Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence had been received from Councillors Nick Denys (Councillor Nicola Brightman was present as his substitute) and Kuldeep Lakhmana (Councillor Lynne Allen was present as her substitute).  On behalf of the Committee, the Chairman wished Councillor Lakhmana a speedy recovery. 

RESOLVED:  That all items of business be considered in public. 

At the Committee’s last meeting, Members had discussed the provision of dental health services in the Borough.  Concerns raised during this discussion had led to the topic being chosen as the Committee’s new scrutiny review topic. 

Members were advised that, with regard to the review of the Mount Vernon Cancer Centre (MVCC), NHS England (NHSE) / NHS Improvement (NHSI) had undertaken a period of engagement.  Expressions of interest were now being sought and, once evaluated, a recommendation would be made to NHSE.  It was noted that Members of the Hertfordshire County Council health scrutiny committee would be undertaking a site visit to MVCC in the New Year.  Once details of this visit had been finalised, Members of the External Services Select Committee would be invited to join them. 

Depending on the progress made, representatives from NHSE/NHSI would provide the Committee with an update at its meeting on either 11 February 2020 or 26 March 2020. 

Concern was expressed by one Member that they had received reports from staff at MVCC about wards reopening in January 2020.  Ms Caroline Morison, Managing Director at Hillingdon Clinical Commissioning Group (HCCG), noted that she was unaware of any ward closures at MVCC and that this might be in relation to the reopening of the Michael Sobell House inpatient ward which would be reopening on 5 January 2020.  Ms Morison would double check that there had been no ward closures at MVCC and provide the Committee with clarification. 

It was noted that the GP Pressures review undertaken by the Select Panel would be considered by Cabinet at its meeting on 23 January 2020. 

RESOLVED:  The minutes of the meeting held on 9 October 2019 were agreed as a correct record. 

Central and North West London NHS Foundation Trust (CNWL)

Ms Kim Cox, Hillingdon Mental Health Borough Director, advised that PC Victoria Hull had been unable to attend this meeting.  As such, she would attend a future meeting with representatives from CNWL to provide the Committee with an update on the Serenity Integrated Mentoring (SIM) project. 

Members were advised that work continued on the Integrated Care Connection Expansion Model with regard to physical and wellbeing/mental health needs.  The Care Connection Teams (CCTs) would work with providers (i.e., the voluntary sector, Council, pharmacists and other specialist and hospital services) to coordinate physical, wellbeing and mental health services.  A Mental Health Nurse would be the link worker with other mental health services. 

New models of care had been introduced with the Primary Care Networks.  The 45 GP practices in the Borough had been grouped into 9 neighbourhoods with each collectively serving a population of 30k-50k patients.  The work involved partners from across the health system including acute, community, mental health, primary care, social care and third sector services.  There was a clear focus on prevention which was supported by sharing data and information across all parts of the local system.  Multi-disciplinary teams had been working across organisational boundaries and there had been some robust data driving developments, including the use of whole population risk stratification.  Resources and workforce were being flexed and deployed to meet the needs of the population with care being delivered closer to home in the least restrictive environment. 

Ms Cox noted that a new children’s integrated therapy service was being mobilised which combined the current speech and language therapy, physiotherapy and occupational therapy pathways into a more streamlined service with one referral route. 

With regard to mental health services, it was noted that there continued to be an increase in the number of referrals to the service.  A major transformation plan had been put in place to improve the urgent and acute care and community care offer.  However, Ms Cox advised that this had been impeded as a result of the Council withdrawing from the Section 75 (s75) integrated services agreement.  Ms Robyn Doran, Chief Operating Officer at CNWL, advised that the Trust had been disappointed with way the s75 issue had been handled and the way that it had come out of the blue. She suggested that the action would not improve the service provision and that it would have implications for funding which would then impact on health colleagues.  Ms Doran also stated that this model had been implemented elsewhere and had not proved as effective as when the social workers were managed by CNWL. 

Ms Cox expressed concern that the caseload would now need to be split between those with a predominant social care need and those with a predominant mental health need.  Furthermore, CNWL would now need to look at securing alternative premises from which to operate the service within the next six months. 

Section 75 was an arrangement / ongoing contract for  ...  view the full minutes text for item 33.

It was noted that Mrs Liz Penny would be supporting this review which had been highlighted as an issue at the Committee’s last meeting on 9 October 2019.  Contact had already been made by a dentist offering to attend a meeting to provide Members with their perspective.  Members had nothing further to add to the scoping report. 

RESOLVED:  That:

1.    a Select Panel be established to look at dental services in the Borough; and

2.    the scoping report be agreed.

Consideration was given to the Committee’s Work Programme.  It was noted that Mr Owain Mumford, the Post Office’s Public Affairs Manager for London and the South East, had confirmed his attendance at the Committee’s next meeting on 14 January 2020. 

The Committee’s meeting on 11 February 2020 would be primarily focussed on crime and disorder.  In addition to the usual update report, Members were asked to contact the Democratic Services Manager by 10 January 2020 with suggestions of specific crime and disorder topics that they would like discussed at this meeting. 

The Democratic Services Manager would liaise with Members of the Committee to determine the date for an additional meeting for consideration of the challenges faced by The Hillingdon Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.

RESOLVED: That:

1.    Members contact the Democratic Services Manager by 10 January 2020 with crime and disorder topic suggestions or the meeting on 11 February 2020;

2.    the Democratic Services Manager liaise with Members to organise an additional meeting date to consider THH challenges; and

3.    the Work Programme be noted.