Agenda, decisions and minutes

There were no declarations of interest.

To confirm as a correct record the minutes of the last meeting.

(a)       That the minutes be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair; and

(b)       That the Member Engagement Manager seeks the information relating to the comments on page 7 from BCUHB.

The minutes of the meeting held on 9 January 2014 had been circulated with the agenda. 

Matters arising

Enhanced Care at Home:

Page 7:  The Chairman referred to the comments expressed by Councillors Dave Mackie and Stella Jones in relation to BCUHB discharging patients from hospital to free up beds.  She asked for an update on the position in Deeside Hospital and commented that 28 beds had been closed in Flintshire and asked when they would be reopened.  

RESOLVED:

(a)       That the minutes be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair; and

(b)       That the Member Engagement Manager seeks the information relating to the comments on page 7 from BCUHB.

That the Committee endorsed the draft response to the consultation on amendment of the Welsh Health Specialised Services Committee (Wales) Directions 2009. 

The Chair announced that she had agreed that the Committee should consider an additional item on the grounds of urgency, as provided for under Section 100 B(4)(b) of the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended).  The item was concerning consultation on amendment of the Welsh Health Specialised Services Committee (Wales) Directions 2009. 

The Chair invited the Director of Community Services to report on the above consultation by the Welsh Government.  The Director advised that responses to the consultation were to be submitted by end of 13 February 2014 and gave an outline of the three main proposals in the consultation document.  He explained that he had drafted a response on behalf of the Authority for the Committee’s consideration which, if agreed, supported the changes proposed but made the point that commissioning arrangements should be based on local need, supported patient choice, and reflected cross border arrangements and good relationships. 

The Committee considered the draft response.  Councillor David Wisinger proposed that the draft response be agreed and this was endorsed by the Committee.

RESOLVED:

That the Committee endorsed the draft response to the consultation on amendment of the Welsh Health Specialised Services Committee (Wales) Directions 2009. 

To receive an update from representatives of the Public Health Service on public health related issues.

            That the update be noted.

The Chair welcomed Andrew Jones, Executive Director of Public Health, Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board (BCUHB) to the meeting. 

Mr. Jones introduced Dr. Sandra Sandham, Director of Dental Public Health, Heather Ramessur-Marsden, Lead Screening Engagement Specialist, Hannah Jones, Screening Engagement Specialist, Marian Jones, North Wales Community Dental Services, Dr. Neil Wigglesworth, Nurse Consultant, Welsh Healthcare Associated Infection Programme Team, Tracey Cooper, Assistant Director of Nursing – Infection Prevention, BCUHB, Jackie James, Principal Health Development Specialist, and Karen Chambers, Well Being and Partnership Lead, Flintshire County Council/BCUHB.

Mr. Jones thanked the Committee for the opportunity to provide an update about key areas of public health practice in the County and in particular  concerning:

·        Cancer prevention  (focus on screening)

·        Oral hygiene (including school setting and access to dentists)

·        Healthcare Associated Infections (focus on C Difficile and MRSA)

·        Current health improvement initiatives involving Flintshire County Council

  Heather Ramessur-Marsden, and Hannah Jones gave a presentation on Screening in Flintshire.  Members were informed that the Screening Division, Public Health Wales, was charged with managing the following  population based national screening programmes across Wales:

·        Breast Test Wales

·        Cervical Screening Wales

·        Bowel Screening Wales

·        Wales Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Screening Programme

·        Newborn Hearing Screening Wales

·        Newborn Bloodspot Screening Wales

·        The Division also hosted the Antenatal Screening Clinical Network (Antenatal Screening Wales)

 In response to the comments and concerns expressed by Members around the uptake of screening, specifically bowel and cervical screening programmes, Heather Ramessur-Marsden explained that a number of initiatives were being undertaken to increase uptake and tackle inequity. She said there were many factors, including personal choice, which may deter individuals from participating in screening.  She advised that the aim was to enable all eligible people to make an informed decision as to whether or not to engage in screening and that collaborative working with partners was key to achieving the objective.

