SOCIAL SERVICES, HOUSING AND BENEFITS SELECT COMMITTEE – 14
OCTOBER 2003
REPORT OF THE HEAD OF SELECT COMMITTEE AND BEST VALUE
SUPPORT
Mark Price, Director of Strategic Development for both the Primary Care Trust and the Isle of Wight NHS Healthcare Trust has been invited to this meeting to present the draft Isle of Wight Local Healthcare Strategy prior to the start of the formal consultation period. The Strategy forms the local NHS response to Healthfit. Mr Price will also be giving a presentation to Full Council on 15 October 2003.
Mr Graham Elderfield, Chief Executive of the Isle of Wight Healthcare NHS Trust, Mr David Crawley, Chief Executive of the Isle of Wight Primary Care Trust will also be present to answer any questions that may arise.
A copy of the draft Isle of Wight Healthcare Strategy has been circulated to Members separately.
ACTION REQUIRED BY THE SELECT COMMITTEE
To receive the proposals contained in the draft Isle of
Wight Local Healthcare Strategy prior to the start of the
formal consultation period and agree a planned approach to developing the response
of the Select Committee.
BACKGROUND TO HEALTH SCRUTINY
The Local Government Act 2000 gave Local Authorities a wider role in health improvement within their local communities. With effect from 1 January 2003 the Health and Social Care Act of 2001 provided a more explicit power for local authorities with responsibility for Social Services to scrutinise health services within the authority’s area. That responsibility now lies with this Select Committee.
Members will recall that in December 2002 the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Strategic Health Authority published a number of proposals for the development of a strategic framework for the future configuration of local health services entitled Healthfit. Since December these proposals have been the subject of a phased programme of informal consultation between local NHS bodies and stakeholders. The publication of the draft Isle of Wight Local Healthcare Strategy marks the local NHS response to the proposals.
The legislation stipulates that where a local health body has under consideration a proposal for a substantial development of services it shall consult the local overview and scrutiny committee. The proposals contained in Healthfit are deemed to be such a development. However, where a substantial development affects more than one overview and scrutiny committee the local authorities affected shall appoint a joint committee for the purposes of consultation and providing a formal response.
The Select Committee will recall that at the July meeting it was recommended that Full Council be requested to appoint two Members to a Joint Committee for the purposes of the scrutiny of Healthfit. Membership of the Joint Committee would comprise elected representatives from Hampshire County Council, Portsmouth City Council and Southampton City Council. It is anticipated that the Isle of Wight Council may consider this request in November.
As the proposals set-out in Healthfit are deemed to be of a substantial nature the Select Committee will be required to provide a response to the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Strategic Health Authority through the Joint Health Committee. In addition, the Select Committee may also wish to respond separately to the draft Isle of Wight Local Healthcare Strategy.
In order to inform both sets of responses, however, it is suggested that this Select Committee may wish to undertake its own local consultation. Members are recommended to do this through a planned programme of meetings with stakeholders, patients’ representatives and other interested bodies. To make effective use of Member’s time the Select Committee may wish to consider appointing a working party to undertake this consultation on its behalf. The working party would, in accordance with the Council’s Constitution be politically proportionate and would meet in public. The working party would also have the power to co-opt external members.
RELEVANT PLANS, POLICIES,
STRATEGIES AND PERFORMANCE INDICATORS
The new overview and scrutiny responsibility for health is linked to the Council’s Corporate Objectives, in particular “Improving health, housing and quality of life for all”.
Health Improvement Plan
FINANCIAL, LEGAL, CRIME AND DISORDER IMPLICATIONS
There are no crime and disorder implications.
This report has been written in
accordance with the Health and Social Care Act 2001, the Local Authority
(Overview and Scrutiny Committees Health Scrutiny Functions) Regulations 2002
and the Directions to Local Authorities (Overview and Scrutiny Committees,
Health Scrutiny Functions)
The Government has not yet identified any new funding to enable local authorities to undertake health scrutiny. The Council has written to the Secretary of State for Health, along with many other local authorities, highlighting this situation. Currently, this work is being serviced through existing resources within the Select Committee and Best Value Support Team.
APPENDICES ATTACHED
BACKGROUND PAPERS USED IN THE
PREPARATION OF THIS REPORT
The Draft Local Authority (Overview and Scrutiny Committees Health Scrutiny Functions) Regulations 2002 (Department of Health, October 2002)
Overview and Scrutiny of Health – Guidance (Department of Health, July 2003)
Healthfit: Configuring Health Services in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight –(Hampshire and Isle of Wight Strategic Health Authority, December 2002)
Directions to Local Authorities
(Overview and Scrutiny Committees, Health Scrutiny Functions)
Healthfit Phase 3 Resource Pack (Hampshire and isle of Wight Strategic Health Authority)
Contact Point: Saskia Kiernan, Select Committee and Best Value Support,
Tel 823805, e-mail [email protected]
ALISTAIR DRAIN