Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Halsall and his Substitute Councillor Howard; Councillor Irving and his Substitute Councillor Bennett; Councillor Jones and his Substitute Councillor Riley; Councillor Thomas; and Councillor Moncur, Cabinet Member – Health and Wellbeing.

Members are requested at a meeting where a disclosable pecuniary interest or personal interest arises, which is not already included in their Register of Members' Interests, todeclare any interests that relate to an item on the agenda.

Where a Member discloses a Disclosable Pecuniary Interest, he/she must withdraw from the meeting room by switching their camera and microphone off during the whole consideration of any item of business in which he/she has an interest, except where he/she is permitted to remain as a result of a grant of a dispensation.

Where a Member discloses a personal interest he/she must seek advice from the Monitoring Officer or staff member representing the Monitoring Officer to determine whether the Member should withdraw from the meeting room, including from the public gallery, during the whole consideration of any item of business in which he/she has an interest or whether the Member can remain in the meeting or remain in the meeting and vote on the relevant decision.

No declarations of any disclosable pecuniary interests or personal interests were received.

Minutes of the meetings held on 22 June and 27 July 2021.

RESOLVED:

That the Minutes of the meetings held on 22 June and 27 July 2021, be confirmed as a correct record.

The attached report of the Head of Primary Care, NHS England and NHS Improvement (NHSEI) was deferred from the meeting held on 22 June 2021, to enable a representative of NHS England to attend in order to respond to any questions on the matter. Mr. Tom Knight, Head of Primary Care, NHS England and NHS Improvement North West (Cheshire and Merseyside), is due to attend the meeting.

The Committee considered the report of the Head of Primary Care, NHS England and NHS Improvement (NHSEI) on the current challenges faced by dentistry in light of the Covid-19 pandemic and the impact this is having on service delivery.

The report set out the background to the matter, together with the current position, in that some practices were not yet able to offer the full range of services that they would want to at this point in time. The report concludes that current infection prevention and control arrangements would continue to prevent a return to pre-pandemic practice, and that income protection measures to support the restoration of the service would be retained.

Mr. Tom Knight, Head of Primary Care, NHS England and NHS Improvement North West (Cheshire and Merseyside), attended the meeting to provide up-to-date information and to respond to questions on the matter.

Members of the Committee asked questions/raised matters on the following issues:

·       How information was communicated to the public in the event that they were unable to access dental services, particularly for those people who did not use IT.

·       Information on Urgent Dental Centres (UDCs) in Sefton, including numbers, sharing of data, the non-permanent nature of UDCs, and the return to routine care and funding.

·       Private dental care and the lack of NHS facilities in parts of the Borough.

·       Queries and complaints received by Healthwatch Sefton on the lack of NHS dental appointments available in recent months.

·       The ability for certain early stage cancers to be detected early at routine dental appointments.

·       Disappointment that there was no UDC in Southport.

RESOLVED:

That the report on the current challenges faced by dentistry in light of the Covid-19 pandemic and the impact this is having on service delivery, be noted.

Report of the Executive Director of Adult Social Care and Health.

The Committee considered the report of the Executive Director of Adult Social Care and Health that presented the Sefton Integrated Care Home Strategy 2021-24 that would be submitted to the Health and Wellbeing Board for approval. The report set out the rationale and development of the strategy; key themes and objectives within the Strategy; and delivery of the Strategy and governance arrangements. The report concluded that the Strategy had been produced as part of a joint commitment to further Adult Social Care and Health integrated working in this sector to ensure that it continued to meet the needs of the Sefton population and would be a key part of the delivery of the emerging Integrated Care Partnership.

Appendix A to the report set out the Sefton Integrated Care Home Strategy 2021-24 and Appendix B to the report set out the governance and delivery arrangements for the Strategy.

Members of the Committee asked questions/raised matters on the following issues:

·       The resources required to maintain the commitment to keep people in their own home.

