Meeting documents

            Meeting: Health Scrutiny Sub-Committee (County Hall, Durham - Committee Room 2 - 03/07/2006 10:00:00 AM)

                  Item: A13 Work Programme

Health Scrutiny Sub-Committee

Purpose of Report

1. To up-date the work programme for the Sub-Committee.

Background

2. Trying to provide a manageable work programme for the Sub-Committee is challenging. The Sub-Committee will have control over the subjects it chooses. Advice suggests that, from a capacity point of view, and to seek to ensure that achievements are secured rather than information simply noted, a small number of projects should be undertaken.

3. In addition to projects chosen by the Sub-Committee, there will be significant issues which will need to be dealt with by the Sub-Committee as statutory consultee. These consultation issues by their nature cannot be anticipated well in advance and will need to be accommodated into the Sub-Committee’s work programme. For example, the consultation about Ambulance Services in rural areas is likely to be an issue which will need to be carefully considered.

4. The coronary heart disease and stroke services project has been completed. Arrangements are being made to start a project about alcohol abuse in County Durham.

5. Some information about transport and health issues has been the subject of a number of meetings. The way in which patients and relatives of patients access health services and facilities often arises when consultation exercises take place or when services are investigated in-depth. Information has been received from the Durham and Darlington Transport for Health Partnership explaining local initiatives. Information has also been received from the North East Ambulance Service to explain their role in transporting patients both for emergency purposes and for non-emergencies.

6. Transport issues are changing constantly. Public transport services are particularly susceptible at the moment to change. New initiatives like the ‘Travel Response Centre’, Access Bus Services and volunteer car schemes seek to focus particularly on transport for health services. The new Local Transport Plan also provides the opportunity of taking the interests of patients and the public into account in their requirement to access health services. There is no easy answer in relation to transport and health issues. Perhaps the most important theme is that there is much more partnership now in considering transport issues to assist access to health facilities. This is, no doubt, an issue which will be considered on a regular basis in relation to Health Scrutiny.

Recommendation

5. You are recommended to note the work programme.

Attachments

 Work Pogramme - 3 July.pdf