Issue - meetings

To Receive the Minutes of the meeting held on 18 October 2011 and a verbal update from the Health Engagement Panel Chairman

The Scrutiny Officer, on behalf of Councillor D Hone, provided a summary of the work of the Panel and the County Council Health Scrutiny Committee.

Members were advised that Councillor Hone had attended a meeting of the County Council Health Scrutiny Committee at the QE2 Hospital where Sarah Brierley, North Herts Hospitals Trust, had given a presentation in relation to the future of accident and emergency provision.  There had also been focus groups at the Lister and QE2 hospitals on this subject.

The Committee was reminded of the 3 year award to the Authority from the Royal Society of Public Health.  The Scrutiny Officer stated that Councillor Hone would be travelling to the House of Lords with Environmental Health Promotion Officer to be presented with the award on 29 November 2011.  The award would be formally presented to Members at Council on 14 December 2011.

The Scrutiny Officer stated that the Health Scrutiny Committee had met on 29 October 2011 and had split into groups to scrutinise Quality Innovation Productivity Prevention (QIPP) with the 5 local trusts.  Any resulting recommendations would be presented to the 13 December 2011 meeting of the Health Scrutiny Committee.

Members were advised of a Public Health Conference in Hertfordshire on 18 November 2011 at Campus West, Welwyn Garden City.  The main emphasis of this event was Health and Wellbeing Boards.  There had also been a number of local workshops that had been well attended.

Councillor E Buckmaster stated that he had attended a workshop at the QE2 Hospital with Councillor N Symonds.  He stated that he had also attended a workshop at the Lister Hospital with Councillor L Haysey.  He commented that the focus had been how to communicate service changes in Accident and Emergency at the Lister and QEII to the public.  Councillor Buckmaster emphasised that there had been agreement that communication methods such as the internet and social media should be used as much as possible to keep costs down.

The Committee was advised that local Councillors had a key role to play in acting as champions within communities when liaising with schools and community groups.  One key issue of concern was transport between hospitals and how to access key transport links more generally.

Councillor Symonds stressed the importance of using appropriate methods of informing the public of changes to Health Services in East Herts.  She stated that communication methods should vary for different groups of people.  She also commented that there should be better synergy between housing providers and health service providers.

The Committee received the report.

RESOLVED – that the update be noted.