·       Continuing care and the need to involve Healthwatch Sefton.

·       The need for an effective, trained workforce and the use of agency staff.

·       The impact of Brexit on the care home sector and the importance of reporting this aspect.

·       The “market” aspect of the care home sector, although a significant part of the market was not for profit.

·       Understanding the full costs of care.

·       Preventative measures required, including falls, etc.

·       The mandatory nature of covid jabs for care home staff, although this was not mandatory for agency staff.

·       The overall strategy to keep people out of care homes and in their own homes, wherever possible.

·       The importance of care closer to home.

RESOLVED:

(1)      the Sefton Integrated Care Home Strategy 2021-24 be noted; and

(2)      the Governance and Delivery Structure for the Strategy be noted, together with the intention for further reports to be submitted to the Committee throughout the life of the Strategy in order to provide updates on the delivery of the Strategy.

Report of the Executive Director of Adult Social Care and Health.

Further to Minute No. 9 of the Health and Wellbeing Board on 9 June 2021, the Committee considered the report of the Executive Director of Adult Social Care and Health presenting the latest position with regards to steps to develop a Sefton Integrated Care Partnership (ICP) following approval from the Cabinet in April 2021. Since being submitted to the Health and Wellbeing Board, the report had been updated slightly to reflect a change in terminology following the publication of the Health and Care Bill in July 2021. The report set out the background to the matter, together with milestones for Sefton ICP development; progress of the Sefton ICP; key deliverables; expectations from the Integrated Care System; and governance and accountability.

Members of the Committee asked questions/raised matters on the following issues:

·       How matters would work under the Cheshire and Merseyside Integrated Care Partnership (ICP).

·       Funding under the ICP.

·       The frequency of reforms under health and social care and how effective the current reforms would be.

·       The importance of involvement by Overview and Scrutiny in terms of accountability.

·       Sefton was considered to be a leader in terms of integration.

RESOLVED:

(1)      the contents of the report be received, and comments by Members be noted; and

(2)      oversight be provided by the Committee on the direction of travel and decisions regarding the Integrated Care Partnership, as they develop.

Report of the Chief Legal and Democratic Officer.

The Committee considered the report of the Chief Legal and Democratic Officer presenting formally the final report of the Mental Health Issues Working Group. The final report of the Mental Health Issues Working Group was attached to the report.

Mr. Roger Hutchings, co-opted Member representing Healthwatch Sefton, presented the report.

Members of the Committee asked questions/raised matters on the following issues:

·       Progress was still required to ensure that the term “parity of esteem” regarding mental health awareness was fully integrated into all aspects of health discussion.

·       A great deal of work had been undertaken in terms of mental health in recent years, although further progress was always welcomed.

·       Health and safety covered all working conditions, including mental health.

·       The number of mental health first aiders within the Council, compared to first aiders was requested.

RESOLVED:

That the Executive Director of Adult Social Care and Health be requested to develop an action plan that incorporates the following recommendations and that the recommendations are taken forward into commissioning plans:

A.       support the development of accurate data to evidence Key Performance Indicators, to include waiting times for services and customer satisfaction, to be presented to the Overview and Scrutiny Committee (Adult Social Care and Health) on a regular basis, in the form of a dashboard;

B.       support the development of greater parity of esteem for mental health within the Council’s Health and Wellbeing Strategy and other strategic documents;

C.       consider methods of increasing feedback from service users, to include case studies and a “secret shopper” approach, in order to encourage an approach of continuous improvement for service user experience;

D.       consider methods of increasing service user involvement, particularly in their own crisis planning, in anticipation of reforms to the Mental Health Act;

E.       consider methods of encouraging service users to become “experts by experience”, particularly through the use of Mersey Care facilities such as the Life Rooms and Crisis Cafes;

F.       support the development of Integrated Care Systems for a more holistic approach to issues that can impact on mental health, such as housing, addiction, complex lives issues, etc.;

