PRESENT: Councillor Barker in the chair.
Councillors Appleyard (Vice-Chair), Barkworth, Eckhardt, Ishaq MBE, and Simpson.
The panel met at Pittwood House, Scunthorpe.
18 DECLARATIONS OF PERSONAL OR PERSONAL AND PREJUDICIAL INTERESTS AND DECLARATIONS OF WHIPPING ARRANGEMENTS – There were no declarations of personal or personal and prejudicial interests.
No whip was declared.
19 ADULT MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES – PROPOSED TRANSFER. Update on progress from John Pattinson, North Lincolnshire Primary Care Trust – Members received an informative update, on the proposed transfer of Adult Mental Health Services, from John Pattinson, North Lincolnshire Primary Care Trust (NLPCT). He advised the panel, that following the publication of the tender notice, twenty four expressions of interest had been received by NLPCT. A shortlist had been drawn up and members were advised that all were specialist providers within the National Health Service.
Members were notified that a decision would be reached by mid January 2008, with contracting arrangements being finalised after this date. Users and carers would be involved in the final stages of this process and the expected transfer date would be on 1 June 2008.
Members asked questions about the consultation process, specifically whether all areas of the community had been engaged within this process and whether any objections had been received to the transfer proposal.
Resolved – (a) That Mr Pattinson be requested to contact Councillor Ishaq MBE to engage the Black Minority and Ethnic community within the consultation process, (b) that Mr Pattinson be thanked for his attendance at the meeting and (c) that Mr Pattinson arrange for the new provider to be introduced to the panel once appointed.
20 NORTH LINCOLNSHIRE’S PUBLIC HEALTH PROFILE (2007) - BRIEFING BY DR ANDREW FURBER, THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC HEALTH – Dr Andrew Furber explained to the panel that since his recent appointment, he had been involved in producing the first Public Health Profile for North Lincolnshire. The aim was to describe the population of the district, the important health indicators and some of the underlying determinants of those indicators. He confirmed that overall the health status of the population of North Lincolnshire was similar to that of the England average. However there were marked inequalities in health between more deprived areas and the more affluent, some of these being neighbouring communities.
Dr Furber confirmed that there was a widening gap in mortality between the more affluent areas and the deprived areas, and that the figures published showed an underlying trend of smoking and obesity contributing to this.
Members then asked questions about the forecast increase in the population over the next 20 years within North Lincolnshire, and what effect this would have on health service provision and the statistics that had been published for breast cancer
Dr Furber confirmed that the increase in population was a cause for concern due to the ageing population and the impact this would have on health services. He confirmed that work was underway to compile a long-term strategic policy to address this, and he hoped that this would be completed by the end of March 2008.
He also agreed that the breast-screening programme within North Lincolnshire had not met the required standards recently and that this was being addressed.
Resolved – That Dr Furber be thanked for providing an informative insight into the content of the Public Health Profile 2007.
21 OBESITY STRATEGY FOR NORTH LINCOLNSHIRE – (i) Discussion with Dr Andrew Furber on the Health Setting of the Obesity Strategy for North Lincolnshire. Dr Furber explained to the panel that post war there was no such thing as obesity, however over the last 50 years the problem had now reached epidemic proportions. This was related to the sedentary lifestyle that many people now lead and the increased availability and choices of food.
The panel was advised that the obesity levels within North Lincolnshire were higher than the national average, this linked to the levels of healthy eating and physical activity being lower than the national average. He explained that health inequalities and low income levels contributed to the problem and that it was from this information that the Obesity Strategy Plan was completed and divided into different settings.
Members engaged in discussion with Dr Furber on possible solutions to the problem. He advised members that there was no alternative to the five a day scheme, as fruit and vegetables were essential to maintain a healthy living. Health trainers would be introduced into the community to monitor this and
ensure that the right approach was adopted for the area.
Resolved – That Dr Furber be thanked for his attendance at the meeting.
22 (ii) Next Stages. The Service Director Legal and Democratic advised the panel that a sub group meeting had been arranged for Monday 10 December to discuss the work place settings within the Obesity Strategy and Danny O’Toole from the Primary Care Trust would be attending.
The panel meeting scheduled for 14 January 2008 would focus on the Community setting, and February meeting on the Children and Family setting.
Resolved – That Councillor Wilson, the Chair of the Children and Young People Scrutiny Panel be invited to attend the meeting in February.
23 CARING FOR CARERS – ORAL UPDATE. The Services Director Legal and Democratic informed the panel that Sarah Oliver, Performance and Information manager from Adult Services would be attending the next meeting, scheduled for 14 January 2008 to provide members with an update on all the recommendations made within the report published in May 2005.
It was reaffirmed that part of the overview and scrutiny process was to review the implementation of recommendations agreed in previous reports.
To assist the Scrutiny panel in this process, information was circulated to highlight reviews that had not been revisited and to provide a brief outline of the recommendations that had been suggested.
The chair agreed that it was necessary for the panel to review previous reports to ensure that work had been undertaken and to hold the Executive to account for implementation and progress.
Resolved – That a decision be made at the next meeting as to which report would be the next for review.
24 LOCAL INVOLVEMENT NETWORKS (LINks) – Members received an oral update on progress of implementing LINks from the Services Director Legal and Democratic.
Resolved – That this be noted
25 LEADER OF THE COUNCIL’S FORWARD PLAN – The Service Director Legal and Democratic circulated the Leader of North Lincolnshire Council's Forward Plan for December 2007 to March 2008.
The plan contained details of all matters and issues likely to be the subject of key decisions for a period of the next four months, updated on a monthly basis. Members discussed various items on the Forward Plan.
Resolved - That the Leader of the Council's Forward Plan for December 2007 to March 2008 be noted.
26 ADDED ITEM – It was agreed that there are concerns over elderly people being prisoners in their own homes after dark. This has been caused by the fear of anti-social behaviour. It was agreed that this may be an area to consider for a future review.
27 CHAIRS COMMENTS– The Chair suggested the Breast Screening service was an area of concern from the figures published within the North Lincolnshire Health Profile 2007.
Resolved – That the Primary Care Trust be invited to a future meeting to answer questions and advise on what progress has been made with the Breast Screening service since last year.