Agenda, decisions and minutes

No declarations of interest were made.  

Representatives of the Board have been invited to the meeting to discuss the proposals contained within the consultation document, a copy of which is attached.

The Board have been notified that the Council's particular areas of concern are as follows:

(1) Home Enhanced Care Service;

(2) The Deeside Mold Hub;

(3) The Future of Flint Community Hospital and plans for a primary care centre;

(4)  Cross-border services, notwithstanding the reference to this in page 15 of the consultation document and

(5) Transport.

A short presentation will be given by the Board representatives after which  Members will be able to ask questions.

(a)       That the presentation be noted; and 

(b)       That the BCUHB submit written responses to the questions shown in Appendix 1 of the minutes prior to a formal response being considered at a special meeting of the County Council on 24 October, 2012

The Chair welcomed Members, the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board (BCUHB) representatives and members of the public to the meeting.  She explained that some questions had been prepared in advance, copies of which were circulated before the start of the meeting.  Members would be given the opportunity to ask supplementary questions during the meeting. 

                        The Chair invited the Chief Executive, Director of Community Services and Councillor C.M. Jones, Cabinet Member for Social Services to speak before the BCUHB representatives gave their presentation.

            The Chief Executive reported that he had requested that the presentation to be given by the BCUHB representatives be extended to include specific information on the proposals for Flintshire and the following particular areas of concern:-

·         Home Enhanced Care Service;

·         The Deeside Mold Hub

·         The Future of Flint Community Hospital and plans for a primary care centre;

·         Cross-border services, notwithstanding the reference to this in page 15 of the consultation document; and

·         Transport

A special County Council meeting would be arranged prior to the deadline for responses to the consultation document to allow the Council to submit its formal response.

The Director of Community Services outlined the actions taken together with the Cabinet Member for Social Services following publication of the consultation document.  He said that there was a need to ensure that the proposals contained within the document would not create an additional financial burden to the Council whilst still supporting residents within the context of the Social and Health Care Wellbeing Strategy.  He commented on the need for further detailed information on future budgets and said that if the proposals were agreed these should be in place before the decommissioning of other services.     

Councillor C.M. Jones, Cabinet Member for Social Services, said that Members wanted to ensure that the proposals would be safe for all residents in Flintshire and said that she shared the concerns outlined by the Director of Community Services on preventing an additional financial burden to the Council in the future.

Mr. Geoff Lang, Executive Director of Primary Care, Community and Mental Health Services gave a presentation which covered the following areas:-

·         Why change?

·         More Care closer to home

·         What isn’t changing

·         Our proposals for change

·         Neonatal Intensive Care Service – our proposals

·         Vascular Services – our proposals

·         Older persons Mental Health – our proposals

·         Enhancing Care in the Community

·         Hospital Hubs

·         Enhanced Care at home

·         What the proposals mean for your local area – Flint

·         Cross border issues

Members raised a number of concerns around the proposals for the Neonatal Intensive Care Service, the proposals for Mold Community Hospital and Flint Community Hospital, the current shortage of hospital beds at Glan Clwyd Hospital, the level of funding allocated to meet future transport needs, enhanced care at home, that the proposals would be safe for the residents of Flintshire, cross-border issues and dementia care. 

Councillor I.B. Roberts highlighted a recent local press article from Dr. Eamon Jessup who had raised concerns around the shortage of beds at Glan Clwyd Hospital following the loss  ...  view the full minutes text for item 27.

                        The meeting commenced at 10.00 a.m. and ended at 12.57 p.m.

                        There were several members of the public and press in attendance.