G.       support the inclusion of approaches adopted during the pandemic, such as the use of video technology, within the development of the Technology Enabled Care Services Strategy;

H.       undertake a review of some of the services traditionally provided, in the light of alternative services provided and service user take-up of those services, during the pandemic;

I.        submit a report on the work and outcome of the Sefton Mental Health Review Task and Finish Group, set up between the Council, CCG’s, Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust and the voluntary sector, to the to the Overview and Scrutiny Committee (Adult Social Care and Health), in due course;

J.        review digital entry points for service users to access the Council’s mental health services, in order to ensure that access is as straightforward as possible via the Council’s website and that links to other organisations are readily available;

K.       submit a report on the work undertaken in relation  ...  view the full minutes text for item 23.

Joint report of NHS South Sefton Clinical Commissioning Group and NHS Southport and Formby Clinical Commissioning Group.

The Committee considered the joint report of the NHS South Sefton Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) and the NHS Southport and Formby CCG, that provided an update about the work of the CCGs. The report outlined details of the following:

·       Covid-19 Vaccination Programme;

·       Annual Flu Vaccinations;

·       Changing Commissioning Landscape;

·       Sefton Mental Health Review;

·       Changes at Cheshire Merseyside Health and Care Partnership;

·       Continued Covid-19 Measures in Healthcare Settings;

·       General Practice Update;

·       Patient Experience;

·       Specialist Cancer Clinics at Ormskirk Hospital;

·       Engagement Report Published on North Mersey Blood Cancer Proposals;

·       Collection of GP Data for Planning and Research Paused;

·       Invitation to Virtual “Big Chat” Annual Reviews; and

·       Governing Body Meetings.

Fiona Taylor, Chief Officer for the Sefton CCGs, attended the meeting to present the update report and to respond to questions raised by Members of the Committee.

Further to Minute No. 8 (2) of 22 June 2021, a verbal update was provided on Hightown Village GP Surgery and issues regarding access.

Members of the Committee asked questions/raised matters on the following issues:

·       Clarification was sought regarding numbers of covid vaccinations provided. Additional information could be provided.

·       When specialist cancer clinics would return in the Southport area.

RESOLVED: That

(1)      the update report submitted by the Sefton Clinical Commissioning Groups, be received; and

(2)      the Chief Officer, NHS South Sefton Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) and NHS Southport and Formby CCG be requested to provide clarification regarding numbers of covid vaccinations provided.

Joint report of NHS South Sefton Clinical Commissioning Group and NHS Southport and Formby Clinical Commissioning Group.

The Committee considered the joint report of NHS South Sefton Clinical Commissioning Group and NHS Southport and Formby Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG), that provided data on key performance areas, together with responses for the Friends and Family Test for both Southport and Ormskirk Hospital NHS Trust and Liverpool University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust. Information on the monitoring of the7-day GP extended access scheme for both CCGs was included within the data.

Further to Minute No. 16 of 27 July 2021, performance on ambulance turnaround times at Southport and Ormskirk Hospital NHS Trust was included within the data.

Fiona Taylor, Chief Officer for the Sefton CCGs, attended the meeting to present the update report and to respond to questions raised by Members of the Committee.

Further to Minute No. 16 of 27 July 2021, Mrs. Taylor undertook to obtain travel time from Southport to Aintree Hospital from the North West Ambulance Service.

Members of the Committee asked questions/raised matters on the following issues:

·       Difficulties in reading ambulance turnaround times within the data.

RESOLVED:That

(1)      the information on Health Provider Performance be noted; and

(2)      the Chief Officer for the Sefton Clinical Commissioning Groups be requested to obtain information on travel times from Southport to Aintree Hospital from the North West Ambulance Service.

Report of the Chief Legal and Democratic Officer.

The Committee considered the report of the Chief Legal and Democratic Officer submitting the most recent update reports from the Cabinet Member – Adult Social Care, and the Cabinet Member – Health and Wellbeing, whose portfolios fall within the remit of the Committee.

