Agenda and draft minutes

Resolved:-  That the minutes of the meeting held on 17^th September, 2012, be approved as a correct record.

Arising from Minute No. 21 (Rotherham Warmer Homes Strategy 2012-2015), it was noted that a bid had been submitted to the Warm Homes Healthy People Fund.  The outcome of the bid would be known on 31^st October, 2012.

The Chairman reported that a workshop session to undertake a self-assessment of the Board had been held earlier that morning.

It had been a very worthwhile exercise with additional information to be built into the work programme.  Different Theme Leads would be invited to regular Board meetings to enable performance management of the Strategy.

A representative from the Pharmaceutical Committee would be attending the next Board meeting together with the Chief Executive of the Rotherham Hospice to talk about End of Life issues and Dying Well.

Dr. Radford, Director of Public Health, reported that the groups to be included in the Seasonal Flu Vaccination Programme, issued by the Chief Medical Officer, remained unchanged i.e.:-

-        People over the age of 65 years

-        People 6 months to 65 years with chronic or long term conditions

-        People living in long stay care facilities e.g. care homes

-        Carers of “at risk” groups

-        Pregnant women (any stage of pregnancy)

-        Frontline health and social care staff

Responsibility for delivering and performance managing the Programme sat locally with NHS Rotherham and the Public Health Department in partnership with the Rotherham Foundation Trust and the Local Authority.  The Programme would be delivered primarily through general practices but the RFT had been commissioned in a supportive capacity providing opportunistic vaccination to all groups predominantly through Ante-natal Clinics, Planned Investigation Unit, Medical Nurse Practitioners and Outpatients Departments (Fracture and Orthopaedic Clinic, Medical and Elderly Medicine).  GPs remained responsible for the vaccination of housebound patients (including care homes) who were not on a District Nurse caseload.

The Council had secured 500 vaccines to be delivered to front line Social Care staff free of charge under the Service Level Agreement by Rotherham Workplace, Health and Wellbeing.  Sessions were planned at various sites across Rotherham to facilitate attendance and access.

From April, 2013, the Programme would be commissioned by the NHS Commissioning Board on behalf of Public Health England.  It would be the responsibility of the Director of Public Health to hold this system to account for vaccination levels in the Borough.

A comprehensive local media campaign had been developed in conjunction with the Council, RFT and NHSR focussing on all the eligible groups using the ‘Flu Safe’ banner and on Health and Social Care staff using the ‘Flu Fighter’ banner.  The campaign would be rolled out across Rotherham using as many public facing sites/premises as possible. 

It was also noted that the Whooping Cough vaccination was been offered through GP practices for those between 28-38 weeks pregnant.

Resolved:-  (1)  That the report be noted and the campaign to achieve the required uptake across all groups endorsed.

(2)  That all health and social care providers and staff take every opportunity to promote and encourage vaccination among patients, clients/Service users and other staff in addition to taking up the offer of free vaccination for themselves.  It was noted that for healthcare professionals this was endorsed by their professional registration bodies.

(3)  That the lessons identified from the 2011/12 Programme be acted upon and embedded in the 2012/13 Programme.

(4)  That the delivery and uptake within Social Care be monitored and addressed in conjunction with the Council Contracts Managers.

(5)  That the importance of front line Care staff being vaccinated be raised at the forthcoming RMBC/Trades Unions Joint Consultative Committee meeting.

The Chairman reported details of a free conference to be held on 13^th November, 2012, in London organised by the Local Government Association entitled “Health and Wellbeing Simulator: Engaging and Representing Children and Young People”.

Resolved:-  That the Cabinet Member (or substitute) and an Advisor be authorised to attend the above free conference.

- notes of meeting held on 1^st October, 2012

The notes of the Health and Wellbeing Members’ Group held on 1^st October, 2012, in Wakefield, were circulated for information.

Discussion at the meeting had taken place on:-

Membership of the Board

Development

Governance

Scrutiny

Going Forward

What the LGA could offer on Board development

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

(2)  That the report be submitted to the Health and Wellbeing Board for information.

The following item is likely to be considered in the absence of the press and public as being exempt under Paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended March 2006) (information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular individual (including the Council)).

Resolved:-  That, under Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following item of business on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended March 2006) (information relating to the financial or business affairs of any person (including the Council)).

Clare Burton, Commissioning, Policy and Procurement, provided a verbal update on the commissioning of Healthwatch Rotherham. 

The commissioning and procurement activity was on track as planned.  Commissioning activity such as consultation, service mapping and service design had been completed.

The Specification had been drafted and was based upon the statutory Legislation within the Health and Social Care Act 2012 for each local authority to commission a local Healthwatch that would include a NHS Complaints Advocacy Service.

It would form part of the tender document to be issued to enable potential providers to bid for the Healthwatch Rotherham 3 year contract.

The closing date for the pre-qualification questionnaire was the 11^th October and it was proposed that the invitation to tender documents would be issued on 22^nd October with a closing date of 29^th November.  The contract would be awarded to the successful tenderer on 11^th January, 2013 with contract commencing on 1^st April, 2013.

Consideration was being given to a regional simulation event being held in the New Year.  Support was available from the LGA for such an event.

Resolved:-  (1)  That the progress on the commissioning of Healthwatch Rotherham be noted.

(2)  That the re-drafted Service specification be circulated via email to Cabinet Member and Advisors for Health and Wellbeing for consultation.

(3)  That further reports be submitted on the outcome of the tendering and evaluation processes and the recommended provider.

(4)  That arrangements for a simulation event being held in the New Year be supported.