Meeting: Health Scrutiny Sub-Committee (County Hall, Durham - Committee Room 2 - 09/01/2006 10:00:00 AM)
Item: A1 Minutes
DURHAM COUNTY COUNCIL
At a Meeting of the
Health Scrutiny Sub-Committee held at the County Hall, Durham on
Monday 9 January 2006 at
10.00 a.m. COUNCILLOR J PRIESTLEY in the Chair.
Durham County Council Councillors Armstrong, Carr, Chaplow, Lethbridge, Priestley, Simmons, Stelling and Trippett.
Chester le Street District Council Councillor Armstrong
Derwentside District Council Councillor Agnew
Durham City Council Councillor Smith
Easington District Council Councillor Campbell
Teesdale District Council Councillor Stansfield
Wear Valley District Council Councillor Harker and Lee
Other Members Councillors Chapman and Iveson
Apologies for absence were received from
A1 Minutes The Minutes of the meetings held on 3 and 18 October 2005 were agreed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.
A2 Declarations of Interest There were no declarations of interest.
A3 Campaign for a Smoke Free North East The Sub Committee considered a report (for copy see file of Minutes) of the Head of Overview and Scrutiny together with a presentation from Dianne Woodall of Durham and Chester le Street PCT on tobacco control and smoke free initiatives in County Durham. Dianne is the lead officer for tobacco control for all County Durham and Darlington PCT’s.
The delivery of the tobacco control strategy is being developed through local tobacco alliances. Across County Durham there are five tobacco control alliances. Each alliance is aligned to district council boundaries.
It was explained that smoking legislation for England is expected to be implemented in 2007. Under current Government proposals 51% of licensed premises in County Durham would be exempt from the legislation. In Easington 81% of premises would be exempted.
The smoking cessation programme in County Durham had been very effective with 4861 smokers quitting for a year, which represents a 51% success rate.
The Head of Overview and Scrutiny asked Members to become champions to campaign for a smoke free environment. It was explained that the appointment of champions from the members of the Sub Committee would help develop the strategy within the organisations that they represent.
In response to questions about encouraging the provision of a smoke free environment and protection from second hand smoke, Dianne explained that the National Clean Air award scheme had been established. 32% of all national awards are from the North East with County Durham accounting for 17% of all national awards.
During the discussion about the potential loss of revenue as result of people giving up smoking, it was pointed out that smoking is responsible for 20,000 premature deaths and cases of chronic illness a year. It was reiterated that the goal of the strategy was to change the climate in which smoking becomes less desirable and acceptable. Changes to smoking on public transport and in theatres were cited as examples of the change in attitude.
A further update on progress was proposed at the meeting of the Sub Committee to be held on 3 July 2006.
Resolved: That the report and presentation be noted.
A4 Merger of the County Durham and Darlington Priority Services Trust and the Tees and North East Yorkshire Trust The Sub Committee considered a report (for copy see file of Minutes) of the Head of Overview and Scrutiny explaining the outcome of the consultation about the proposed merger between County Durham and Darlington Priority Services Trust and the Tees and North East Yorkshire Trust.
Resolved: That the report be noted.
A5 Consultation: Proposals for Primary Care Trusts, New Strategic Health Authority and New Ambulance Trust The Sub Committee considered a report (for copy see file of Minutes) of the Head of Overview and Scrutiny about the consultation exercise on the proposed changes to the administrative structure of the National Health Service in the North East.
Rosemary Granger of the Northumberland, Tyne and Wear Strategic Health Authority explained that the consultation was about changes to the geographic boundaries of the Strategic Health Authority and the PCT’s. It was stressed that the proposals are not about changes to patient services but to the administrative arrangements. The changes should produce a 15% saving in PCT administrative costs which will be re-invested into patient care. A programme of public meetings has been arranged as part of the consultation process.
It was stated that a larger PCT would be more effective in commissioning services from the Acute Trusts and this would lead to better clinical governance.
During the discussion about the loss of locality, it was explained that services would need to be delivered on a local basis with strategies being organised across the new PCT boundaries. Regarding concerns about the loss of information following the merger, it was explained that it would be possible to disaggregate statistics from a countywide structure and provide information on a local level.
It was proposed that consideration of the proposals be deferred until such time as the views of patients and the public on the proposals are known.
Resolved: That consideration of the proposals be deferred until such time as the views of patients and the public on the proposals are known.
A6 Urology Service - Consultation Process The Sub Committee considered a report (for copy see file of Minutes) of the Head of Overview and Scrutiny about the outcome of the consultation process on the changes in the Urology Service affecting patients in County Durham.
The Head of Overview and Scrutiny advised the Sub Committee that the transport issues had been recognised during the consultation process and will be addressed.
Edmund Lovell of the County Durham and Darlington Acute Hospitals Trust informed the Sub Committee that the Trust would be making an application to become a Foundation Trust. A formal consultation will be taking place in the near future.
Resolved: That the outcome of the consultation process be noted.
A7 Tees Review - Acute Services - Joint Committee The Sub Committee considered a report (for copy see file of Minutes) of the Head of Overview and Scrutiny detailing comments to be made to the Scrutiny Joint Committee which is considering the review of hospital services in the Tees Valley which affect residents in the south of Easington and Sedgefield.
Resolved: That the comments set out in the report be passed to the Joint Committee.
A8 Issues from Patient Forums - Sedgefield Patient Forum Listening Event The Sub Committee considered a report (for copy see file of Minutes) of the Head of Overview and Scrutiny providing details of the changes made to services following a Public Listening Event.
Jane King of the Sedgefield Patient Forum explained that 30 issues had arisen from the Listening Event. The Forum had selected thirteen issues and had asked for evidence to demonstrate that changes had been made to services.
Resolved: That the report be noted.
A9 Issues from the Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) - Quarterly Report from Durham and Chester le Street Primary Care Trust PALS The Sub Committee considered a report (for copy see file of Minutes) of the Head of Overview and Scrutiny explaining the quarterly report for 1 July to 30 September 2005 of the Patient and Liaison Service for the Durham and Chester le Street Primary Care Trust.
Resolved: That the report be noted.
A10 Scrutiny Projects and Work Programme The Sub Committee considered a report of the Head of Overview and Scrutiny about the work programme of the Sub Committee (for copy see file of Minutes).
Resolved: That the work programme be noted.
Attachments
healthscrutiny09.01.06.pdf