Agenda item

(To receive a report which sets out the work programmes of the Adults and Community Wellbeing Committee; and the Health Scrutiny Committee for Lincolnshire, in accordance with the Board's agreed programme)

The Overview and Scrutiny Management Board was invited to consider whether it was satisfied with the content of the work programmes of the Adults and Community Wellbeing Scrutiny Committee and the Health Scrutiny Committee for Lincolnshire; and, if appropriate, to make suggestions on the content of the work programmes of these two committees.

Adults and Community Wellbeing Scrutiny Committee

Councillor Hugo Marfleet, Chairman of the Adults and Community Wellbeing Scrutiny Committee, highlighted two items that had been considered by the Committee on 28 November 2018.  Firstly, reference was made to the Wellbeing Service, where the Committee had received an update on the new contractual arrangements whereby there was one provider for all Lincolnshire.

Secondly, as part of the Committee's item on the Digital Road Map for Adult Care and Community Wellbeing, three IT developments had been highlighted: Online Self-Serve Financial Assessments; Data Security Protection Toolkit; and Connect to Support.

In addition to the items included on pages 103-104 of the report pack, an item on Sexual Health Services would be included on the agenda for 16 January 2019.  Community Based Support for People with Dementia and Their Families; and Budget Monitoring 2018-19 had been added to the agenda for 27 February 2019.  Two items had also been added to the agenda for 10 April 2019: Integrated Community Care Portfolio; and Opportunities and Challenges of Rurality. 

In relation to Integrated Lifestyle Support Services, which had been considered by the Committee on 10 October 2018, there was a comment that a higher than average body mass index (BMI) did not indicate obesity in every instance.  Links between obesity and mental health were also discussed by the Committee.

In response to a question on the fragility of private health and care providers, the Chairman of the Committee referred to the arrangements made to maintain the Lincolnshire Assessment and Re-ablement Service, where the existing provider was expected to cease operations on 14 December 2018.  The contract had been transferred to a new provider, Libertas, who had guaranteed services to clients and jobs for existing employees. 

A request was made for the Board to receive information on the Committee's proposed item for 10 April on Opportunities and Challenges of Rurality as part of the next update from the Committee on 26 April 2019.

Health Scrutiny Committee for Lincolnshire

In addition to the items highlighted on pages 107 – 109 of the agenda pack, Councillor Carl Macey, Chairman of the Health Scrutiny Committee for Lincolnshire, reported that in relation to the Committee's referral to the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care of the 'temporary' overnight closure of Grantham Accident and Emergency Department, the latest position was that the Minister of State for Health had asked South West Lincolnshire Clinical Commissioning Group and United Lincolnshire Hospitals NHS Trust to send to him their plans for consultation by 31 December 2018.  The Chairman looked to have this item included on the agenda for the Committee's January meeting. 

In relation to Louth County Hospital In-patient Services, Lincolnshire East Clinical Commissioning Group had replied to the Committee's statement on the engagement exercise; and had also announced revisions to its proposed model of care at the hospital, so that Carlton Ward would provide 20 beds and Manby Ward would reopen as an eight-bed frailty assessment unit.  These developments would be reported to the next meeting of the Committee on 12 December 2018.

The publication of the NHS Long Term Plan was due in early December and was likely to include an expectation for local sustainability and transformation partnerships to engage on the development of their own plans in line with the national plan in the first half of 2019.  As a consequence it was now expected that the Lincolnshire Sustainability and Transformation Partnership's acute services review would be published and its consideration would occupy much of the Committee's time in the next few months.  

In addition to the above, The Committee is now planning two items for its February meeting: North West Anglia NHS Foundation Trust Update; and Non-Emergency Patient Transport (Thames Ambulance Service).

In relation to extended GP opening hours, which had been introduced on 1 October 2018, the level of information available to patients about these new services was raised. As the services were relatively new, it might take time for all patients to be aware of them.

RESOLVED

(1)  That the Board record its satisfaction with and support for the content of the work programme of the Adults and Community Wellbeing Scrutiny Committee, with a request that information on the proposed item on Opportunities and Challenges of Rurality be included in the next update from the Committee to the Board on 26 April 2019.

(2)  That the Board record its satisfaction with and support for the content of the work programme of the Health Scrutiny Committee for Lincolnshire.