CouncillorMoMarsh declared that she was attending the
meeting as Substitute Member for Councillor Craig Turton.
27B.
Declarations of
Interest
27.2
There were
none.
27C.
Declarations of Party
Whip
27.3
There were
none.
27D.
Exclusion of Press and
Public
27.4
In accordance
with section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, it was
considered whether the press and public should be excluded from the
meeting during the consideration of any items contained in the
agenda, having regard to the nature of the business to be
transacted and the nature of the proceedings and the likelihood as
to whether, if members of the press and public were present, there
would be disclosure to them of confidential or exempt information
as defined in section 100I (1) of the said Act.
27.5
RESOLVED- That the press and public be not excluded
from the meeting.
Minutes of
the meeting held on 23 July 2008 (copy attached).
Minutes:
28.1
Councillor Alford noted that he had not been able to attend the
28 July 2008 HOSC but that he had given his apologies, and asked
that this be amended in the relevant minute.
28.2
RESOLVED
–That Councillor Alford’s
comments be noted and that the minutes
of the meeting held on 11 June 2008 be approved and signed by the
Chairman.
18.
Chairman's Communications
Minutes:
29.1
Councillor Allen chaired the meeting at
Councillor Cobb’s request due to her ill-health.
(i)
No public questions have been received for this meeting;
(ii) A public question
was received at the 23 July 2008 meeting and an answer requested
from Brighton & Hove City Teaching Primary Care Trust in time
for this meeting. The relevant papers are attached to this agenda
(copy attached).
Minutes:
30.1
There
were no public questions brought to this meeting.
30.2
At the previous
meeting, the Committee had received a Public Question from the
Older People’s Council:
“The Older People’s Council (OPC)
is concerned that some older people in the city are not able to
easily access the free eye testing to which they are entitled.
Recognising the importance of maintaining good eyesight for the
promotion of wellbeing and independence, the OPC would like to ask
the Primary Care Trust (PCT):
1)How does the PCT promote free eye testing for older
people and how does it monitor its delivery by local
opticians?
2)What has been the take-up of free tests for each
year over the past 5 years, identifying those older people who
are:
·aged 60+ exercising their right to a bi-annual
free
test;
·aged 60 + receiving more frequent free eye tests on
the recommendation
of their optometrist;
·aged 70+ exercising their right to an annual
free
test;
·aged70 + receiving more frequent free eye tests on the recommendation of their
optometrist?
3)How does the city compare nationally, regionally and
with comparator cities in respect of free eye testing? (Please
provide figures for the same time-frame and for the same categories
as requested in 2 above.)
4) Some older
people have said that they feel they have been placed under
pressure to purchase spectacles etc. when visiting an optician for
their free eye test. Can the PCT detail the steps it takes to
ensure that city opticians do not inappropriately use free eye
testing sessions to push for sales?”
30.3
The PCT provided
a written response to the questions (please see minute book). The
Chief Executive of the PCT addressed members’
questions.
30.4
Members were
told that, further to the written report, it was possible to
provide details about the numbers of eye-tests in the city,
although this data was not collated according to age.
In 2007/08,
there were 47,518 eye-tests. In addition, 1,535 domiciliary visits
were made to carry out eye-tests.
30.5
The Older
People’s Council (OPC) representative said that he was
pleased to receive the information and to be able to report this
back to the OPC. It was not a surprise
that the figures were not available in age group breakdown but it
was useful to raise this as an issue.
30.6
In response to a
question regarding whether the posters in optometrist shops were
standard NHS posters, members were informed that the posters were
NHS issued posters, although it was at the shop’s discretion
where they were displayed.
30.7
In response to a
query concerning elderly patients in long-term hospital stay,
members were told that they would be eligible for domiciliary
visits as required.
30.8
Members asked
whether this report could be considered as an interim report with a
request for a further report at a later date.
30.9
RESOLVED –that the current information
be accepted as an interim report and
that a further report would be brought to HOSC in due
course.
Stephanie Hood, Director of Strategy and
Communications, and David Mallett,
Assistant Director – Fit for the Future, of the South east
Coast Strategic Health Authority, gave a presentation on the South
East Coast Review.
33.2
RESOLVED –That the Committee noted this
report and they would welcome updates on the SHA
proposals.
The
Committee thanked Ms Hood and Mr Mallett for their presentation.
Report of
the Director of Strategy & Governance on the major Public
Health challenges facing Brighton & Hove.Dr Tom Scanlon, Director of Public Health, will
present to the Committee and answer members’ questions (copy
attached).
Members
received a presentation from Dr Tom Scanlon, Director of Public
Health, outlining the major public health challenges facing
Brighton and Hove.
