Agenda and minutes

(if any – receive).

Apologies were received from Councillor Julie Wilkes, Darren Wise and Bryan Vincent.

Councillor Julie Wilkes was present virtually via Zoom.

Members are invited to disclose any interests in any of the items on the agenda at this point of the meeting. Members may still disclose an interest in an item at any time prior to the consideration of the matter.

6. HEALTHWATCH HAVERING - EXPERIENCE OF POST-COVID 19 REPORT.

Councillor Frankie Walker, Personal, Works for a chairty supporting cancer patients and their families.

To agree as a correct record and authorise the Chairman to sign the minutes of the meeting of the Health Overview and Scrutiny Sub-Committee held on 17 November 2021 (attached).

The minutes of the meeting held on 11 November 2021 were agreed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

Report and presentation attached.

NHS officers presented to Members information on the new Integrated Care System (rolled out in July 2022) and associated local NHS structures.

It was explained that an important recent change to local health services had been the replacement of the local Clinical Commissioning Group with an Integrated Care Board (NHS North East London). This was part of the establishment of a wider Integrated Care System covering both Havering and the wider North East London area. The new structure would be fully implemented in November 2022 and a briefing note would be sent to the Committee Members in due course.

NHS Officers gave details of this important change to NHS arrangements and Members were asked to consider the implications of these changes on the scrutiny work programme. Officers would also supply details regarding the lack of GPs in the south of Havering.

The Sub-Committee noted the report and would scrutinise the information presented whilst considering the actions it wished to take in response.

Report attached for discussion with Sub-Committee.

The Health Watch (HW) annual report was presented to the Sub-Committee.

It was explained that HW had the powers to visit care home facilities, GP practices and hospitals. They were funded by the government and the new NHS changes hade led to changes in the way HW worked.

Inclusivity continued to be a priority. HW reported to various bodies including HWBB, ICB, and ICP etc. and would be active at all levels. Their function was to identify things that were not working and then make recommendations. However, they did not deal directly with complaints and advised people where to take their complaints. 

Reviews of health facilities were due to commence in the Autumn and will be reported back to the Committee thereafter.

Digital inclusion/exclusion was recognised as being an issue and was being continually examined through HW with the help of an officer from the Council.

Funding for Healthwatch was detailed in the report (this had not been increased since 2013) and there was a heavy reliance on volunteers (20) and 6 paid staff members who were part time. Priorities were set based on previous work, dependent on what people were feeding back, and any national issues that occurred.

It was agreed that HW’s new protocol on conducting enter and view visits and a report a report on the Abbs Cross Nursing home that had recently been compiled would be sent to Members as an example of the work HW do.

The Sub-Committee noted the report.

Report attached for discussion with Sub-Committee.

The Sub-Committee received a presentation on the Health Watch Havering – Experience of Post-Covid 19 report.

It was explained that this was part of a collaboration project between the Community Insight System, 8 Health Watch organisations, the North East London CCG, and the Long Covid Clinic at King George Hospital.

The findings of the survey suggested that too many people have had consequences of Long Covid that were not properly addressed.

Havering overall had largest number of people vaccinated in North East London. The data though showed many concerning issues including lack of awareness of the Long Covid Clinic. The survey had been very useful for the ICS. The survey would be revisited and rerun next year to see if any improvements would have occurred.

The Sub-Committee noted the report.

The Sub-Committee is invited to consider items for its work programme for the forthcoming year.

Requests had been put forward previously on the Work Programme and the following were suggested to be added:

·       Digital Inclusion/Exclusion from health services

·       From Hospital to Home – Discharge pathway for older people (this could be undertaken collaboration with Health Watch)

·       Workforce shortages and the recruitment & retention of staff

·       Encouraging young people and other hard to reach groups to engage with the healthcare system.

·       Maternity services.

·       It was agreed that a Children with Special Education Needs task and finish group should be set up with Councillor Pat Brown as Chairman.

Members were welcome to contact the clerk with other suggestions for the work programme.

Report attached.

Councillor Pat Brown and Christine Smith were nominated to be Members of the Joint Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee for Outer North East London.

The Havering Residents Association Group would confirm their membrship shortly.