Agenda and minutes

To approve and sign as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 19^th September 2013 and to deal with any matters arising, attached.

RESOLVED: that the minutes for Panel meeting on 19^th September 2013  be approved and signed as a correct record.

Report of the Head of Transport, Highways and Parking detailing progress made in line with the Panel’s inquiry recommendations, attached.

The Panel considered the report of the Head of Transport, Highways and Parking detailing progress made in line with the Panel’s inquiry recommendations.

A representative of the Southampton Keep the NHS Public was present and with the consent of the Chair, addressed the meeting.

The Panel discussed issues relating to creation of a “bus hub” for buses visiting the General the changes to bus services to the hospital and the development of the University Hospitals Transport Plan.

RESOLVED that the Panel would revisit the progress made against the inquiries  recommendations, with particular interest in the developing travel plan for the General Hospital  at a future meeting.

Report of the Independent Chair of the Southampton Safeguarding Adults Board detailing the annual report attached.

The Panel noted the report of the Independent Chair of the Southampton Safeguarding Adults Board detailing the annual report.

Fran Williams, Board Member of the Safeguarding Adults Board, and a representative of Southampton Healthwatch were in attendance and, with the consent of the Chair, addressed the meeting.

The Panel noted that the current Independent Chair of Southampton Safeguarding Adults Board was due to stand down shortly and were informed that interviews for the position were due to take place in the week following the meeting.

The Panel considered the question of financial risk to the Board and it was explained that a pooled budget between partners had been established.

The Panel discussed the number of referrals related to care and support services and sought clarification as to whether it was the number of providers that was the issue.  It was explained that the numbers of providers indicated the continued choice of those that needed support from a range of suppliers. It was noted that this reinforced the need for the Board in order to pursue continued quality assurance and service improvement.  It was further explained that presently many of the larger providers had been undertaking their own training which reflected on the numbers of people attending the training services provided by the Board.

The Panel also discussed the provision of support for whistle blowers and noted that the Board aimed to support any potential whistle blower in line with national guidelines.

RESOLVED  that the new Chair of the Board be invited to a future meeting of the Panel to provide further information the outcomes expected from the pooled budgets.

Report of the Director of Quality and Integration detailing progress of the ICU and how the Council and CCG are maximising opportunities to pool budgets, attached.

The Panel noted the report of the Director of Quality and Integration detailing progress of the ICU and how the Council and CCG are maximising opportunities to pool budgets.

Representatives of the Solent Health Care Trust, Southampton Keep the NHS Public and Southampton Healthwatch were present and, with the consent of the Chair, addressed the meeting.

The Panel noted that the staffing implications of the integration of the Council’s and the Southampton City Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) commissioning units would be fulfilled by existing staff.  

The Panel discussed the discussed the benefits the ICU would have in:

• developing quality assurance for providers;
• reviewing and monitoring the performance of providers;
• the provision of service level agreements and sanctions for poor performance
• Establishing clear expectation of required service levels from providers; and
• Getting accurate feedback from users.

In addition the Panel discussed what considerations have been given to a budget to provide clear information and understanding on matters relating to a particular supplier and providing informative feedback. 

Report of the Chief Executive of University Hospital Southampton detailing the Hospital’s performance against targets the Hospital’s targets relating to the emergency department, attached.

The Panel considered the report of the Chief Executive of University Hospital Southampton detailing the Hospital’s performance against targets the Hospital’s targets relating to the emergency department.

Fiona Dalton, Chief Executive University Hospitals Southampton, and representatives of the Southampton keep the NHS public and Southampton Healthwatch were present and, with the consent of the Chair, addressed the meeting.

The Panel discussed what steps the Council could take in assisting USH provide a more effective service.  The Panel noted that the provision of proper care support could help to shorten discharge times.  In addition the meeting discussed:

• The provision of comparative data to the Panel by the Trust;
• The openness of the Trust to complaints received by users and the willingness of staff to learn from complainants;
• The potential of the trust to receive additional Government funding to assist with any pressure from the expected  winter surge in numbers;
• The cleaning contract for the Hospital; and
• Various suggestions for on site management

RESOLVED that

(i)  the Panel requested a regular exchange of information from the Trust that would indicate where delay to the patients discharge from hospital could be resulted from action by required the Council;

(ii)  that the Trust provide comparative data on the performance of the Hospital’s emergency department with that of other hospital trust.

Report of the Assistant Chief Executive, setting considerations relating to the scoping of an inquiry by the Panel, attached.

The Panel considered the report of the Assistant Chief Executive, setting out  considerations relating to the scoping of an inquiry by the Panel.

Andrew Mortimore, Director of Public Health, was in attendance and, with the consent of the Chair, addressed the meeting.

The Panel discussed the benefits to the City and society as a whole that the avoidance of preventable illness would have.  It was noted that it had been perceived that these benefits were long term only and that indications were that this is not the case and that prevention has much shorter term benefits.

The Panel discussed how the inquiry could focus on issues that it could affect and where the Council could make a difference.

RESOLVED that

(i)  The Panel agreed to the revised scheduled of dates, set out within the report, for the remaining part of the municipal year;

(ii)  That information be circulated to the Panel by email and prior to the next meeting that would set out the main areas and key themes where the Council could potentially make a difference or influence to help finalise the areas where the inquiry would review.