Agenda and minutes

RESOLVED that Councillor Gannon be confirmed as the Chair for the meeting in accordance with the terms of reference for the Joint Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

The Chair, Councillor Gannon, welcomed members to the first formal meeting of the Joint Health and Overview Scrutiny Committee.

Councillor Roodhouse declared an interest in so far as he was a Director of Healthwatch Warwickshire. He remained in the meeting during the consideration of all business.

Report of Andrea Green, Coventry and Rugby Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG)

The Committee considered a report of Andrea Green, Coventry and Rugby Clinical Commissioning (CCG) which provided an update on the process and timescale to complete the Stroke Improvements pre-consultation business case and the NHS England assurance process. Andrea Green attended the meeting for the consideration of this item. 

The report indicated that local commissioners in Coventry and Warwickshire commenced the project to improve services for those who had a stroke or a transient ischemic attack (TIA) in April 2014. The improvements aimed to reduce the number of deaths and the scale disability caused by having a stroke and to improve the equity of stroke care. The improvement began as a review of the hospital stroke and TIA service, however initial feedback from the public and patients led to the expansion of the original scope to include a ‘pathway of excellence approach’ for stroke care to include action to prevent more strokes, a comprehensive specialist stroke rehabilitation service available across Warwickshire as well as Coventry, and a reconfigured hospital service.

The Committee were informed that the expansion of the scope had added complexity, cost and time in agreeing final proposals and securing assurance on the proposition from NHSE. The complexity arose from a much broader spectrum of professionals and organisations needing to agree the proposals; the requirement for further engagement and completing the option appraisal for bedded rehabilitation; and the additional costs of the proposals.

Reference was made to the additional evidence that had been required prior to completing the pre-consultation business case and next stage assurance with NHSE. This related to workforce planning and further evidence of ‘stress testing’ the proposals for times of peak demand on hospitals.

Over 40 people comprising the public, patients and professionals attended an event on 5^th November, 2018 and participated in a non-fictional option appraisal for the location of stroke rehabilitation beds. On conclusion of the event, the workforce planning was completed. Advice was currently awaited from the expert stroke clinical network as to the adequacy of the proposed rehabilitation workforce. The Committee noted that once the workforce had been completed, the final costing of the proposals could be concluded and the financial option appraisal completed. The pre-consultation would then be presented for sign off by the health commissioners and the Better Health Better Care Better Value Board, prior to submission to the NHSE for assurance testing. 

Further work had also been concluded on ensuring that at times of peak and surge demand, the hospital services could accommodate the additional stroke patients ensuring adequate access to diagnostic and specialist bedded services.

The Integrated Impact Assessment of the proposals had been updated following the non-financial option. The Committee were informed that a detailed report and a summary were shortly to be made available as evidence of the consideration of assessment of the equity, travel and health impacts of the proposals prior to any decision to go out to public consultation. Each NHS provider trust was being asked to sign off the final  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.

Any other items of public business which the Chair decides to take as matters of urgency because of the special circumstances involved

The Committee were informed that Councillor Gannon’s term of office as a City Councillor was expiring in May and he was not seeking re-election in the forthcoming municipal elections. Councillor Redford placed on record his appreciation for the support provided by Councillor Gannon during his time as Chair of the Health and Social Care Scrutiny Board (5) which had allowed for successful supportive partnership working between the two Health Scrutiny Chairs.