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

Councillor Gordon was nominated as Vice-chair by Councillor Mrs Watkins and seconded by Councillor Delbridge.

The panel will be asked to confirm the minutes of the meeting held on 28 October, 2009.

Resolved that the minutes of the meeting held on 28 October 2009, be confirmed as a correct record.

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

There were no items of Chair’s urgent business.

Plymouth Hospitals NHS Trust will provide an update in respect of its pilot parking charging scheme at Derriford Hospital.

The panel received an evaluation report from Plymouth Hospitals NHS Trust on the pilot parking scheme at Derriford Hospital. The report outlined that-

     (i)            there was an increased number of parking spaces at the hospital;

   (ii)            there had been no formal complaints about parking since the pilot scheme came into effect;

 (iii)            costs broadly met expectations;

  (iv)            income generation had been lower than expected but was increasing.

In response to questions from the panel it was reported that-

    (v)            there were significant improvements made to signage over the past year;

  (vi)            there were concessions for extended stays;

(vii)            there was a loss of income from parking charges although it was unclear what effect George Park and Ride scheme caused;

(viii)            leaflets were sent to both in-patients and out-patients on their first visit detailing parking provision and other services.

Resolved that the panel will receive,

(1)   copies of leaflet provided to patients at a future meeting

(2)   details of current signage provision on meters / within the car park.

NHS Plymouth will present the findings of the Care Quality Commission following a series of visits to premises where patients are detained under the Mental Health Act 1983.

NHS Plymouth provided the Care Quality Commission’s Mental Health Act Annual Statement September 2009. The statement drew on findings from visits of Mental Health Act Commissioners to sites in Plymouth. The Main findings included that-

     (i)            the trusts operation of part IV of the Mental Health Act 1983 did not always meet the required standard but there was, in general, good compliance with the Act and Code of Practice;

   (ii)            there were instances where medication was administered to patients which was not authorised by a relevant certificate;

 (iii)            there was no evidence that consideration was being given to the appropriateness of supervised community treatment where section 17 leave extended beyond 7 days;

  (iv)            those on older persons ward appeared less informed about the Independent Mental Health Advocates service then younger adults;

    (v)            the seclusion room at the Glenbourne Unit had been brought back into operation.

In response to questions from the panel it was reported that-

  (vi)            all medication administered to patients was prescribed. Where the medication was not included in the consent to treatment certificate, patients agreed to carry on with the treatment and the amendment was made to the certificate. There was now a fortnightly audit in place and this information was now well documented;

(vii)            work had taken place to improve the level of documentation and information so better consideration can be given to community treatment orders;

(viii)            young people are treated at Mount Gould Hospital which operated at an 80-85% capacity with no fluctuation in the past five years. Specialist and intensive services for young people were provided outside of the city;

  (ix)            those detained under Section 136 were held in a dedicated suite in the Glenbourne Unit;

    (x)            a risk assessment of the practice of initial visual assessments of Section 136 patients in the vestibule areas of the Glenbourne unit;

Resolved

(1)   that panel members would meet with Assistant Chief Executive of Plymouth PCT, meetings will be arranged by the Democratic Support Officer;

(2)   a summary of security arrangements for female patients would be provided to members.

The Director for Community Services will submit a report informing panel on progress with the Carers’ Strategy.

The panel received a briefing note on the carers strategy. An update on the process was provided by the Commissioning Manager for community services. The panel was provided with-

     (i)            an update on the national and local picture;

   (ii)            information on the role of primary care;

 (iii)            an update on achievements in supporting carers in Plymouth;

  (iv)            an update on commissioned services in Plymouth;

    (v)            an update on governance arrangements.

In response to questions from the panel it was reported that-

     (i)            involvement of carers was being achieved through several consultation groups;

   (ii)            a consultant had been commissioned to collect the views of carers;

 (iii)            the service held a list of carers known to them;

  (iv)            carers would be able provide comments through the community and voluntary sector network;

    (v)            by contacting the cared for and assessing their needs the service was able to gather information about the formal and informal carers who required support;

  (vi)            1300 carers have received a service at some stage;

(vii)            a representative sample would be gathered through carers groups in the City including the Learning Disability Partnership and Age Concern amongst others;

(viii)            the carers’ champion service provided a listening ear, there was a contract with a carers phone service and the out of hours team contained a member of the carers service;

  (ix)            carers’ champion service provided some direct services and provided a signposting service.

