Members will be asked to make any declarations of interest in respect of items on this agenda.

In accordance with the code of conduct, the following declaration of interest was made –

To receive reports on business which, in the opinion of the Chair, should be brought forward for urgent consideration.

The Chair reported that Inspectors from the Care Quality Commission (CQC) re-inspected theatres at Derriford Hospital and were satisfied that surgical safety had considerably improved.  The Chair was pleased that CQC had given the all clear but was mindful that the Panel should continue to closely monitor the hospital.

To confirm the minutes of the last meeting held on 4 July 2013.

Agreed that the minutes of meeting held on 4 July 2013 be confirmed.

The panel to receive a progress update on the Joint Health and Wellbeing Strategy.

Rob Nelder, Public Health Consultant ran through the presentation on the Joint Health and Wellbeing Strategy (JHWS).  It was reported that the Director of Public Health would be leading a task and finish group to produce the draft JHWS to be completed by the end September.  Further discussions on the draft strategy would take place with the Health and Wellbeing Board (HWB) and would welcome scrutiny’s input into the preparation of the draft strategy.

In response to questions raised, it was reported that the Health and Wellbeing Board have asked the Director of Public Health to turn their vision and priorities into a strategy that they can all sign up to.  On completion other members expressed an interest in seeing the draft strategy before going back to the board for final approval.

Agreed that -

1.         Pre decision scrutiny of the Joint Health and Wellbeing Strategy is essential prior to the draft going to the Health and Wellbeing Board in January 2014.

2.         Explore options and ways to review the draft Joint Health and Wellbeing Strategy before January 2014, be it at the November meeting or an ad hoc meeting.  Meeting to be open to other councillors.

The panel will receive a report on the Improvements in Disabled Parking at Derriford Hospital.

Nick Thomas, Director of Site Services and Stuart Windsor, Facilities Manager, Plymouth Hospitals NHS Trust presented their plans for disabled parking at Derriford hospital.  Ann Pointon, Chair of Plymouth Area Disability Action Network (PADAN) was also present for this item.  It was reported that -

a)    the current disabled parking was not appropriate for disabled patients and visitors.  The Trust had worked closely with the Disabled Forum to ensure that the design of the car park was suitable to meet the needs of disabled patients and visitors;

b)    the proposed car park would be located close to the building on a flat level and the designs were well received;

c)    Ann Pointon commented that this was a major improvement on previous plans and would welcome further discussions on the following topics-

·         whether one call place was enough and where it should be situated;

·         drop off point is that flat and will it be flat It will be flat to outpatients and main entrance;

·         wheelchair store and what are the managements around that.

In response to questions raised, it was reported that –

d)    they were supporting disabled staff with alternative parking arrangements, although they were unclear on the numbers of staff with a blue badge.  A park and ride bus service from the George Car Park to the hospital was in operation and they were undertaking good work with blue badge staff holders by offering one to one support.

e)    they were looking to create a minimum of 42 patient only disabled blue badge holder parking spaces;

f)     new signage would be erected giving clear directional route to the disabled parking spaces;

g)    traffic flow was an on-going issue and discussions were taking place with the bus and taxis services.  There was a need to get the bus and taxi flow right and to review the drop off areas which get congested very quickly and were exploring different options.

Agreed in principle subject to the following -

1.         further consultation with PADAN to produce a statement of support with conditions around next steps prior to Planning Committee submission.

2.         Consultation to take place with staff side around parking spaces for disabled staff.

3.         to have a further meeting with the Caring Plymouth Chair and Vice Chair  prior to Planning Committee submission.

The panel to receive a report on Social Care Budgets.

Councillor McDonald, Cabinet Member for Public Health and Adult Social Care and Dave Simpkins, Interim Acting Director of Joint Commissioning provided the panel with a report on Social Care Budgets.  It was reported that –

a)    the total Adult Social Care budget of £75.4 million this was a third of the total Plymouth City Council budget;

b)    Plymouth had a demographic trend moving upwards with old age being an expanding client group with more complex cases;

c)    the People’s front door allows people to access services through one route.  This allows customers to make informed choices as early as possible with an immediate access to a social worker;

d)    a significant amount already achieved this financial year but still had challenges with a £1.1 million overspend.  This reflects the expected demographics with an ageing population with more complex needs and more people coming into care in their late 80s and early 90s;

e)    the Integrated Rapid Response Reablement (ICE) programme went live and was a  good example of good partnership working with Plymouth Community Healthcare and the Hospital Trust in delivering better outcomes for people to return to community based support on leaving hospital rather than going into residential or nursing care. 

In response to questions raised, it was reported that -

f)     £4.5 million is a funding transfer from the Department of Health to the hospital and we negotiate with the hospital for that money.  It’s about how we do things that are mutually beneficial for the hospital and the local authority.  In the future would hope to negotiate more money;

g)    the Commissioning team would monitor the quality of the services provided as part of the care plan and we have a responsibility to undertake a review of the service packages on an annual basis;

h)    we have an Older Persons Charter that looks at the values, equality and fairness and this forms part of the contractual process when we look to outsource services.  There was a robust process around commissioning and ensuring that profits were working in the appropriate ways;

Agreed that -

1.            the Panel to be provided with a breakdown of the £75 million to include staffing and administration costs, this to include a breakdown of the £4.5 social care 256 money. 

2.         the Panel to be provided with a process paper on joint assessment, how it’s undertaken and who has responsibility for continuous healthcare.

(Councillor Leaves declared an interest and was not present for this item.)

The panel to receive a presentation on Plymouth’s Performance against the Public Health Outcomes.

Rob Nelder, Public Health Consultant provided the Panel with a presentation on Public Health Outcomes Framework.  In response to questions raised, it was reported that -

a)    the newly appointed Business Support Manager would be working with the team to look in greater detail the ‘red’ indicators and ensure that programmes of work are in place to address them;

b)    they were looking at the most appropriate ways of reporting Plymouth’s performance against the PHOF and sharing he locally developed PHOF tool more widely across council teams.

Agreed that -

1.        the Panel receive a further update with greater detail on Public Health Outcomes at the November meeting, in particular, looking at the local picture including an understanding of the worst performance indicators.

2.        Public Health Outcomes Framework quarterly reports to be circulated to the panel.

The panel to review and monitor the progress of tracking resolutions and receive any relevant feedback from the Cooperative Scrutiny Board.

The Panel noted the progress of the tracking resolutions.

To review the Caring Plymouth work programme 2013 – 2014.

The Panel noted the work programme.

To consider passing a resolution under Section 100A (4) of the Local Government Act 1972 to exclude the press and public from the meeting for the following item(s) of business on the grounds that it (they) involve(s) the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph(s) of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act, as amended by the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

There were no items of exempt business.