The Cabinet Member update report – Adult Social Care, attached to the report at Appendix A, outlined information on the following:

·       Care Homes – Vaccination Update;

·       Adult Social Care Budget:

o   External grants; and

o   Fee consultations;

·       Launch of Sefton’s Adult Safeguarding Board;

·       Operational Pressures;

·       Mental Health Services:

·       Sefton Mental Health Review

·       Performance;

·       Integration and National Policy Update;

·       Complaints Update:

o   General Overview;

o   Ombudsman Annual Review Letter;

o   Complaints Upheld;

o   Compliance with Recommendations; and

o   Satisfactory Remedy Provided by the Authority.

The Cabinet Member update report – Health and Wellbeing, attached to the report at Appendix B, outlined information on the following:

·       Covid-19 Update;

·       Adult Weight Management;

·       Allocation of National Drugs Funding for Additional Drug Treatment Crime & Harm Reduction Activity in 2021/22;

·       NHS Health Checks;

·       Seasonal Influenza;

·       Dunes SplashWorld;

·       Leisure Update;

·       Leisure Annual Report;

·       Litherland Sports Pitch; and

·       Communities Risk Register.

Councillor Cummins, Cabinet Member – Adult Social Care, attended the meeting, to present his report and to respond to any questions.

Councillor Moncur, Cabinet Member - Health and Wellbeing, submitted his apologies for the meeting.

Members of the Committee asked questions/raised matters on the following issues:

·       The number of care homes within the Borough.

·       If any developments were taking place within the Council to support complaint and service improvement.

RESOLVED:

That the update reports from the Cabinet Member – Adult Social Care and the Cabinet Member – Health and Wellbeing be noted.

Report of the Chief Legal and Democratic Officer.

The Committee considered the report of the Chief Legal and Democratic Officer reviewing the Committee’s Work Programme for the remainder of 2021/22; reporting on progress of the Mental Health Issues Working Group; proposing a piece of work on the Integrated Care Partnership; identifying any items for pre-scrutiny by the Committee from the latest Key Decision Forward Plan; receiving an update on the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority Overview and Scrutiny Committee; and noting the update from Healthwatch Sefton.

The Work Programme for 2021/22 was set out at Appendix A to the report, to be considered, along with any additional items to be included and agreed. The Terms of Reference for the Committee were set out at Appendix B to the report.

The report set out progress to date made by the Mental Health Issues Working Group.

The report set out a proposal for a piece of work on the Integrated Care Partnership to be undertaken by Committee Members.

There were two Decisions within the latest Key Decision Forward Plan, attached to the report at Appendix D, that fell under this Committee’s remit, and the Committee was invited to consider items for pre-scrutiny.

The report outlined recent activity undertaken by the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority Overview and Scrutiny Committee; and set out an update on recent activities undertaken by Healthwatch Sefton, as attached to the report at Appendix E.

Members of the Committee asked questions/raised matters on the following issue:

·       The recent announcement regarding reforms to social care finding.

RESOLVED:

(1)      the Work Programme for 2020/21, as set out in Appendix A to the report, be agreed;

(2)      the following additional item be added to the Committee’s Work Programme for 2021/22:

·       The Executive Director of Adult Social Care and Health be requested to submit a report on the recent announcement regarding reforms to social care finding, to a future meeting of the Committee;

(3)      the progress made by the Mental Health Issues Working Group be noted;

(4)      rather than establish a traditional working group during 2021/22, all Members of the Committee be invited to participate in undertaking a piece of work on the Integrated Care Partnership;

(5)      the contents of the Key Decision Forward Plan for the period 1 September – 31 December 2021, be noted;

(6)      the update on the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority Overview and Scrutiny Committee be noted; and

(7)      the recent activities undertaken by Healthwatch Sefton, as outlined in Appendix E to the report, be noted.