Meeting documents

            Meeting: Health Scrutiny Sub-Committee (County Hall, Durham - Committee Room 2 - 05/07/2004 10:00:00 AM)

                  Item: A7 Development Session - 22 April 2004

         

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Health Scrutiny Sub-Committee 5 July 2004 Development Session: 22nd April 2004

Report of Head of Overview and Scrutiny

Purpose of Report

1. To report on the Development Session held on the 22nd April 2004 and the outcome of the workshops which may assist with the choice of projects for the Sub-Committee.

Background

2. On the 22nd April 2004, a Development Session for Members of the Health Scrutiny Sub-Committee took place at Trevelyan College, Durham. There were forty-five attendees including representatives from the Sub-Committee, all the Patient Forums operating in the County and the Patients’ Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) together with representatives from Health bodies.

3. Presentations were given about Health Scrutiny, Patients’ Forums and the PALS Service. The main aim was to increase understanding for those involved in the public and patient initiatives in the modern Health Service.

4. The next stage of the session was taken up by workshops. There were two themes. Firstly to consider the most important health issues in County Durham for Scrutiny to examine. The second workshop considered how Patients’ Forums and the PALS Service could work most effectively with Scrutiny.

Views from the Workshop Groups About the Most Important Health Issues in County Durham

5. The outcome of the discussions by the workshop groups who were asked to list the three most important issues for Scrutiny in priority order are set out below. The workshop groups were designed to provide a mix of Health Scrutiny Members, Patients’ Forum members, PALS staff and Health bodies. The results are set out below.

GROUP A 1. Avoiding ill health - · Education from the cradle to the grave · Cost of exercise 2. Dental health · Availability of services · Fluoridisation · Costs 3. Mens health · Prostrate/testicular cancer · Awareness raising Information

GROUP B 1. Initiatives to improve health · Obesity · Smoking 2. Chronic disease management including support for carers 3. Access to an NHS dentist

GROUP C 1. Exchange of communication between organisations caring for patients; share information. 2. Adequate NHS dentists 3. Diet and obesity Longlist for Group C · Package of immediate support and help for people with special needs babies, cot deaths. · Diabetic care - not well balanced between north and south of the county. · Why is the NE so high up in the heart disease scale. · Delayed discharge (penalties to be enforced). · Aids and adaptations to homes to allow swifter return (funding runs out early) · Adequate occupational therapists.

GROUP D 1. Obesity in children and young people 2. Drugs abuse and impact on mental health services 3. Keeping the elderly fit and healthy (physical and mental).

6. Analysing these priorities suggests support for a proactive project to improve health in the County. Obesity and Diet was the strongest theme. The second strongest was Access to an NHS dentist. The Sub-Committee is asked to consider how it wishes to proceed in terms of selecting the next project(s). Views from the Workshop Groups About How Patient Forums and PALS Can Work Together More Effectively

7. The detailed suggestions from the workshop groups are set out in the attached appendix. Following the Development Session, Officer meetings have taken place to try to develop an effective way of operating in partnership.

Recommendation

8. You are asked to note this information and also to consider the next project to undertake in the light of the outcome of the workshop sessions.

Contact: Ian Mackenzie Tel: 0191 383 3506

GROUP A

Report to Sub-Committee and refer to KMS.

Panel to meet quarterly to establish itself and then twice a year.


GROUP B

Options

GROUP C


GROUP D


Attachments

 Item 7.dot