Agenda item

To consider a report by the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development which provides an update on the implementation phase of the review of Children’s Congenital Cardiac Services in England. 

(Report attached)

The Head of Scrutiny and Member Development presented a report which sought to update the Joint Committee regarding the implementation stage of the review, alongside other relevant information following the Secretary of State’s announcement to commission a review of the Safe and Sustainable review of children’s congenital cardiac services in England by the Independent Reconfiguration Panel (IRP).  The following information was appended to the report:

·  Safe and Sustainable Children’s Congenital Heart Services: Implementation Plan during 2012/13 and Transfer into the NHS Commissioning Board for April 2013 (August 2012).

·  Membership details of the Implementation Advisory Group (September 2012).

·  The IRP initial assessment advice (September 2012) – following referrals from Lincolnshire County Council’s Health Scrutiny Committee and Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland’s Joint Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

·  The commissioning letter from the Secretary of State for Health to the IRP(October 2012).

·  The Terms of Reference for the IRP’s review (October 2012).

·  A recent IRP media release regarding the review (November 2012).

Members were also advised that the first Implementation Advisory Group meeting, chaired by Professor Deirdre Kelly, had taken place on 18 September 2012. 

In considering the information presented, members of the Joint Committee raised and discussed a number of issues, including the following points and concerns:

• The membership of the Implementation Advisory Group (IAG) and, in particular, concern regarding the lack of representation from Yorkshire and the Humber on the IAG.
• The general lack of recognition/ appreciation of the potential role of Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee’s within the implementation phase of the review.
• Membership of the IAG and queries whether or not the membership had been reviewed following the recent Care Quality Commission’s (CCQ’s) report and associated compliance notification issued to University Hospitals of Bristol NHS Trust, following its review of services on the children’s cardiac ward.
• The detail of the proposed terms of reference for the IRP’s review of the Safe and Sustainable review of children’s congenital cardiac services in England.
• Details of the Local Area Teams (highlighted in the Implementation Plan) and concern that significant areas of Yorkshire and the Humber had, seemingly, not been identified.

Members specific discussed areas relating to the IRP terms of reference and agreed to identify any specific suggestions for inclusion during consideration of other items on the agenda (minute 66 refers).

RESOLVED –

(a)  To note the information provided in the report and associated appendices.

(b)  To raise the Joint Committee’s concerns regarding the current. membership of the Implementation Advisory Group with the appropriate bodies and/or representatives.

(c)  To consider regular updates and issues associated with implementation at future meetings, as and when appropriate.

(d)  To identify any specific suggestions for inclusion within the IRP terms of reference and draw these to the attention of the Secretary of State for Health (minute 66 refers).