Meeting: Health Scrutiny Sub-Committee (County Hall, Durham - Committee Room 2 - 03/07/2006 10:00:00 AM)
Item: A2 Minutes
DURHAM COUNTY COUNCIL
At a Meeting of the
Health Scrutiny Sub-Committee held at the County Hall, Durham on
Monday 3 July 2006 at
10.00 a.m. COUNCILLOR J PRIESTLEY in the Chair.
Durham County Council Councillors Carr, Chaplow, Simmons, Stradling and Wade
Chester le Street District Council Councillors Armstrong and Harrison
Easington District Council Councillor Campbell
Sedgefield Borough Council Councillors Crosby and Gray
Teesdale District Council Councillors Hamilton and Stansfield
Wear Valley District Council Councillor Harker
Other Members Councillors Iveson, Huntington, Shuttleworth and Williams
Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Agnew, M Iveson, Lee,
M Smith and Pitts
A1 Election of Vice Chairman (Districts) - Constitutional Issues The Sub Committee considered a report of the Head of Overview and Scrutiny explaining constitutional issues relating to the Sub Committee (for copy see file of Minutes)
Resolved: 1. That the report be noted
2. That Councillor R Harrison (Chester le Street District Council) be elected as the District Council Vice Chairman.
A2 Minutes The Minutes of the meetings held on 3 April and 5 June 2006 were agreed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.
The Head of Overview and Scrutiny informed the Sub Committee that following the discussion of the proposals for Shotley Bridge Hospital and Durham Community Hospital at the meeting held on 5 June 2006, he had written to John Saxby, the Chief Executive of the Acute Hospitals Trust seeking reassurance that a formal consultation process will take place if the Trust decide to end day surgery at Shotley Bridge. The Chief Executive has confirmed that the Trust will formally consult on the proposals if it is decided to make the decision permanent.
A3 Terms of Reference of the Sub Committee The Sub Committee considered a report of the Head of Overview and Scrutiny explaining the terms of reference of the Sub Committee (for copy see file of Minutes).
Resolved: That the report be noted.
A4 Declarations of Interest There were no declarations of interest.
A5 Ambulance Services in Rural Areas The Sub Committee considered a report of the Head of Overview and Scrutiny explaining the proposed changes to Ambulance Services in Weardale and Tessdale (for copy see file of Minutes). The Sub Committee also received a presentation from Mark Cotton of North East Ambulance Services explaining the proposals.
Mark Cotton described the current working practises and the difficulties faced in providing a safe level of service. He highlighted the preferred option of a paramedic and an emergency care assistant in a full accident and emergency ambulance which had been developed following discussions with the Primary Care Trust and the community. The proposal will replace the existing 11 staff with 12 community paramedics and 10 emergency care assistants. The team will work 24 hours a day, seven days a week as a replacement of the existing standby arrangements. The relatively low emergency workload in rural areas will allow the Community Paramedics to take on a number of other roles.
The local member for Weardale, Councillor Shuttleworth expressed his concern about the proposals and stated that at meeting held in St Johns Chapel there was no support from the local community for the changes. He was of the view that the proposals discriminated against rural areas. Helen Suddes of the Durham Dales PCT explained that many of the issues raised by the community have been dealt with in the proposals. Under the present standby arrangements it is difficult to crew the vehicle garaged at St Johns Chapel.
In response to questions about responding to the higher level of calls in the Teesdale area, it was explained that there would be sufficient staffing cover to deal with the calls and that ambulances will be mobile in the area and deployed to the most suitable locations in order to provide cover.
Resolved: 1. That the report and presentation be received.
2. That the proposals be further considered at a meeting on 5 September 2006 when the views of the public are known.
A6 Coronary Heart Disease and Stroke Services - Review of Responses The Sub Committee considered a report of the Head of Overview and Scrutiny explaining the responses which have been received about the Coronary Heart Disease and Stroke Services report (for copy see file of Minutes).
Laura Robson, Director of Nursing of the Acute Hospitals Trust explained that a multi disciplinary team to treat strokes has been established under Dr Earnshaw. The Trust has attempted to appoint a Stroke Physician but was having to re-advertise the position.
Members of the Sub Committee stressed the importance of preventative work and the encouragement of healthy lifestyles. It was explained that the Primary Care Trusts run smoking cessation clinics and have strong emphasis on encouraging healthy eating.
Resolved: That the responses to the report be noted and that progress be monitored in achieving compliance with the National Service Framework for Older People in relation to stroke services.
A7 Breastfeeding Strategy for County Durham and Darlington The Sub Committee considered a report of the Head of Overview and Scrutiny about the recent launch of a breastfeeding strategy for County Durham and Darlington (for copy see file of Minutes).
Resolved: That the introduction of the strategy be noted.
A8 Patient Forums - North East Ambulance Service The Sub Committee considered a report of the Head of Overview and Scrutiny explaining the annual report of the North East Ambulance Service Patient and Public Involvement Forum for 2005/06 (for copy see file of Minutes).
Resolved: That the report be noted.
A9 Sedgefield Patient and Public Involvement Forum The Sub Committee considered a report of the Head of Overview and Scrutiny explaining the Annual Report and future work plan for the Sedgefield Patient and Public Involvement Forum (for copy see file of Minutes).
Resolved: That the report be noted.
A10 Patient Advice and Liaison Services - Easington The Sub Committee considered a report of the Head of Overview and Scrutiny about the work of the Patient Advice and Liaison Service for Easington Primary Care Trust (for copy see file of Minutes).
Resolved: That the report be noted.
A11 Patient Advice and Liaison Services - Durham and Chester le Street The Sub Committee considered a report of the Head of Overview and Scrutiny explaining the latest quarterly report from the Patient Advice and Liaison Services for Durham and Chester le Street Primary Care Trust (for copy see file of Minutes).
Resolved: That the report be noted.
A12 Fertility Treatment The Sub Committee considered a report of the Head of Overview and Scrutiny about fertility services in County Durham (for copy see file of Minutes).
Resolved: That the report be noted.
A13 Annual Report The Sub Committee considered a report of the Head of Overview and Scrutiny explaining the Annual Report and summarising the Health Scrutiny Sub Committees work and activities (for copy see file of Minutes).
Resolved: That the report be noted.
A14 Chief Executives Report to the National Health Service The Sub Committee considered a report of the Head of Overview and Scrutiny explaining the NHS Chief Executive’s Annual Report (for copy see file of Minutes).
Joe Corrigan, Director of Finance at Easington Primary Care Trust gave an explanation of the provisional out turn for Health Trusts in County Durham and for the Strategic Health Authority.
Resolved: That the report be noted.
A15 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).
The Head of Overview and Scrutiny advised that the first meeting of the alcohol misuse project would take place at 10.00 a.m. on Tuesday 25 July 2006.
Resolved: That the work programme be noted.
Attachments
healthscrutiny03.07.06.pdf