PAPER B

 

SOCIAL SERVICES, HOUSING AND BENEFITS SELECT COMMITTEE – 8 JULY 2003

 

HEALTHFIT PRESENTATION

 

 REPORT OF THE HEAD OF SELECT COMMITTEE AND BEST VALUE SUPPORT

 

REASON FOR SELECT COMMITTEE CONSIDERATION

 

The Local Government Act 2000 gave Local Authorities a wider role in health improvement within their local communities.  With effect from 1 January 2003 new regulations transferred the responsibilities for overview and scrutiny of health related issues to unitary authorities.

 

This committee previously decided, at the meeting held on 7 April 2003, to maintain a monitoring brief for the HealthFit programme, since it could have significant implications for island residents as to the way health services are delivered in the future.

 

The committee has requested that Mark Price, Director of Strategic Development for both the Primary Care Trust and the Isle of Wight NHS HealthcareTrust, supported by Richard Samuel, Assistant Chief Executive for the Hants and IoW Strategic Health Authority, formally present a ‘locality report’ to the committee regarding progress on the HealthFit programme.  In addition, the report should contain a route map of the processes used to date to engage stakeholders and ensure that both patients and the public are at the centre of future service delivery.

 

ACTION REQUIRED BY THE SELECT COMMITTEE

To debate and make recommendations.

 

BACKGROUND

 

The HealthFit programme and timetable will form part of the PowerPoint presentation.

 

RELEVANT PLANS, POLICIES, STRATEGIES AND PERFORMANCE INDICATORS

 

The new overview and scrutiny responsibility for health issues is linked to the Council’s Corporate Objectives, in particular “Improving health, housing and quality of life for all”.

 

FINANCIAL, LEGAL, CRIME AND DISORDER IMPLICATIONS

 

There are no legal or crime and disorder implications.

 

At this stage the Government has not identified any new funding to enable local authorities to undertake this duty.  The Council has written to the Secretary of State for Health, along with many other local authorities, highlighting this situation.  The future demise of the Community Health Council at the end of the year, has further exacerbated this situation and it is hoped that some level of funding might be made available at a future date.  Currently, this work is being serviced through existing resources within the Select Committee and Best Value Support Team.

 

APPENDICES ATTACHED

 

Mr M Price, will be giving a PowerPoint presentation at the meeting.  If you would like a copy, please visit the Council’s website at www.iwight.com, or contact Katy Green on 823283.

 

BACKGROUND PAPERS USED IN THE PREPARATION OF THIS REPORT

 

None used in the preparation of this report.

 

Contact Point :  Alistair R Drain, Head of Select Committee and Best Value Support

                          Telephone: 823801   email: [email protected]

 

 

A DRAIN

Head of Select Committee and Best Value Support