SOCIAL SERVICES, HOUSING AND BENEFITS SELECT COMMITTEE - 6 NOVEMBER 2003
PROPOSALS
FOR SELECT COMMITTEE CONSULTATION ON THE DRAFT ISLE OF WIGHT HEALTHCARE
STRATEGY
REASON FOR SELECT COMMITTEE CONSIDERATION
At the meeting on 14 October 2003 the Select Committee agreed to undertake its own consultation with stakeholders, patient’s representatives and other interested bodies in order to provide a response to the Draft Isle of Wight Local Healthcare Strategy. This is in addition to the response to the proposals setout in Healthfit that the Select Committee will be required to provide, together with Hampshire County Council, Portsmouth City Council and Southampton City Council, through the Joint Health Committee.
This paper sets out a number of proposals on how the consultation could be effected.
ACTION REQUIRED BY THE SELECT COMMITTEE
To
consider the consultation proposals and agree the schedule of consultation
meetings
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.
The publication of the draft Isle of Wight Local Healthcare Strategy marked the local NHS response to the proposals contained in Healthfit. Members will recall the presentation at the last meeting from Mark Price, Director of Strategic Development for both the Primary Care Trust and the Isle of Wight NHS Healthcare Trust on the draft Isle of Wight Local Healthcare Strategy.
The Select Committee is recommended to undertake its consultation through a series of formal Select Committee meetings specifically arranged around the themes contained in the Draft Isle of Wight Local Healthcare Strategy. It is anticipated that this approach will enable the Select Committee to produce a clear response to all aspects of the Strategy.
Each meeting will provide an opportunity for stakeholders, patients’ representatives and other interested bodies to give evidence to the Select Committee on the proposals set out in the Draft Strategy. Notification of each meeting will be given both through personal written
invitations and through advertisements in the County Press. A proposed schedule of meetings is attached for Members’ consideration at Appendix 1.
In order to provide an opportunity for a wide cross-section of the community to be involved in the consultation process it is proposed that the meetings take place in the evening at County Hall. County Hall is centrally placed and is accessible to all. Two ‘sweep-up’ meetings have been arranged to take place at the end of January for those stakeholders who are unable to attend an earlier scheduled meeting. In addition, it is suggested that the Select Committee indicate their willingness to accept written evidence at any stage of the consultation process.
An invitation to all the meetings will be sent to Social Services, the Association of Town and Parish Councils, Patients Forums representatives and the Executive of the Local Strategic Partnership.
Advice is being sought from the Council’s Communications and Public Relations Team with regard to involving the local media. Consideration is also being given to providing a comment form for circulation through the Council’s libraries, help centres and website.
The Select Committee is reminded that under the terms of the Council’s constitution, six elected Members need to be present in order for a Select Committee meeting to be quorate.
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 Action Group
CONSULTATION PROCESS
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
Appendix 1- Proposed schedule of Consultation meetings
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)
Draft Isle of Wight Local Healthcare Strategy
Contact Point: Saskia Kiernan, Select Committee and Best Value Support,
Tel 823805, e-mail [email protected]
ALISTAIR DRAIN