Agenda and minutes

To receive any apologies for absence.

Apologies were received from Councillor Vaughan, Councillor Thierry and Councillor Curnow-Ford. Councillor Donnelly, as the conservative standing deputy, was in attendance in their place. 

Apologies were also received from Councillor Tree; Councillor Parker-Jones, as the independent standing deputy, was in attendance in his place.

All Members who believe they have a Disclosable Pecuniary Interest in any matter to be considered at the meeting must declare that interest and, having regard to the circumstances described in Part 3 Paragraph 1.5 of the County Council's Members' Code of Conduct, leave the meeting while the matter is discussed, save for exercising any right to speak in accordance with Paragraph 1.6 of the Code. Furthermore all Members with a Personal Interest in a matter being considered at the meeting should consider, having regard to Part 5, Paragraph 4 of the Code, whether such interest should be declared, and having regard to Part 5, Paragraph 5 of the Code, consider whether it is appropriate to leave the meeting while the matter is discussed, save for exercising any right to speak in accordance with the Code.

Members were mindful that where they believed they had a Disclosable Pecuniary Interest in any matter considered at the meeting they must declare that interest at the time of the relevant debate and, having regard to the circumstances described in Part 3, Paragraph 1.5 of the County Council's Members' Code of Conduct, leave the meeting while the matter was discussed, save for exercising any right to speak in accordance with Paragraph 1.6 of the Code. Furthermore Members were mindful that where they believed they had a Personal Interest in a matter being considered at the meeting they considered whether such interest should be declared, and having regard to Part 5, Paragraph 5 of the Code, considered whether it was appropriate to leave the meeting whilst the matter was discussed, save for exercising any right to speak in accordance with the Code.

No declarations were made.

To confirm the minutes of the previous meeting.

The Minutes of the meeting of the Health and Adult Social Care Select Committee (HASC) held on 28 June 2021 were confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

Under matters arising in relation to the Minutes, the Chairman confirmed in relation to Minute 10 regarding the Working Group on Public Health services that the membership of the Working Group was: Cllr Briggs (Chair), Cllr Cooper, Cllr Curnow-Ford, Cllr Penman, Cllr Craig, Cllr Tustain and Cllr Tree. 

To receive any deputations notified under Standing Order 12.

The Committee did not receive any deputations.

To receive any announcements the Chairman may wish to make.

Pascoe Review of Southern Health

The Chairman announced that on the 9th of September a report was published arising from the Second Stage of an Independent Review into the historical cases of 5 people who died in Southern Health’s care between 2011 and 2015. This Second stage looked at how the Trust had improved in the intervening years and the further developments that are planned. The report made 39 Recommendations and 9 Learning Points on the policy issues of: complaints handling, communication and liaison, independent investigatory structures, action plans and supervisory structures with the CCG. The HASC will have an interest in monitoring the Trust’s implementation of the recommended actions. Southern Health would be invited to attend a future meeting of the HASC, for Members of the Committee to question key officers regarding the findings of this most recent review, and consider the Trust’s plans to respond to the recommendations. 

To consider a report of the Chief Executive on issues brought to the attention of the Committee which impact upon the planning, provision and/or operation of health services within Hampshire, or the Hampshire population. This report covers the following topic:

·         Update on the development of Integrated Care Systems (ICS) in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight

The Committee considered a report from the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Clinical Commissioning Group and Frimley Clinical Commissioning Group, regarding the development of Integrated Care Systems (ICS) covering the Hampshire population (see Item 6 in the Minute Book).

Members heard that the Health and Care Bill requires ICS to be in place by April 2022, to bring together providers and commissioners of NHS services, local authorities and other local partners to plan and improve health and care services to meet the needs of their population. It was highlighted that this included a shift in focus to wellbeing and population health, and tackling inequalities in outcomes, experience and access.

Members asked questions for clarification and commented on what they had heard. Members commented that greater communication with district councils was required. Members highlighted concerns about access to GPs. It was acknowledged that primary care was experiencing high demand. Members expressed concern about Hampshire patients in the north of the county being covered by the Frimley ICS and how the integration across local authority borders would work effectively.

RESOLVED:

The Committee note the update on the development of Integrated Care Systems (ICS) in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight and request a further update in January 2022.  

To receive a report from the Hampshire Clinical Commissioning Groups providing an update regarding the NHS response to the Covid-19 pandemic locally, including the progress of the vaccination programme and service recovery. Also included for information are written updates from the following Trusts:

·         University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust

·         Southern Health NHS Foundation Trust

·         Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust

The Committee received an update from the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Clinical Commissioning Group, and written only updates from Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust, University Hospitals Southampton NHS Foundation Trust and Southern Health NHS Foundation Trust, on the ongoing NHS response to the pandemic and the progress of the vaccination programme in Hampshire.

