Minutes:
With regard to the Hospital Services Review, why have you not involved the staff in such a way that they understand the whole picture of what you are asking of them and where it may lead? In terms of consultation you have hardly grasped it with the fervour it warrants. Why have you not involved the staff inside the NHS so they understand the whole of what they are working on?
The Chair stated that, from the Council perspective, he had spoken out in public, including to the regional board, of his concerns about the lack of public consultation on the regional STP. He had argued long and hard for the Local Plan to be accountable and had insisted that it come under the Health and Wellbeing Board and, therefore, the minutes of the sub-groups belonging to the Place Board were submitted to the Board meeting. There had been at least 2 All Member seminars on the Plans to inform all Members of the Council and where they could ask questions. The Health and Wellbeing Board and the Place Board were both public meetings and the item had been included on both agendas in the “open” session. The Local Place Plan was based on what was happening locally and had formulised some of the actions but there were no cuts and no involvement in private companies. This had also been subject to public meetings and was aimed at improving the health of Rotherham people and not about bringing in another organisation.
Dr. Cullen stated that, in his view as a GP, the Place Board was part of closer working together and that was reflected through the organisations to the workers. People on the ground wanted that facility to work together more closely; they were listening to the patients and did not want duplication. The Place Board was the top part that would allow better working on the ground to improve patient care and co-ordinate the best value out of the Rotherham pound.
Chris Edwards reported that the Hospital Services Review was conducted by an independent company commissioned to produce a report. The comments regarding the length of the document and how it had been publicised would be fed back. Any major service change that affected Rotherham would legally require full public consultation and any decisions would be made in public.
The Rotherham Integrated Care Partnership Agreement would tie all representatives to make the best decisions for Rotherham people and to meet the Key Performance Indicators.
Rotherham was at the forefront of the possible changes. Can we not bring a team from the Labour Party down to look at it? We would press the local labour Party to deal with this
The Chair stated that there was no problem at all with people looking at what Rotherham had done and what intended to do.
Tony Clabby, Healthwatch Rotherham, reported that an engagement event on the Hospital Services Review had been held on 10th September at the Carlton Park Hotel at which over 40 people from hard to reach communities had attended.