Agenda, decisions and minutes

Councillors Hilary McGuill and Dave Mackie declared personal interests  in the following item as members of the Community Health Council:-

Agenda Item 5 – Presentation by the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board

That Councillor Andy Dunbobbin be appointed Vice-Chair of the Committee.

The Chairman sought nominations for a Vice-Chairman for the Committee. 

Councillor David Wisinger nominated Councillor Andy Dunbobbin as  Vice-Chair of the Committee and this was duly seconded.

RESOLVED:

That Councillor Andy Dunbobbin be appointed Vice-Chair of the Committee.

That the minutes be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

(i)         The minutes of the meeting held on 1 May 2014 had been circulated with the agenda.

(ii)        The minutes of the joint Lifelong Learning and Social & Care Overview and Scrutiny Committee meeting held on 2 May 2014 had been circulated with the agenda.

Matters arising

Visual Impairment Support to Children and Adults in Flintshire

Councillor Peter Curtis referred to his request to reinstate the Disability Sub Group and expressed his disappointment that no resources were available to enable this to happen.

RESOLVED:

That the minutes be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

That the update be noted.

The Chair welcomed and introduced Mr. John Darlington, Assistant Director of Planning (BCUHB), and Jon Falcus, Operational Manager, Wrexham Maelor Hospital.  She invited them to provide an update on service change/developments and respond to the issues which had been raised by Members in advance of the meeting

Mr. Darlington and Mr. Falcus thanked the Committee for the opportunity to provide an update about key areas of public health practice in the County and gave a brief overview of the structural changes and developments which had taken place in BCUHB.

In response to the question on the removal of services from Flintshire, including Deeside Hospital, Mr. Darlington and Mr. Falcus said they were not aware of any services withdrawn from Flintshire.  Mr. Darlington referred to the importance of Deeside Hospital and  explained that significant capital development had been made in Deeside to expand the range of services for the area and population.  Mr. Falcus commented on the work being undertaken to re-establish links with the Authority’s Social Services department to develop a closer working relationship between Deeside Community Hospital, BCUHB, and the Countess of Chester Hospital. 

Mr. Falcus referred.to the changes put in place at Deeside Hospital to maintain quality of care and referred to the secondment of a senior charge nurse, and the allocation of an additional 8 beds from May 2014.  He also commented on the need to recruit nursing staff as a result of the increase in the number of  beds at Deeside Hospital and whilst this had presented a challenge it was anticipated that appointments would be made by September 2014.  He advised that since March 2014 a range of measures had been introduced  to assess the quality of services delivered in Deeside Hospital and significant improvement had been made in terms of quality of care which should be sustained.

During discussion Mr. Darlington and Mr. Falcus responded to the additional  comments and queries raised by Members around the increased pressure on main hospitals due to closure of local cottage/community hospitals, demands of a future ageing population and the new Deeside Enterprise Zone. 

Concerning the question on the hearing clinic being discontinued at Deeside Hospital, Mr. Darlington advised that BCUHB continued to provide an audiology service at Deeside Hospital, however, the Countess of Chester had withdrawn its audiology service from the site.    

                        The Chair expressed congratulations, on behalf of the Committee, to

Mr. Darlington and Mr. Falcus, for the recent award received by Deeside hospital.

                        Concerning the question on cross boundary issues Mr. Darlington commented on the ongoing collaborative work  with the Countess of Chester in terms of managerial and clinical matters.  Regarding Flintshire residents accessing treatment at Gobowen, Mr. Darlington advised that access to Gobowen was the same for Flintshire areas as elsewhere in North Wales and that  all patients in North Wales received the same treatment and standard of care.  BCUHB had a contract with Gobowen to provide a range of services and was an important partner in terms  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.

(a)          That the contents of the draft Improvement Plan 2014/15 and the “How

achievement will be measured” document be supported; and

(b)       That a site visit be arranged for the Committee to view the facilities at  Hafan Gwydir, Llanrwst.

The Performance Team Leader gave a short presentation on the draft Improvement Plan 2014/15 and the “How achievement will be measured” document prior to final publication in June 2014.  She provided background information and advised that for 2014/15 a review of the current priorities and sub-priorities had been undertaken.  She referred to the main considerations in the report and explained that the sub-priorities to be monitored and reviewed by the Committee, as part of the quarterly Improvement Plan monitoring process, were attached as Appendix A to the report.  Members were also asked to comment on the targets and milestones proposed for the 2014/15 Improvement Plan. 

The Chief Officer (Social Services) gave an update on plans to extend extra care housing in Flintshire.  He advised that the Authority had agreed a Social Housing partner to provide units in Flint and Holywell.  The Chief Officer explained that one of the options for consideration  was to develop extra housing and a primary care resource centre on the same site. 

            Councillor Hilary McGuill raised concerns around the proposal to create a ‘joint site’ in Flint by developing an Extra Care unit and a Health Centre on the same site and emphasised the need to “protect” extra care facilities.  The Chief Officer acknowledged the concerns raised and gave an assurance that extra care would not be compromised as a result of a ‘joint site’ facility and referred to the joint site at at  HafanGwydir, Llanrwst, as an example.  It was suggested and agreed that it would be helpful if a site visit was arranged for the Committee to view the facilities at  Hafan Gwydir, Llanrwst.

During discussion Members raised further queries around the Intermediate Care Fund.  The Senior Manager Commissioning and Performance advised that a range of measures were being implemented to support people out of hospital into care at home.  It was suggested that a report be submitted to a meeting of the Committee in six months time to provide more detail around how the Intermediate Care fund was being used.  

RESOLVED:

(a)          That the contents of the draft Improvement Plan 2014/15 and the “How

achievement will be measured” document be supported; and

(b)       That a site visit be arranged for the Committee to view the facilities at  Hafan Gwydir, Llanrwst.

That subject to the above the Forward Work Programme be agreed.

The Environment and Social Care Facilitator introduced the report to consider the Forward Work Programme of the Committee.   She advised that the following items were scheduled for consideration at the next meeting of the Committee to be held on 3 July 2014:

• Adult Safeguarding
• Emergency Duty Team
• 2013/14 year End and Q4 data
• Improvement Plan Monitoring update
• Chief Officer Performance Report

Councillor Dave Mackie asked that a report on hearing impairment be submitted to a future meeting of the Committee.

The Facilitator advised Members that a Forward Work Programme planning session had been arranged to be held on 25 July 2014. 

RESOLVED:

That subject to the above the Forward Work Programme be agreed.

There was one member of the press and no members of the public in attendance.