Councillor Marchant proposed that part of the meeting be held in exempt session – requiring suspension of the web-cast – on the basis of (a) discussion on the views of an individual service user, already published in the agenda; and (b) the contents of a letter he had received from a GP which he wished to discuss.

Resolved:  That, except for a short period before the close of the morning session if a member had items subject to patient privilege to raise all items be web-cast.

Apologies were received from Councillors Atwood and Paterson.

There were none.

a) Disclosures of interest

b) Disclosures of lobbying

c) Disclosures of whipping

a)  Disclosures of interest

Councillor Cunningham declared a personal interest in agenda item 8 , Department of Health, consultation on health reforms, on the basis: (i) that his wife worked part-time at both Tunbridge Wells and Maidstone Hospitals; and (ii) that he attended a KCC Health Overview and Scrutiny meeting the previous day, at which some of the same issues had been considered.

Councillor Mortimer declared a personal interest in the same item on the basis that he worked in the rehabilitation sector.

Councillor Mrs Crowhurst declared a personal interest in the same item on the basis that the new Hospital at Pembury was in her ward.

Councillor Dr Basu (see ‘appointment of co-optee’, minute 7 below) declared a personal interest as a retired consultant pathologist and former employee of the NHS.

b)  Disclosures of lobbying

There were none.

c)  Disclosures of whipping

There were none.

Resolved:  That all items be taken in public, except for a short period before the close of the morning session if a member had items subject to patient privilege to raise.

To consider the co-option of Councillor Dr Basu, a retired consultant oncologist, as a non- voting member of the Committee for agenda item 8: Department of Health consultation on health reforms.

Resolved:  That Councillor Dr Basu be appointed as a non-voting member of the Joint Committee for the consideration of agenda item 8 ‘Department of Health consultation on health reforms’.

The Chairman proposed that agenda Item 6 ‘Minutes of the Meeting held on 17 June 2010’ be taken after agenda Item 8 ‘Department of Health consultation on health reforms’.

Resolved:   That agenda Item 6 ‘Minutes of the Meeting held on 17 June 2010’ be taken after agenda Item 8 ‘Department of Health consultation on health reforms’. 

To consider whether, and if so how, to respond to the Department of Health White Papers issued under the overarching title ‘Liberating the NHS’.

Interviews with:

The Chairman explained that the Committee had been convened in order to consider the key issues set out in a number of consultation papers issued by the Department of Health under the overarching theme of ‘Liberating the NHS’. The principal focus of the meeting was to determine the extent of the impact of the proposals on local authorities and their residents and respond to the consultation papers accordingly.

The following witnesses from NHS commissioning bodies were introduced and welcomed to the Joint Committee:

·  Dr James Thallon, Medical Director, NHS West Kent;

·  Dr Bob Bowes, Chair of the South West Kent PBC Group; and

·  Paul Bentley, Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust

The above witnesses stated that whilst the proposals in their opinion were radical, there were many welcome opportunities which would add value to health care commissioning, and remove unnecessary bureaucracy from the NHS. However, in the absence of precise detail at this stage, they voiced concerns over some key issues:

• the need to ensure an orderly transfer of the commissioning process to the new structure, especially without placing the most vulnerable patients at risk;
• the need to provide new GP consortia with the freedom to determine their own groupings, without geographical boundaries being imposed;
• greater clarity over the role that local authorities will be expected to play in health improvement;
• how existing PCT professionals would be assimilated into the new structure; and
• ensuring that the drive towards reducing administrative support in the new structure was not at the expense of improved patient care.

Dr Thallon believed the proposed creation of a new independent consumer champion, HealthWatch England, under which Local Involvement Networks (LINks) would become the local HealthWatch, was a positive step. However, he was concerned that unless there was local involvement in the resolution of complaints, there would be a risk that poor practices would go undetected.

In response to members’ questions, the Committee heard:

• that KCC would have a greater role to play in the commissioning of some social care services following medical intervention;
• that health commissioning played only one part in helping to address general public health concerns such as obesity, where other social issues were involved;
• that the role of Health Overview and Scrutiny Committees is very important and should continue;
• there will be a new level of accountability to local authorities, including elected members;
• that the proposals will bring new opportunities to the private sector but these would have to be tempered by the need to ensure the private sector delivered good, efficient business as well as excellent clinical care. This underlined the need to ensure a proper level of administrative support for consortia; and
• there would have to be an emphasis on ensuring better management of the ‘care pathway’ was delivered.

The Chairman thanked the witnesses for their evidence.

The meeting was adjourned at 11:32 a.m. and resumed at 11:37 a.m.

The Chairman welcomed the following to the meeting, to speak as patient representatives:

• Graham Hills, Operational Director, Kent  ...  view the full minutes text for item 20.

Resolved:  That the minutes of the meeting of the Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells Joint Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on 17 June 2010 be agreed as a true record and duly signed by the Chairman.

Minute 8 – Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells NHS Trust: Quality Report 2009/10

Les Smith, Overview and Scrutiny Officer, Maidstone Borough Council, confirmed that a letter had been sent to the above Trust, in accordance with the Joint Committee’s decision, covering the specific issues raised.

Minute 9 – Department of Health consultation on ‘registering with a GP practice of your choice’

Les Smith, Overview and Scrutiny Officer, Maidstone Borough Council, confirmed that a letter had been sent to the Department of Health, in accordance with the Joint Committee’s decision.

Minute 10 – Joint Working Protocol

Councillor Mrs Stockell drew attention to the decision taken not to allow substitute members to attend meetings of the Joint Committee “…due to the specialised nature of the Committee…”. With support from Councillor Cunningham, it was proposed that this decision be reviewed.

The Joint Committee was advised that, under the provisions of the Access to Information Act, it was not possible to review that position at this meeting; this advice was given on the basis that: (a) no prior notice had been given and therefore no opportunity existed for other members to attend and submit their views; and (b) no paper had been prepared, setting out the issues relating to each side of the argument.

Minute 11 – Future work programme

The Chairman confirmed that the meeting referred to under this minute had taken place and had been well-received.

Resolved:   That:

a)  A reminder be sent to the Trust, seeking a response to the Joint Committee’s letter.

b)  A paper be submitted  to the next meeting on the appointment of substitute members

10.30 a.m. to 3.25 p.m.