Resolved;

(1)   that a briefing paper on the Carers Champions would be provided to the panel for information at the next meeting;

(2)   that a task and finish group on carers and cared for people’s experience of engaging policy making process be formed. Councillors Mrs Watkins, Browne, Mrs Nicholson, Delbridge indicated they would like to be members of the group.

The panel will receive a presentation from the LINk.

The panel received a presentation on the work of the LINk organisation. The LINk representative reported-

     (i)            that the LINk involves itself in consultations regarding services in the Plymouth area;

   (ii)            that the LINk was represented on several bodies

 (iii)            about the LINk’s main issues and priorities;

  (iv)            a visiting team was nearing the end of their training.

In answer to questions from the panel it was reported that-

    (v)            LINk was attempting to improve Health and Social Care in a proactive and reactive way;

  (vi)            it was unclear whether the LINk was represented on the Mental Health Partnership;

(vii)            there were 600 members of LINk and 6 – 8 of those members were active in providing presentations and representation on several bodies;

(viii)            10 members trained for the LINk visiting team;

  (ix)            it is unlikely that LINk members have had training in evidenced based research methods;

    (x)            that the LINk would look at what information they would need to feedback to the CQC.

Resolved that-

(1)   the panel would carry out a joint visit with LINk to the Heartswell Facility at Derriford;

(2)   a briefing paper will be provided to the panel on the Diversity Inclusion Network.

The panel will receive for its information a copy of the Healthy Theme Group Minutes from a meeting held on 22 September, 2009.

The Panel received the minutes of the Local Strategic Partnership Healthy Theme Group meeting held on 22 September 2009. It was noted that the Joint Director of Health and Cabinet member for Adult Health and Social Care had not been present the meeting. It was confirmed that the Cabinet Member had attended the November meeting of the theme group.

Resolved to note the minutes of the Local Strategic Partnership Healthy Theme Group of 22 September 2009.

The panel will consider its draft quarterly report.

The panel considered its draft quarterly report.

Resolved-

(1)   that the Democratic Support Officer check the accuracy of member’s panel attendance and make any amendments necessary;

(2)   that the report be submitted to the management board.

The Chair will ask the panel to consider any ‘high level budgetary risks’, as agreed at the Overview and Scrutiny Management Board on 7 October, 2009.

www.plymouth.gov.uk/democracy - overview and scrutiny management board 07.10.09.

The Panel received an update on high level budgetary risks from the Children’s Services Assistant Director for Business Support. In response to questions from the panel it was reported that-

     (i)            That adult social care was maintaining the same volume of people through its service;

   (ii)            costs had risen as a result of transferring people from care into independent living and issues around direct payments;

 (iii)            there was an overspend in the region of £750,000 and the service was reviewing ways to reduce this;

  (iv)            the overspend was beginning to reduce.

Resolved to receive a briefing paper on proposals to address high level budgetary risks at the next meeting of the Panel.

The panel will receive for its consideration the draft response to the South Western Ambulance Service NHS Trust’s Foundation Trust consultation.  The panel’s response needs to be submitted by 6 December, 2009.

The Panel considered its draft response to the foundation trust’s consultation.

Resolved that the consultation response is approved.

To monitor progress on previous resolutions.

Resolved-

(1)   that the Democratic Support officer reports on any responses to the invitation for co-opted members. Minute 12 (1) 23/09/09.

(2)   that Councillor Stark be the nominated substitute for the Overview and Scrutiny Management Board from the Health and Adult Social Care overview and Scrutiny Panel. Minute 14 23/09/09.

The panel will consider its work programme for 2009/10.

The Panel considered its work programme.

Resolved-

(1)   that the next meeting, on 27 January, will start at 10:00 and due to the high level of business may be an all day meeting;

(2)   that lunch be provided from the Management Board’s budget as the Panels remaining budget has been ring-fenced to fund work around adult safeguarding.

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 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.