working group. 

(b)  The detailed work plan and timing of matters to be scheduled by Principal Scrutiny Adviser in consultation with the Chair, and presented to a future meeting of the Scrutiny Board.

(c)  That a representative of the Scrutiny Board to take part in the Scrutiny review on ‘Tackling Domestic Abuse’ (being undertaken by the Scrutiny Board (Safer and Stronger Communities); with the precise nomination to be determined outside of the meeting and recorded at a future meeting.

Wednesday, 25^th September 2013 at 10.00am (Pre-meeting for Board Members at 9.30am)

It was noted that the next meeting was scheduled for Wednesday, 25 September 2013 at 10.00am (with a pre-meeting at 9:30am for members of the Scrutiny Board).

(The meeting concluded at 12:30pm.)