Agenda item - Public Involvement

(a)          The committee will consider a public question from Ms Linda Miller (copy attached)

24.1    There was a Public Question from Ms Linda Miller. Ms Miller asked:

I would like to draw the HOSC’s attention to the information provided by the BBC’s NHS Tracker about the standard of NHS provision in Brighton and Hove   https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-41483322

Patients treated or admitted within four hours of arrival at A&E

October 2018 figures

TARGET

95.0%

YOUR TRUST (BSUH)

80.7%

ENGLAND

89.1%

Brighton & Sussex University Hospitals NHS Trust ranked 113 of 130 trusts

Patients starting cancer treatment within 62 days of urgent GP referral

September 2018 figures

TARGET

85.0%

YOUR TRUST (BSUH)

74.1%

ENGLAND

78.2%

Brighton & Sussex University Hospitals NHS Trust ranked 101 of 131 trusts

Patients having planned operations & care within 18 weeks of referral

September 2018 figures

TARGET

92.0%

YOUR TRUST (BSUH)

80.7%

ENGLAND

86.7%

Brighton & Sussex University Hospitals NHS Trust ranked 106 of 126 trusts

Patients starting mental health therapy within six weeks of referral

Apr - Jun 2018 figures

TARGET

75.0%

YOUR AREA

48.0%

ENGLAND

89.5%

NHS Brighton & Hove ranked 192 of 195 CCG areas

The NHS services provided to Brighton and Hove residents are falling far short of national targets and national averages. Do you agree that disbanding our local HOSC, in favour of a Sussex and Surrey-wide JHOSC, would weaken our ability to oversee and scrutinise, and hopefully improve, what is happening to our local NHS? 

24.2    The Chair responded:

There are no proposals to disband the local HOSC in favour of a Sussex and East Surrey-wide Joint HOSC (JHOSC). Local authorities are required by law to appoint a JHOSC in order to scrutinise specific change plans involving the substantial development of a service or a substantial variation in the provision of a service which affect more than one local authority area, which NHS bodies or health service providers are subject to a requirement to consult with local authorities on. Local authorities have no option other than to join a JHOSC when the conditions requiring one are met.

The requirement applies only where the law requires authorities to appoint a mandatory JHOSC. There is no such requirement to discharge jointly any other health scrutiny functions. Whilst there is a good deal of informal joint working between HOSCs in the region (for example, members from several HOSCs meeting jointly and informally with an NHS provider rather than holding separate meetings), the Council has no plans to combine any of its formal HOSC functions or responsibilities other than those which trigger the requirement to appoint a JHOSC with any other local authority. This explicitly includes the NHS performance issues detailed in your question.

24.3    Ms Miller asked a supplementary question:

“These figures are showing that the current level of funding is not adequate to meet the needs of our local population.

And yet we know that the CCG is having to make £14m of cuts this year, its share of the £50m being cut across the Sussex/Surrey region.

And the proposed Joint HOSC is required because the CCGs are planning Substantial Variations in Service.

What are the Cuts and Substantial Variations in Service that are being planned? When and where will they be published? The public needs to know.”

24.4    The Chair agreed to provide a written response to this question. (NB: insert written response into mins)