Issue - meetings

Janet Spurling, Scrutiny Officer, submitted a report on the new review of Congenital Heart Disease Services and the proposal for the establishment of a Joint Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee (JHOSC) (Yorkshire and the Humber) in relation to the review.

The previous work of the JHOSC with regard to the Safe and Sustainable Review of Children’s Congenital Cardiac Services in England (SSR) was well known and recorded.  There was clear support from the constituent authorities for the work of the JHOSC to continue and for the new review of Congenital Heart Disease Services to benefit from similar robust scrutiny arrangements.

Following the decision to halt the SSR, the JHOSC had continued to meet.  It had been made aware of NHS England’s intentions for the new review to consider the whole lifetime pathway of care for people with Congenital Heart Disease covering services to both children and adults.  The existing terms of reference had been revised to reflect the changed approach and scope of the new review.

Leeds City Council was the administering authority and their Scrutiny Support Unit would continue to provide day-to-day support for the work of the JHOSC.  However, in recognition of the level of support already provided and the view from JHOSC members that the new review would benefit from similar robust scrutiny arrangements to those that were in place for the SSR, all constituent authorities had been requested to make a financial contribution of £1,000 per authority for the 2014/15 financial year.  A budget for this would need to be identified.

Resolved:-  (1)  That the report be noted.

(2)  That Councillor Steele, Chairman of the Health Select Commission, be confirmed as its nominee to sit on the Joint Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee (Yorkshire and the Humber) in relation to the new review of Congenital Heart Disease Services, in line with the terms of reference submitted.

(3)  That a report be submitted to Cabinet recommending to Council:-

(a)          the support for the establishment of a Joint Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee (Yorkshire and the Humber) in relation to the new review of Congenital Heart Disease Services, as set out in the terms of reference submitted, be reaffirmed;

(b)          that the relevant functions (in relation to the Council) set out in the terms of reference for the Joint Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee (Yorkshire and the Humber) be exercisable by that Committee subject to the terms and conditions;

(c)          that the Chairman of the Health Select Commission be appointed as the Council’s representative to the Joint Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee (Yorkshire and the Humber);

(d)          that any necessary amendments be made to the Council Constitution.