Agenda and minutes

To approve as correct records the minutes of the meetings of the Health Overview and Scrutiny Panel held on 2 March and 10 May 2006.

The Panel was advised that written responses had not yet been received from the minutes of the meeting held on 2 March 2006 regarding (iii) Financial Recovery Plan, (iv) Berkshire Healthcare NHS Trust – Mental Health Update and (v) Joint Committee of the Thames Valley Overview and Scrutiny Group and that this should be followed up immediately and the response circulated to members of the panel.

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting of the Health Overview and Scrutiny Panel held on 2 March 2006 and 10 May 2006 be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman subject to the following the amendments:

Isabel Mattick and Councillor Edger’s attendance at the meeting on 2 March 2006 be noted.

Members are asked to declare any personal or prejudicial interest and the nature of that interest, including the existence and nature of the party whip, in respect of any matter to be considered at this meeting.

There were no declarations of interest or indications that Members would be participating whilst under the party whip.

Update from Bracknell Forest PCT on a range of current issues including:

a)             The re-configuration of PCTs in East Berkshire

b)             The financial and budgetary position of Bracknell Forest PCT

(a)        The Reconfiguration of PCTs in East Berkshire

Diane Hedges, Chief Executive of Bracknell Forest PCT attended the meeting to give an update on the reconfiguration of PCTs in East Berkshire.  The Panel was advised of the timetable of changes to be implemented before Berkshire East PCT became fully functional on 1 October 2006:

(i)                  South Central Strategic Health Authority would be functional from 1 July 2006 with Dr Geoffrey Harris as Chair and Mark Britnell as Chief Executive.

(ii)                South Central Ambulance Service NHS Trust would also be functional from 1 July 2006 with Neil Goulden as Chair and Will Hancock as Chief Executive.

(iii)               Berkshire East PCT was currently going through a recruitment process with the announcement of the Chairman scheduled for July and the Chief Executive for August.

(iv)              There would be three Locality Directors, one for each Local Authority and a locality office in each area.

The new Berkshire East PCT would continue to build on current partnership working and would look at developing local integration.  The Panel noted the success of some examples of partnership working in action such as the Intermediate Care Team.  Diane Hedges noted that it was important to be mindful of the current elements of successful partnership working in order to design those into the models within the new East Berkshire PCT.  CAMHS collective commissioning would assist the continuation of partnership working and would focus on meaningful ways to target the broader area.

In terms of budget allocation, the aim was to benchmark services according to need, which would identify issues in spend and look at how each PCT could become more cost effective.  The PCT would receive a national budget worked out from a national formula and would allocate the money over a three year period.  By using practice based commissioning GPs would have a role in determining their budget.  Each area would receive the level of budget according to their need and priority areas.  Area budgets would be set at the start of each year and through Partnership arrangements each Local Authority would have a role in making decisions of the needs and priority areas.  The Locality Director would oversee GP and local budgets in order to keep local flexibility and a level of influence.

The Panel was advised that by managing the change effectively money would be saved, and the local focus was of paramount importance.

Members asked a number of questions.

(b)        The Financial and Budgetary Position of Bracknell Forest PCT

Diane Hedges, Chief Executive of Bracknell PCT gave an update on the financial and budgetary position of Bracknell Forest PCT.  The aim of the East Berkshire Local Delivery Plan 2006/07 was to repay the 2005/06 deficit and make savings through care pathway redesign.  Care pathway redesign aimed to give more power to GPs in deciding what cases needed referral.  For example, by increasing diagnostic tools, such as the use of the merlin test for heart anomalies, and avoiding increasing outpatient numbers by ensuring only  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

Berkshire Healthcare Trust is undertaking formal public consultation in respect of governance arrangements associated with proposed foundation trust status and future service development.  A representative of the Trust will attend the meeting to explain the consultation process and proposals and to seek Members’ views thereon.

Philippa Slinger, Chief Executive of Berkshire Healthcare NHS Trust, attended the meeting to give a presentation on the five year plan to become a Foundation Trust.  The aim of the Foundation Trust was to give greater influence to local people through governance arrangements, to reduce the stigma around mental health problems and to give increased opportunities for local services.  The six Berkshire unitary authorities would have a role in determining what the organisation did and it was planned to gain 10,000 members in the first 2 years.

The first draft of the business plan had already gone to the Department of Health with the second draft scheduled for 14 July 2006.  Public consultation would take place from 14 July to 23 October 2006.  Funding would be provided through the PCT over a three year agreement which would support longer term planning for modernisation, than the previous yearly budgets had allowed.

The Panel was advised that membership of the Trust was open to all residents of Berkshire and anyone expressing an interest in areas immediately over the borders of Berkshire.  Young people would be deliberately targeted through online engagement and membership would be monitored to reflect minority groups.  Details of the membership proposals could be found within the membership strategy.

To consider the Panel’s work programme for 2006/07.

Ideas for future Overview and Scrutiny activity should be circulated to the Chairman and Vice Chairman.

Partnership and Joint Working

The Assistant Director of Social Services and Housing attended the meeting to present the report regarding Partnership and Joint Working.  She highlighted the range of Partnerships within the Council and their importance in aiding service improvement, development and delivery.