Issue - meetings

- presentation by Peter Lee, RFT

Peter Lee, Chairman of the Rotherham Foundation Trust, gave a powerpoint presentation on the implications for the Trust, its Directors, Governors and members of the Health and Social Care Act 2012:-

Where we start from

-        Combined hospital and community services

-        Income £225M from 1 year contract

-        Over 4,000 staff

-        Cost improvement programme 2012/13 (£14M)

-        FRR – 3 (1-5) and Governance – Green (green/amber/red)

-        Lowest waiting times

-        Infection control record – excellent

New Commissioning Regime

-        Present position – Primary Care Trust until April, 2013

-        Future position – Clinical Commissioning Group from 2013

-        Transitional arrangements exist

-        CCGs – locally managed and directed – all primary care providers had to be members – regulatory supervision – obligations to be transparent

-        CCGs – mandated to continuously improve services – reduce inequalities – promote patient involvement and patient choice – innovation – research and the integration of health and social care

New Initiatives

-        Promotion of Section 75 NHS Act 2006 arrangements

-        Every provider of health services would need to be licensed

-        Changing role for Monitor (Foundation Trust regulator)

-        Increasing role of Council of Governors

-        Duty to promote the NHS Constitution

-        Caps and conditions to non-NHS income

-        Foundation Trust Board meetings to be held in public

New Roles and Responsibilities – Governors

-        To hold the NEDs individually and collectively accountable for the performance of the Board

-        To represent the interests of the members (as a whole) and the interest of the public

-        To require the Directors to attend Council of Governors to supply information regarding the performance of their duties and functions

-        Any amendment to the Constitution of the Trust regarding the powers or duties of the Governors (or their role) was subject to a Members’ vote.  More than 50% of those voting must be in favour and the motion must be put by a member of Council of Governors

-        Any other amendments to the Constitution of the Trust were subject to more than 50% of the Directors voting in favour and more than 50% of those Governors actually voting being in favour

-        Constitution could be changed to specify partnering organisations which may appoint one or more members of the council

New Roles and Responsibilities – Directors

-        General duty to act with a view to promote the success of the Trust so as to maximise benefits for the members (as a whole) and for the public

-        Must supply Governors with meeting agendas prior to their meetings and minutes as soon as practicable after meetings

-        Constitution must be amended to provide for meetings to be open to the public and may provide for exclusion of the public for special reasons

-        Obligation to promote the NHS Constitution to members of the public in discharging the Trust’s functions

-        Ensure that the Governors were equipped with the skills and knowledge required in their capacity as such, to discharge their duties  ...  view the full minutes text for item 65