The Chair welcomed Margaret Schwarz, newly appointed Co-opted Representative from the Plymouth Hospitals NHS Trust, to her first panel meeting.

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

There were no declarations of interest made in accordance with the Code of Conduct.

The panel will be asked to confirm the minutes of the meeting held on 25 November, 2009.

Resolved that the minutes of the meeting held on 25 November, 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.

Annual Performance Assessment of Adult Social Care 2008/09 – Report from Care Quality Commission

The Chair reported that in order to give due consideration to the matter a special meeting would be convened to enable officers to present the report and action plan detailing how the performance of the service would be maintained, alongside the work already in hand, to move towards integration with health and implementing the personalisation policy – Putting People First.

Resolved that consideration of the item be deferred to a special meeting to take place no later than 26 February, 2010.

(In accordance with Section 100(B)(4)(b) of the Local Government Act, 1972, the Chair brought forward the above item of business because of the need to consult Members).

The Committee will consider proposals to centralise gynaecological cancer surgery.

The Panel considered a report by NHS Plymouth.  The report –

In response to questions raised, it was reported that –

Members welcomed the principle of developing centres of excellence but recognised that patients had other outcomes to consider such as emotional and financial wellbeing.  Given that Plymouth was a city with pockets of deprivation, the panel sought assurances that the needs of patients having to travel would be met and supported, along with those of their families. 

Recommended that the findings of the independent clinical review could not be supported because the report fails to provide the assurances the panel would need in respect of -

The Committee will consider proposals for improving burn care services for adults and children.

The panel considered a report by the South West Specialised Commissioning Group (SWSCG) regarding service improvement proposals for burn care services for adults and children.  In attendance to present the report were Keith Reid, Consultant in Public Health, Sue Davies, Associate Director of the South West Specialised Commissioning Group and Lead Commissioner for Burns, and Dr. Lou Farbus, Public and Patient Engagement Facilitator.

The report –

In response to questions raised, the panel heard –

The panel welcomed the comprehensive report, particularly the inclusion of the glossary which had been most helpful, and thanked the representatives from the South West Specialised Commissioning Group for their attendance.  Whilst the principle of developing centres of excellence was welcomed, Members recognised that patients had other outcomes to consider besides medical, such as emotional and financial wellbeing.  Given that Plymouth was a city with pockets of deprivation, it was suggested that consideration be given to issuing travel warrants to families unable to pay to join their loved ones should the worst happen.

Recommended that -

The panel will consider the Joint Strategic Needs Assessment - an ongoing and evolving evidence base that informs the general public and those who commission health services, children’s services and adult care services.

The Assistant Director for Business Support (Community Services) and Director for Public Health were in attendance to report on the Joint Strategic Needs Assessment (JSNA), a document that, when analysed, drew out the main health, social care and well-being needs of the city.  It was used to inform those who commissioned adult care services and children’s services and set priorities in order to ensure that services were shaped by the community and inequalities were reduced.

The report –

In response to questions raised, it was reported that –

Members welcomed the report and its recognition of how health impacted upon services in the city.

Given that health cross-cuts many of the Corporate Improvement Priorities (CIPS) agreed as part of the Council’s plan to improve quality of life in the city, it was recommended that the Overview and Scrutiny Management Board recommend to Cabinet that the Director for Public Health be recognized as an essential element in the development of plans and strategies for the City and be invited to attend all future Corporate Management Team, Cabinet and Local Strategic Partnership meetings, or any other meetings deemed to be appropriate.

The panel will consider the Annual Performance Assessment of Adult Social Care for 2008/09 from the Care Quality Commission, and the action plan produced to monitor progress against the key areas requiring development.

Item withdrawn - minute 53 refers.

The panel will consider the Dementia Strategy and Action Plan.

The Director for Community Services submitted the draft Dementia Strategy for Plymouth, along with the Action Plan.  In attendance to present the report was the Commissioning Manager for Adult Social Care Services, Commissioning Mental Health Lead and Cabinet Member for Health and Adult Social Care.  Members were informed that –

Members welcomed and supported the Strategy, but, given the current economic climate expressed concerns around its funding, resourcing and deliverability. 

In response to questions raised, it was further reported that there was no requirement for GPs or nurses to be trained in dementia diagnosis.  However, a GP Lead on Dementia was shortly to be appointed and it was hoped that, once this person was in place, discussions would take place with the GP contract manager to look at ways of making dementia a higher priority.

Resolved that –

The panel will receive a progress report in respect of Adaptations, including the disabled facilities grant.

The panel received a report providing an update on minor and major adaptations for both the private sector and Plymouth Community Homes, including issues affecting Disabled Facilities Grants (DFG).  In attendance to present the report were the Private Sector Housing and Regeneration Manager, Head of Community Service (Adult Social Care) and Service Manager (Adult Social Care).

Members were informed that the Council had hoped to have received its DFG allocation for 2010/11 by the end of December 2009, however, this had not been the case.  Concern was expressed that Plymouth had received only 65% of its assessed need for 2009/10.  Whilst every effort was being taken to utilise funds to maximum effect it remained the case that available resources did not meet demand with a resulting negative impact on waiting lists and times.  Should Plymouth not receive its full entitlement for 2010/11, the situation would get worse.

Recommended that the Cabinet write to Government Office South West expressing concern at the historical disproportionately low DFG allocation to the city and seeking assurances that the figure for 2010/11 would more accurately reflect Plymouth’s assessed need.

The panel will receive information relating to the effects of alcohol harm and the work being undertaken to address the problem in the City.

The panel received a verbal update from the Commissioning Manager at the Public Health Development Unit (PHDU) and the Lead Clinician for Liver Disease at Derriford Hospital.  It was reported that –

The panel welcomed the update and looked forward to participating in the Strategy consultation.

Resolved that -

The panel will consider information presented in respect of the City’s performance against LAA stretch targets.

The panel received a presentation by the Stop Smoking Service Manager providing an overview of the work of the Smoking Cessation Service in Plymouth and detailing how it was performing against health targets, including the LAA stretch targets.  Highlights of the presentation included that –

In response to questions raised, it was reported that –

Resolved that –

(The Vice-Chair took the Chair for part of this item).

The panel will receive for its information a copy of the Healthy Theme Group Minutes from a meeting held on 12 November, 2009.

The panel received for its information a copy of the Local Strategic Partnership’s Healthy Theme Group minutes of the meeting held on 12 November, 2009.

(The Vice-Chair took the Chair for this item).

To monitor progress on previous resolutions.

The panel received for its information a copy of the tracking resolutions schedule.

(The Vice-Chair took the Chair for this item).

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

The panel considered its work programme for 2009/2010 as presented and, further to minutes 53 and 60, noted the requirement for an additional meeting in February.

(The Vice-Chair took the Chair for this item).

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.

(The Vice-Chair took the Chair for this item).