Agenda item - Chairs Communications

12.1    The Chair gave the following communications:

Firstly, I would like to say a few words about the recent passing away of Cllr Garry Peltzer-Dunn. Garry was one of our longest serving members, having first been elected to Hove Borough Council in 1971. Garry had an illustrious career as a Cllr, service two terms as Leader of Hove, and a year as Mayor of Brighton & Hove in 2008. Amongst the many roles Garry was Chair of HOSC.

Secondly, I would like to encourage everyone who’s eligible to get a free flu vaccine or Covid autumn booster to book theirs as soon as possible.

We’re seeing a rise in positive Covid cases in Brighton & Hove and unfortunately the number of patients in hospital with COVID-19 is also increasing. Getting an autumn booster will help to improve your protection against severe illness from Covid. They are now available for everyone over 50, as well as people who are more at risk and those that live or work with people who are vulnerable. You can book an appointment online or by calling 119.

And if you haven’t had your first or second vaccine, please know that they are still available too.

Alongside Covid, more people are likely to get flu this year as fewer people have built up a natural immunity to it during the pandemic. The NHS is currently offering the flu vaccination for free to anyone who is more at risk. This includes many children, everyone aged 50 or over, those with and underlying health condition and those that live with, work with or care for those who are more at risk. To get yours you’ll need to make an appointment with your GP or participating pharmacy.

Thirdly, some comments about today’s agenda:

As members will recall, we had a paper on locally commissioned Trans health services at the July HOSC, and were planning a second paper at this meeting focusing on more specialist services commissioned by NHSE. However, the procurement of Sussex-wide Trans services is still ongoing which means NHSE cannot discuss details at a committee meeting. I have therefore deferred this item until November.

At the last meeting we had a member question on cancer screening, and the committee agreed we would have an item on screening at committee. This will also be at the November HOSC meeting – we will cover the national screening programmes for breast and cervical cancer as well as take-up of the HPV vaccination.

It was also agreed at the last HOSC that we would invite the CEO of Southern Water to a future meeting. He has been invited to attend the January 2023 HOSC.

Finally, today’s agenda is focused on University Hospitals Sussex, with papers on the CQC inspection of surgery and maternity, on the CQC inspection of urgent & emergency services and on the 3Ts development of the Royal Sussex. I’m pleased to say that we will be joined by the Trust’s Chief Executive, Dr George Findlay, for the CQC items. However, Dr Findlay will have to leave at some point for another meeting. To make the most of his attendance, I propose that we hear from Dr Findlay about surgery, urgent & emergency services, and upper gastro-intestinal cancer surgery. There will then be an opportunity to ask Dr Findlay questions about these services. We will subsequently hear from Dr Maggie Davies, Chief Nursing & Midwifery Officer, on maternity and there will be an opportunity to question Maggie.

I appreciate that this is a slightly different order than the one set out in the agenda reports, but I trust it won’t prove too confusing.