Agenda and draft minutes

Apologies for absence had been received from Councillor Sital Punja (Councillor Stuart Farley was present as her substitute).

Councillor Kelly Martin declared a non-pecuniary interest in Agenda Item 5 – Health Updates as he worked part time at Harefield Hospital, and remained in the room during the consideration thereof.   

It was noted that, whilst the minutes were a verbatim record of the meeting and gave a gist of the discussion that took place, a sentence had been missed off at the end of the third paragraph of Minute Number 25 in the hard copy version of the agenda (the online versions of the minutes and agenda were correct).  The missing sentence read: “Mr Curry advised that he had spoken to Heathrow Airport about buying the hospice but that Heathrow had declined.”

RESOLVED:  That the amended minutes of the meeting held on 11 September 2024 be agreed as a correct record.

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

The Chair welcomed those present to the meeting.  As Members of the Committee needed time to be able to read and digest the information to be able to fulfil their statutory health scrutiny responsibilities, health partners were reminded of the requirement to provide written reports by the deadline provided (this was usually at least six clear working days before the meeting).  The receipt of information any later than this materially hindered the Committee in its ability to fulfil this role. 

The Hillingdon Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (THH)

Mr Jason Seez, Deputy Chief Executive at THH, advised that the Trust had achieved 78.4% against its 4 hour A&E target in 2023/24 (compared to 76% in the previous year).  However, it was recognised that there was still room for improvement and that there would be a focus on Type 1 performance (the more serious presentations).  As at July 2024, the Trust had achieved 71.83% all-type performance against the national target of 76%.  Although THH was currently below target, there were a number of improvement initiatives in place to support this. 

Mr Chris Reed, Hillingdon Group Manager at The London Ambulance Service NHS Trust (LAS), advised that the LAS had seen a 13% increase in the number of Category 1 calls with higher acuity so resolving this issue would need a joined up approach.  Dr Ritu Prasad, Chair of Hillingdon GP Confederation, advised that Hillingdon had an ageing population with multi morbidities and that GPs were seeing an increase in the number of acute presentations.  Mr Keith Spencer, Managing Director at Hillingdon Health and Care Partners, advised that Brunel University had been commissioned to undertake an investigation into why patients were going to A&E (e.g., were they more ill than previously?).  Once this work had been completed, Mr Spencer would forward the results to the Democratic, Civic and Ceremonial Manager to share with Members of the Committee.

Concern was expressed that there had been an increase in the number of patients presenting at A&E that were then admitted to hospital.  It was queried whether residents were turning up at A&E as a last resort as they had no other options.  Mr Spencer advised that this had been the topic of regular discussions.  There may have been alternative pathways that these patients could have used but the data suggested that the majority of patients attending ED at weekends and after 5pm during the week were lower acuity which would suggest that it was because they were unable to get a convenient GP appointment. 

Although the winter pressure beds would usually help to accommodate demand during the increased winter activity, these tended to be open all year round.  As such, a whole system approach was needed to address the demand.  The hospital redevelopment plan would help to bring partners together to keep patients out of hospital through a place-based transformation strategy.

During 2023/24, £34.6m had been invested into the capital programme, largely in relation to buildings related to the redevelopment project.  ...  view the full minutes text for item 33.

Consideration was given to the Cabinet Forward Plan.

RESOLVED:  That the Cabinet Forward Plan be noted.

Consideration was given to the Committee’s Work Programme.  It was agreed that the following changes be made to the Programme:

• 12 November 2024 – move consideration of the scoping report of the major review of adult social care early intervention and prevention to 12 November 2024 and hold the witness sessions on 25 February, 19 March and June 2025, with the final report being considered in July / September 2025;
• 12 November 2024 – hold a single meeting review of pharmacies on 12 November 2024;
• 12 November 2024 – include an item to discuss the evaluation of the wellbeing bus pilot that had taken place in Heathrow Villages;
• 12 November 2024 – receive a report on the use of Section 106 monies on health related projects at the meeting on 12 November 2024; and
• 23 January 2025 – receive an update from the Cabinet Member for Health and Social Care and the Corporate Director for Adult Social Care and Health at the meeting on 23 January 2025 in relation to the CQC report and other matters. 

It was noted that reports had been planned for consideration at the next meeting on 12 November 2024 on a range of issues such as the Older People’s Plan, 2024/25 BCF requirements and Autism Strategy consultation.  The Democratic, Civic and Ceremonial Manager, in consultation with the Chair, would establish which reports needed to go to the next meeting and which could be deferred to a later date.

RESOLVED:  That the Work Programme, as amended, be agreed.