Agenda item

To consider a draft report by the Head of Scrutiny and Member Development which provides support for a referral to the Secretary of State for Health of the decision of the Joint Committee of Primary Care Trusts (JCPCT)  decision in relation to the review of Children’s Congenital Heart Services in England and the reconfiguration of designated surgical centres.

(Cover report attached main report to follow)

The Head of Scrutiny and Member Development presented a draft referral report for consideration, following the Joint Committee’s review of the decision of the Joint Committee of Primary Care Trusts (JCPCT). 

Members of the Joint Committee reviewed the information presented at the meeting, page by page, and suggested various amendments to the draft documents. 

During the discussion there was a short adjournment at 12:30pm (approx.).  The meeting reconvened at 12:55pm (approx.).

Following discussion, agreement was reached on proposed amendments for inclusion in the final report.  The Principal Scrutiny Adviser (Leeds City Council) was tasked with incorporating the amendments identified at the meeting and, in consultation with the Chair, preparing a final report for submission to the Secretary of State for Health.

With regard to the current terms of reference set for the Independent Reconfiguration Panel’s review of the Safe and Sustainable review of children’s congenital cardiac services in England (presented and discussed earlier in the meeting – minute 65 refers), Members of the Joint Committee highlighted the following matter to specifically draw to the attention of the Secretary of State for Health:

RESOLVED –

(a)  That, subject to the amendments identified and discussed at the meeting, the report be agreed in support of the Committee’s previous decision to refer the matter to the Secretary of State for Health (minute 59 refers) –  on the basis of the decision of the Joint Committee of Primary Care Trusts  not being in the best interest of local health services across Yorksire and the Humber, nor the children and families they serve.

(b)  That, following the amendments, the Joint Committee’s final report be issued to the Secretary of State for Health, as soon as practicable.

(c)  That, in formalising the Joint Committee’s referral, the following areas be drawn to the attention of the Secretary of State for Health, recommending these be incorporated into revised terms of reference for the Independent Reconfiguration Panel’s review of the Safe and Sustainable review of children’s congenital cardiac services in England:

·  The validity of the Kennedy Panel ‘Quality Assessments’ in light of recent and/or forthcoming Care Quality Commission reports and/or compliance notices issued to current providers previously assessed by the Kennedy Panel.

·  The extent to which the JCPCT took account of the IRP’s previous advice (endorsed by the Secretary of State for Health) that the JCPCT should give due consideration to comments from the Joint Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee (Yorkshire and the Humber) in relation to the PwC report on assumed patient flows and manageable clinical networks.

·  The implications of an unpopular solution imposed by the JCPCT for patient choice within the NHS.

·  Issues associated with potential obstetric referral patterns, the impact these may have on patient numbers at the proposed designated surgical centres and to what extent such matters were taken into account within the JCPCT’s decision-making processes.

·  The JCPCT’s use of population projections/ estimates to determine potential future demand for services, both in terms of using the most up-to-date information and the lack of consideration of regional variations that may impact on the long term sustainability of specific/ individual surgical centres.

·  The appropriateness, or otherwise, of the JCPCT’ and its supporting secretariat refusing legitimate requests from the Joint Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee (Yorkshire and the Humber) for access to non-confidential information during its scrutiny inquiry.