Agenda item

(To receive a report by Simon Evans (Health Scrutiny Officer) which invites the Health Scrutiny Committee for Lincolnshire to consider the next steps for its review and scrutiny of delayed transfers of care)

Consideration was given to a report from the Director Responsible for Democratic Services which asked the Committee to consider the next steps for its review and scrutiny of delayed transfers of care (DTOC).

Simon Evans (Health Scrutiny Officer) introduced the report which confirmed that the issue had been considered by the Health Scrutiny Committee for Lincolnshire who made a request for the Adults Scrutiny Committee to also consider this.  The Adults Scrutiny Committee accepted this request and the item was considered at the following meetings of the committee:-

·       6 April 2016;

·       7 September 2016; and

·       19 October 2016.

In the meantime, reference had been made to delayed transfers of care within three reports to the Health Scrutiny Committee for Lincolnshire.

The request for consideration by the Adults Scrutiny Committee was made on the basis that this committee was the lead for the scrutiny of the Better Care Fund (BCF) which, for 2016/17, included the reduction of delayed transfers of care as a key measurement.

The Adults Scrutiny Committee had considered two reports where delayed transfers of care formed a substantial element.  Firstly, as part of an item on Seasonal Resilience of Adult Care in April 2016; secondly, in October 2016, when it considered Adult Care Acute Delayed Transfers of Care; and also within the detailed performance information as part of the Quarter 1 Performance Monitoring Report on the Better Care Fund in September 2016.

On the 19 October 2016, the Adults Scrutiny Committee resolved to note the information presented and, as part of the discussion, suggested that the Health Scrutiny Committee for Lincolnshire take the lead on scrutinising this issue in the future.  It was further suggested that a joint meeting or working group be established to give further consideration to the topic.

The Health Scrutiny Committee had continued to receive information on DTOC as part of its regular consideration of Urgent Care Updates and the inclusion of this information had reflected the importance of 'patient flow' to ensure the effective operation of the urgent care system.

The Health Scrutiny Committee could continue in its role of scrutinising DTOC as part of its role with focus on NHS organisations and their efforts to reduce delays.  Similarly, the Adults Scrutiny Committee would continue to receive quarterly performance information on the Better Care Fund which included extensive detail on DTOC performance.

In order to consolidate and enhance the individual scrutiny activity of each committee, it was suggested that a joint informal meeting or working group be established.  Outcomes would then be reported to each committee.

The Committee was invited to ask questions, during which the following points were noted:-

·       Members who also served on the Adults Scrutiny Committee indicated that consideration of this item at that committee had not led to satisfactory outcomes and they would support a joint approach to the topic;

·       The Committee concluded that joint working between the two committees was essential for this issue as it overlapped both Health and Social Care;

·       As a member of the Health Scrutiny Committee for Lincolnshire, the Vice-Chairman of the Adults Scrutiny Committee was keen to establish a working group.  It was agreed that an invitation be made the Adults Scrutiny Committee seeking it's agreement for a joint working group and to nominate members to participate;

RESOLVED

1.    That the report be noted; and

2.    That a working group be established compromising of the following Councillors S L W Palmer, Mrs S M Wray, Mrs J M Renshaw, J Kirk and Mrs C A Talbot; and

3.    That an invitation for representatives of the Adults Scrutiny Committee to join the working group be submitted to the Adults Scrutiny Committee.