Dr. Sandra Sandham and Marian Jones provided an overview on oral hygiene in Flintshire and gave a presentation on the following: 

·        Access to NHS General Dental Practice: Flintshire

·        National Oral Health Plan (identified areas of good practice – Flintshire)

·        Designed to Smile programme – Flintshire

In response to the comments made by Members, Marian Jones confirmed that all schools in Flintshire were participating in the Designed to Smile programme which aimed to establish good health habits from an early age.

Dr. Neil Wigglesworth and Tracey Cooper gave a presentation on the Prevention and Control of Healthcare Associated Infections in the BCUHB.  They provided an update on progress with infection prevention, including developments in reducing Clostridium difficile infection, the prevention of MRSA, and the actions in place to strengthen Norovirus control measures. 

Dr. Wigglesworth provided a brief overview on the work programme to improve antimicrobial prescribing across BCUHB and the actions to achieve required outcomes.    Tracey Cooper advised that the Welsh Government and Health Boards and Trusts in Wales had committed to a ‘zero tolerance of preventable Healthcare Associated Infection (HCAI)’.    She referred to the new national targets and large-scale change programme for HCAI  ...  view the full minutes text for item 52.

To receive a verbal report from Members of the Committee

(a)       That the report be noted;

(b)       That Members be encouraged to complete all outstanding visits up the end of March 2014; and

(c)        That further updates on rota visits be provided to the Committee at 6 month intervals.

The Head of Adult Services introduced a report to provide feedback on rota visits completed from September 2013 to start of February 2014.  He referred to the visits undertaken to Arosfa, Estuary Crafts, Freshfields, Glanrafon, Marleyfield Day Centre, Melrose Day Centre, North East Wales Community Equipment Service (NEWCES) and Triffordd, and commented on the value of feedback and the actions taken to improve services where necessary.

The Head of Adult Services said that if any Member should require support to carry out their initial rota visits arrangements could be made to assist  them in this task.  Councillor Andy Dunbobbin asked if he could be provided with training on Rota Visits.  The Head of Adult Services said he would ask the Contact Team Manager to coordinate arrangements.

RESOLVED:

(a)       That the report be noted;

(b)       That Members be encouraged to complete all outstanding visits up the end of March 2014; and

(c)        That further updates on rota visits be provided to the Committee at 6 month intervals.

(a)       That the report be noted;

(b)       That an Annual Council Reporting Framework Task Group be formed by  Councillors Marian Bateman, Dave Mackie, Andy Dunbobbin, Carol Ellis and Hilary McGuill.

The Member Engagement Manager introduced the report to consider the Forward Work Programme of the Committee.   He advised that the following items were scheduled for consideration at the next meeting of the Committee to be held on 20 March 2014:

• Annual Council Reporting Framework
• Improvement Plan Monitoring update
• Annual Fostering Inspection
• Directorate Plan

The Member Engagement Manager sought volunteers to form an Annual Council Reporting Framework Task Group.  In response to the request Councillors Marian Bateman, Dave Mackie, Andy Dunbobbin, Carol Ellis and volunteered to serve on the Group.  The Chairman commented that Councillor Hilary McGuill had also previously indicated that she may be willing to serve on such a group.  

The Member Engagement Manager advised that the Local Government (Wales) Measure provided a duty to scrutinise other public service bodies.   The Welsh Government (WG) had issued draft guidance on which bodies be included and Health was included which was a major change of the previous Welsh Government (WG) stance.  However, he cautioned this may not be implemented for a while.  In the circumstances, health scrutiny would continue to be carried out  using the general powers in S21(2)(e) of the Local Government Act 2000.

RESOLVED:

(a)       That the report be noted;

(b)       That an Annual Council Reporting Framework Task Group be formed by  Councillors Marian Bateman, Dave Mackie, Andy Dunbobbin, Carol Ellis and Hilary McGuill.

There were no members of the press or public in attendance.