It was highlighted that it was now recommended to offer the covid vaccine to children over the age of 12. It was noted that immunity wanes, therefore a booster programme was planned for the winter to give priority groups a third dose. It was confirmed that being fully vaccinated did not mean people wouldn’t catch covid, but reduced the chance an individual would need hospital care if they did catch it. Members commented that there was a need to communicate to remind people that there remains a risk and safe practices should be continued once vaccinated.

RESOLVED:

The Committee note the update.

To pre-scrutinise proposals by the Adults Health and Care Department to meet the anticipated budget gap by April 2023, prior to consideration by the Executive Member for Adult Services and Public Health. (for onward submission to Cabinet and Council, as part of the process for setting the overall budget)

The Committee considered a report of the Director of Adults Health and Care and Director of Corporate Operations regarding the detailed savings proposals for the Adults Health and Care Department that had been developed as part of the Savings Programme to 2023 (SP2023) Programme.

It was reported that the last government spending review was for one year, making forward planning difficult. Forecasting indicated that government funding would not fully meet the financial pressures the County Council faced, therefore there would be a funding gap in April 2023 and the Council would need to make savings of £80 million to balance the budget. This was in addition to £45 million in savings from previous transformation programmes that were yet to be delivered.

It was noted that the savings requirement for the Adults Health and Care Department under this SP23 savings programme was £40.6 million, alongside £29 million still to be delivered from previous programmes. It was highlighted that SP23 would not include savings from public health, as this budget was ringfenced.

It was indicated that the Department was proposing to achieve the savings by a continuation of methods used under previous transformation programmes. There were a number of risks to delivery. An overarching ‘balancing the budget’ consultation had been undertaken in the summer of 2021 and further consultation would be undertaken on the detail of two proposals relating to social inclusion services and demand management grants.

Members asked questions and commented on the proposals. The Chairman put the recommendation to the vote and it was carried.

RESOLVED:

The Health and Adult Social Care Select Committee considered the detailed savings proposals and:

Support the recommendations being proposed to the Executive Member for Adult Services and Public Health in section 2 of the report. (To approve the submission of the proposed savings options for Adult’s Health and Care contained in the report and Appendix 1 to the Cabinet.)

To receive a Public Health update on Covid 19.

The Committee received a presentation from the Director of Public Health, providing the latest data on the progress of the Covid 19 pandemic in Hampshire. It was highlighted that the Health and Wellbeing Board would be considering the ongoing impact of the pandemic on population health.

It was noted that, based on national guidance, there was a Plan A and Plan B for managing through the autumn and winter of 2021/22. Plan B would be invoked if there was evidence that the NHS was facing unsustainable pressure.

Members asked questions for clarification.

RESOLVED:

The Committee note the update.

To receive an update on Adults’ Health and Care issues related to Covid-19.

The Committee received a presentation from the Director of Adult’s Health and Care regarding the impact of the pandemic on social care services, covering a number of aspects including recovery of services, impact on care homes and the impact on broader health starting to lead to demand pressures.

It was noted that 97% of staff in Hampshire County Council social care services were vaccinated, however there were 1200 unvaccinated staff in the wider workforce, and the deadline was approaching in November for the requirement that staff working in care homes be vaccinated.

It was discussed that recruitment and retention was a challenge in social care roles, particularly as the lowest grade care worker salary was 30% less than the lowest salary in an NHS care role. A ‘Call to Care’ campaign was underway to attract people to care roles.

RESOLVED:

The Committee note the update.

To consider the report of the Chief Executive on proposals from the NHS or providers of health services to vary or develop health services in the area of the Committee. This report covers the following topic:

·         Southern Health: New Mental Health Inpatient Beds Update

The Committee received a report of the Chief Executive on proposals from the NHS or providers of health services to vary or develop health services in the area of the Committee. This report included an update from Southern Health NHS Foundation Trust on developments to increase their inhouse inpatient bed capacity.

RESOLVED:

That the Committee:

1.    Note and welcome the update from Southern Health regarding the opening of the new Cherry Ward at Parklands Hospital in Basingstoke, providing 18 beds for female acute mental health patients.

2.    Request written confirmation when the Abbey Ward at Antelope House in Southampton is opened, for circulation to the Committee.

To consider and approve the Health and Adult Social Care Select Committee Work Programme.

The representative of the Chief Executive presented the Committee’s work programme (see Item 12 in the Minute Book).

It was requested that an item on access to GP services be requested for the November meeting of the Committee.

RESOLVED:

That the Committee’s work programme be approved, subject to any amendments agreed at this meeting.