Agenda and minutes

To receive comments or views from members of the public at the Panel’s discretion.

One member of the public attended the meeting and spoke about the NHS Community Services consultation paper. As a member of the National Child Birth Trust, she was particularly concerned about the decrease in access to health visitors. She suggested that this could put children at increased risk, as problems that could be identified and resolved at an early stage could be missed.

She was also concerned about the loss of a midwifery-led maternity unit at Grantham hospital. The level of services available at Grantham hospital would be discussed at an extraordinary meeting of the full Council to be held on 20^th July 2006.

An apology for absence was received from Councillor Mrs. Radley.

Members are asked to declare interests in items for consideration at the meeting.

No declarations of interest were made.

The notes of the meeting held on 6^th June 2006 are attached for information.                        (Enclosure)

Noted.

The Panel will discuss their response to the consultation document detailing proposed changes to Lincolnshire NHS Community Services.

Copies of the consultation document have been circulated to panel members only. Any other members who would like to see this document can view it electronically via the local democracy link on the Council’s website: http://www.southkesteven.gov.uk.             

At the meeting of the Cabinet held on June 12^th 2006, the Healthy Environment DSP were tasked with preparing a response to the consultation paper on proposed changes to Lincolnshire NHS Community Services. The Panel considered that the document was very clear and presented all alternatives.

The Panel made the following observations:

• Page 5: Further to previous consultation, the DSP opposed proposals to amalgamate PCTs. Lincolnshire was considered too great an area to be covered by one PCT;
• Page 7: “The proposals detailed in this consultation paper have been carefully considered to ensure that improvements in health outcomes are maximised with the least impact on services that patients receive.” Panel members felt that there should be no impact on the level of services patients receive and that quality should be maintained;
• Page 27: The proposition to reorganise the workload of the District Nursing Service was supported provided that costs would not be displaced to the ambulance service;
• Page 28: Decreasing the period during which children have access to health visitors was not seen as being problematic;
• Page 29: The reprioritisation of the health visiting service was supported, however it was felt that the role of the Health Worker and the Social Worker should be more clearly defined to prevent gaps in access to services. The Panel were also keen for the further development of communication between health visitors and social services;
• Page 30: As the service was not universally available, it was felt that baby massage should be removed if there were no medical benefits. Members suggested that comparator information should be available from areas where baby massage is and is not available;
• Page 31: The suggestion was made that if the school nursing service could be removed for a period of a year without detrimental effects, the PCT should consider removing the service completely. A lot of information that would be provided through this programme would be covered as part of a school’s curriculum and would be delivered through teachers. It was also suggested that reintroducing the scheme after a year would only reassert previous budgetary pressures. The Panel agreed that the school nursing provision should be stopped and then only reinstated if a tangible need was identified in 2007;
• Page 45: Panel members were opposed to the instatement of a Dental Business Manager. They considered a dental practitioner would be able to collate the same information;
• Page 46: The centralisation of podiatry services was supported provided that there would be no cost displacement to the ambulance service. It was noted that without sufficient transport arrangements, those who were most in need of the service might not have access to it;
• Page 48: 12 assessment centres for physiotherapy was considered to be a small number. While the Panel acknowledged that the time of physiotherapists would be best used treating patients instead of travelling, they felt that it would be better if access to these services remained localised. Panel members suggested that the PCT should consider contracting physiotherapy work  ...  view the full minutes text for item 15.

                        (Enclosure)

Noted.

There was concern that the indicator for the percentage of household waste recycled and composted had not met the Council’s target. The Panel discussed whether the level of the target would mean that the indicator would not be successfully met until the rollout of the twin bin scheme. Members discussed the potential impact of the scheme and the seasonal increase in green waste that would occur during the summer, which would also help the Council achieve the 2006/07 target of 33%. The Panel agreed to invite a representative from Waste and Contract Services to the next meeting of the Panel on Tuesday 5^th September to explain the indicators.

CONCLUSION:

To invite a representative from Waste and Contract Services to the meeting of the Panel on September 5^th 2006 to explain the figures for the indicator on the percentage of household waste recycled and composted.

                        (Enclosure)

The Scrutiny Officer explained that some items would need removing from the work programme. Those areas that were identified for removal were: the design competition for the promotion of the twin bin scheme, review of Council priorities, powers to restrict the consumption of alcohol in designated public places and the consultation on proposed changes to NHS Community Services.

The future of Deepings Leisure Centre would remain on the work programme. The last scheduled meeting of the group had been cancelled due to a lack of member availability. In attempts to prevent this recurring, the DSP agreed to invite Councillors Exton and Howard to sit on the working group. Councillors Craft, Helyar and Pease would remain members. The next meeting of this group would be held on Friday 28^th July and would meet at 10:00am in the Deepings Leisure Centre.

It was requested that concerns of the Grantham Road Users Group over Gorse Rise, Grantham should be added to the work programme. Residents of the area had been experiencing noise and pollution from the road and a nearby business. The Panel agreed that there should be a site visit to the area at their next meeting and that the following should be invited: the local County Councillor, the relevant officer from Lincolnshire County Council Highways Department, a police representative and up to two people to speak on behalf of the residents of Gorse Lane.

One member of the Panel was concerned about the future of Stamford Hospital. Following two previous visits from the Peterborough and Stamford Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, it was agreed that they should be requested to provide a written interim report explaining long-term plans for the site.

CONCLUSIONS:

1.                  To invite Councillors Exton and Howard to join the Deepings Leisure Centre Working Group;

2.                  To hold the next meeting of the Deepings Leisure Centre Working Group on Friday 28^th July at 10:00 am at the Deepings Leisure Centre;

3.                  On the 5^th September, the Panel should meet at 1:30pm at the Council Offices, Grantham, to go on a site visit to Gorse Lane, Grantham;

4.                  To invite the following on the Gorse Lane site visit:

o       The local County Councillor for the Gorse Lane area;

o       The relevant officer from Lincolnshire County Council’s Highways Department;

o       A representative from the police;

o       Residents of Gorse Lane, who should elect no more than two people to speak on their behalf.

5.                  The Peterborough and Stamford Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust should be asked to provide a written interim report detailing long-term plans for the Stamford Hospital site. This should be presented for the next meeting of the DSP on September 5^th 2006.

The meeting was closed at 16:35.