Meeting: Health Scrutiny Sub-Committee (County Hall, Durham - Committee Room 2 - 03/04/2006 10:00:00 AM)
Item: A1 Minutes
At a Meeting of the Health Scrutiny Sub-Committee held at the County Hall, Durham on Monday 3 April 2006 at 10.00 a.m.
COUNCILLOR R CARR in the Chair.
Durham County Council Councillors Chaplow, Nicholls, Priestley, Simmons and Trippett
Chester le Street District Council Councillor Harrison
Derwentside District Council Councillor Agnew
Durham City Council Councillors Pitts and Smith
Teesdale District Council Councillors Hamilton and Stansfield
Wear Valley District Council Councillor Harker
Other Members Councillors Meir Myers and Smith
Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Campbell and Crosby.
A1 Minutes
The Minutes of the meetings held on 9 January and 16 March 2006 were agreed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.
A2 Declarations of Interest
There were no declarations of interest.
A3 Avian Flu
The Sub Committee received a presentation from Dr Roberta Marshall and Peter Kendal of the Health Protection Agency about Avian influenza.
The difference between seasonal flu, avian flu and pandemic flu was explained.
Seasonal Influenza was prevalent during the winter months in the northern hemisphere. Those in certain groups (children, elderly and those with pre-existing conditions) are at risk of severe illness and death. The virus undergoes “antigenic drift” to a new strain every few years. The size, mortality and morbidity of the strain depend on the population’s susceptibility to the virus, the effectiveness of the vaccine and the level of the uptake of the vaccine.
Avian influenza (AI) is a disease of most species of birds. The strains of the virus are classified as highly pathogenic (HPAI) or low pathogenic (LPAI). Some HPAI can cause 100% mortality in poultry and no illness in wild waterfowl. Some strains of AI can be transmitted to people and other animals. Generally this occurs where people live in very close proximity to poultry and birds. Avian influenza H5N1 is causing severe illness in poultry. There have been outbreaks in SE Asia since 1997 and this can infect humans and other animals. The transmission to humans is currently rare and it is not easily transmissible between humans.
Whilst it is possible that there could be an outbreak in UK poultry, there is a low probability of an outbreak of avian influenza in people in the UK. The H5N1 virus is one possible candidate for a pandemic virus, but only if it becomes transmissible between humans.
Pandemic influenza is caused when antigenic shift creates a new influenza virus, which is transmissible between humans, and as a consequence there is little or no pre-existing population immunity. This can spread to cause disease at epidemic levels worldwide. There have been 3 pandemics per century since the 16-century. After a pandemic the virus remains in circulation and causes repeated epidemics by antigenic drift.
In summing up, it was stressed that avian flu does not equal pandemic flu and that H5N1 avian flu is only one possible candidate to cause pandemic flu.
In response to questions it was explained that PCT’s have been involved in planning for a pandemic and that the County Council is preparing a process business continuity plan in the event that a pandemic occurs. The NHS has stockpiled a supply of Tamiflu at national level. It was emphasised that the risk to people is low and that this issue needs to be kept in context.
Resolved: That the presentation be noted.
A4 County Durham and Darlington Acute Trust - Foundation Status
The Sub Committee considered a report of the Head of Overview and Scrutiny about the County Durham and Darlington Acute Hospitals Trust application to become an NHS Foundation Trust. The Sub Committee also considered a report and presentation of the County Durham and Darlington Acute Hospitals Trust (for copies see file of Minutes).
An NHS Foundation Trust is still part of the NHS, but is accountable to its local community through its membership and Board of Governors. As a foundation trust they will be directly accountable to the communities that they serve, give local people more say in the decisions made and have more control of finance and how it is spent.
Any local resident or service user can apply to be a member of the Foundation Trust. As part of the consultation process the Trust aims to attract an initial membership of 2,000 which will be built on over the next few years. The Foundation Trust members will elect a total of 19 local governors. Staff will elect 9 governors, and there will also be 9 governors appointed by partner organisations. The Board of Governors will in future be responsible for appointing the Chairman and Non-Executives to the Board of Directors.
As part of the consultation process which began on 27 February, the Acute Trust are consulting with a wide arrange of organisations including patient groups and the public. Six public meetings have been held to date. The consultation ends on 26 May 2006.
Councillor Harrison expressed concern about the link between Chester le Street district with Easington, Gateshead and South Tyneside for the election of local governors.
In response to questions about alternatives to Foundation status, it was explained that it is Government policy to apply for Foundation status.
The Head of Overview and Scrutiny suggested that the Sub Committee should wait until the end of the consultation process to obtain the views of the public.
Resolved: That the reports and presentation be received, and that further consideration be given to the application when the views of the public are known at the end of the consultation process.
A5 Southmoor Hospital
The Sub Committee considered a report of the County Durham and Darlington Acute Trust on a consultation to permanently close South Moor Hospital (for copy see file of Minutes).
Resolved: That the consultation be noted.
A6 Haematology
The Sub Committee received a report of the County Durham and Darlington Acute Trust on proposals for the haematology service. Edmund Lovell explained that at the current time there are three in patient units at Bishop Auckland, Durham and Darlington. It was proposed to reduce this to two units with only unit in the south of the County. Three listening events will be held at each venue. The proposal is dependent on the outcome of a decision of the Board and it might be necessary to commence formal consultation.
Resolved: That the position be noted.
A7 Coronary Heart Disease and Stroke Services
The Sub Committee considered a report of the Head of Overview and Scrutiny explaining the scrutiny report investigating coronary heart disease and stroke services in County Durham (for copy see file of minutes).
Resolved: That the report be approved for distribution.
A8 Department of Health White Paper ‘Our Health, Our Care, Our Say: A New Direction for Community Services
The Sub Committee considered a report of the Head of Overview and Scrutiny
about the White paper on Our health, Our Care, Our Say: A New Direction for Community Services (for copy see file of minutes).
Resolved: That the report be noted.
A9 Darlington a Breastfeeding Friendly Town
The Sub Committee considered a report of the Head of Overview and Scrutiny explaining the outcome of the Scrutiny Review carried out by Darlington Borough Council to promote breastfeeding as an important factor in health improvement (for copy see file of minutes).
Resolved: That the outcome from the Darlington investigation be used to promote breastfeeding in County Durham.
A10 Sedgefield Patient Forum- -Out of Hours Service
The Sub Committee considered a report of the Head of Overview and Scrutiny Explaining a report prepared by the Patient and Public Involvement Forum for Sedgefield about the out of hours service (for copy see file of minutes).
Resolved: That the report be noted.
A11 Issues from the Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) - Quarterly Reports from Durham and Chester le Street and Easington
The Sub Committee considered reports (for copy see file of Minutes) of the Head of Overview and Scrutiny explaining the quarterly reports of the Patient and Liaison Service for the Durham and Chester le Street Primary Care Trust and the Easington Primary Care Trust (for copies see file of minutes).
Resolved: That the reports be noted. A12 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
mins03.04.06