34.2
Questions were
asked about smoking cessation and whether the success in this area
had now reached a plateau. Members asked whether there were any
statistics on young people smoking; Dr Scanlon said that statistics
showed that more young people were starting smoking and that work
needed to be done to address this.
34.3
Members noted
that alcohol was clearly a huge issue for the city and that its
impact had also been also discussed in the Community Safety Forum.
They asked whether the PCT could play a role in addressing the
increasing numbers of licensed properties in the city, possibly by
raising objections on the grounds of public health. Dr Scanlon
stated that he was eager to see a public health role in tackling
these issues.
34.4.
In response to
queries concerning Healthcare Acquired Infections, members were
told that that this was a national concern and a top priority for
the local Health Economy, although recent performance in Brighton
& Hove was excellent.
34.5
Members queried
the possible effects that the ‘credit crunch’ might
have on public health and in particular, on mental health and
potential suicide. Dr Scanlon commented that it was probable that
the credit crunch would affect health. People tend not to stop
smoking or drinking so, in tougher economic circumstances, any
spending on these items could be at the expense of nutrition. Dr
Scanlon also said that a suicide strategy for the city had just
been published, looking in depth at the past three years’
suicide cases and seeking to learn from them.
34.6
Members asked
why it was the case that vaccination rates in Brighton & Hove
were lower than the national average. Dr Scanlon said that local
research was being carried out into the subject at present to try
and establish causes and possible remedies.
34.7
In response to a
query regarding breast feeding rates falling after six weeks,
members were told that this data was influenced by how the
recording took place. Health visitors were required to assess
breast feeding at six weeks, but there was nothing in place to
assess continuation after this stage.
34.8
In response to a
query about the levels of infant mortality, Dr Scanlon advised that
the figures did fluctuate from year to year and it was important to
monitor them. Infant mortality occurs particularly in premature and
low birth weight babies, both of which were more common in older
mothers.
34.9
In response to a
query about continuing funding where Neighbourhood Renewal funding
had ended, Dr Scanlon commented that the Primary Care Trust was
committed to continuing successful projects and that alternative
funding sources had been used where possible.
34.10
Members
discussed possible subject areas for an ad hoc Panel to consider a
public health issue in more depth. Suggested areas included drugs
and/or alcohol; food and quality of lifestyle; and the impact of
the student population on health reporting.
34.11
It was agreed
that there would be an ad hoc Panel working group comprised of
Councillors Rufus, Allen and Harmer-Strange, and Robert Brown as
LINk representative. The working group
would consider possible subject areas and decide which one would
form the issue for the ad hoc Panel. The working group members
would also be the members of the ad hoc Panel.
34.12
RESOLVED
–
I.That the report be
noted.
II.That an ad hoc Panel working group be formed to
decide the subject area from those suggested at 34.10.
Report of
the Director of Strategy and Governance on Brighton & Hove City
Teaching Primary Care Trust’s public and stakeholder
consultation exercise in regard to the development of a Citywide
Strategic Commissioning Plan (copy attached).
Darren
Grayson, Chief Executive of Brighton and Hove City Teaching Primary
Care Trust presented a progress report on the development of a
Citywide Strategic Commissioning Plan, including key priority
areas.
35.2
RESOLVED
–
I.Members noted the details of the consultation and
that a draft had been submitted to the Strategic Health
Authority.
II.Members noted that consultation on the plan had led
to the local priorities for development.
26.
Brighton & Hove Local Involvement Network (LINk)
Update on progress towards
establishing a Brighton & Hove Link. Presentation from Janice Hoiles, LINk Manager
(verbal update).
Minutes:
36.1
Janice
Hoiles from the Brighton and Hove
LINk introduced the role of
LINk to the Committee. Ms Hoiles explained that the LINk currently had 150-200 members but was engaging
in outreach activity to raise awareness and increase membership -
it was open to anyone in the city.
The
LINk will be having a steering group to
shape its future direction and was currently seeking nominations
for the group. Ms Hoiles advised that
the LINk was holding public events in
November 2008, to which all Members were invited.
36.2
Members asked
questions about the election process for the steering group. Ms
Hoiles explained that there were
elections running from now until 22 October 2008 to allow all
members to cast their vote; a number of election mechanisms had
been set up in order to make them as accessible as possible.
Currently steering group members were reimbursed for expenses but
there was a restricted budget.
36.3
Members asked
how LINk was hoping to make a
difference to residents. Ms Hoiles
explained that the difference was that the network was open to
everyone to join and that it was therefore wider ranging than
previous organisations
36.4
Members asked
for more information about LINk and
about the public events; Ms Hoiles
offered to send all Members the information.
36.5
RESOLVED -That the Committee noted this report and they
would welcome further information on the role of LINks.
The Committee
thanked Ms Hoiles for her
presentation.
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