Agenda and minutes

Apologies were received from Emma Price, Adam Richardson and Tom Sleigh.

There were no declarations.

To agree the public minutes and non-public summary of the meeting held on 2 February 2015.

RESOLVED – That the minutes of the meeting held on 2 February 2015 be approved as correct record.

Matters Arising

Defibrillators in Pharmacies

The Assistant Director, Commissioning and Partnerships reported that the Community & Children’s Services Department held four defibrillators, and the Director was contacting the other Chief Officers promote the LAS scheme. Members asked that defibrillator training be extended to Members.

He also reported that the letter had been sent to, and a response received from, Mark Field MP regarding the need for statutory defibrillator guidance from the government. The Sub Committee asked for a follow-up letter to be sent asking for details on how the issue would be pursued.

Members noted that Boots did not have defibrillators in their pharmacies, and requested a letter be sent to the owner of Boots expressing Members’ concern and asking them to explain their rationale for not having defibrillators in their pharmacies.

RESOLVED – That:

(a)  A follow-up letter be sent to Mark Field MP asking for details on how the issue of statutory defibrillator guidance from the government would be pursued;

(b)  A letter be sent to Boots expressing Members’ concern and asking them to explain their rationale for not having defibrillators in their pharmacies; and

(c)  The report be noted.

Minutes of the meeting held on 12 February 2015.

Members discussed and noted the minutes of the Inner North East London Joint Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee meeting held on 12 February 2015.

Verbal report of the Director of Community & Children’s Services.

The Sub Committee received a verbal report of the Assistant Director, Commissioning and Partnerships, regarding the Barts Health Trust going into special measures because of their report on Whipps Cross Hospital. Members noted that further reports on Newham and the London Hospital were being released following the election, and the INEL JHOSC would be scrutinising the Trust and the CQC in detail on the 27^th May. Assistant Director, Commissioning and Partnerships reported on the significant staff and culture changes, and advised that there were no City-specific issues for Members to be aware of at this stage.

RESOLVED – That the verbal report be noted, and a follow up report be given at the Sub Committee’s next meeting.

Report of NHS England.

Members noted that NHS England were unable to attend the meeting owing to an emergency meeting that had arisen. This item was therefore being deferred to the next meeting, scheduled for 16^th June 2015, with the agreement that NHS England be formally contacted on behalf of Members to ensure their attendance.

RESOLVED – That the item be deferred, and a letter be sent to NHS England expressing Members’ concern about their failure to attend this meeting.

Report of Healthwatch City of London.

The Sub Committee received a report from Steve Stevenson from Healthwatch. Members discussed the patient-led assessments of the care environment (PLACE) Healthwatch had attended with Barts Health NHS Trust at Newham University Hospital, Mile End Hospital and the Royal London, noting 16 wards had been assessed in total. Mr Stevenson reported positively on the Newham University Hospital assessments, and less favourably for Mile End Hospital.

Members also discussed the requirement for TV cards to be purchased at the Royal London Hospital which many patients could not afford. It was noted that Healthwatch were pursuing the issue, which was part of the PFI contract. Mr Stevenson advised that two areas at Newham University Hospital had been recommended for free television provision: elderly care and post-natal maternity wards.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

Report of the Director of Community & Children’s Services.

Members received a report of the Director of Community & Children’s Services reviewing the scrutiny functions of the Committee, and discussed and considered the recommendations in turn.

RESOLVED - That:

(a)  The report be noted;

(b)  The conclusions and recommendations from the working group of Health and Social Care Scrutiny Sub Committee be endorsed;

(c)  The indicative work programme 2015 – 16 be endorsed; and

(d)  A follow-up report to evaluate the resource and governance implications be submitted to the next meeting of the Sub Committee.

There were no questions.

The Assistant Director, Commissioning and Partnerships reported that a joint response to the Barts Quality Account was being sent from the INEL JHOSC.