Meeting documents

The Council
Thursday, 28th February, 2013 6.30 pm

Community Services & Culture Scrutiny Minutes

Date:
Wednesday, 6th February, 2013
Time:
18.00
Place:
(special meeting) Civic Centre, Southend-on-Sea
 

Attendance Details

ItemDescriptionResolution
Part I
759 Apologies and substitutions.
 Apologies for absence were received from Cllr D Garston (no substitute) and Cllr Robertson (no substitute).
760 Declarations of interest.
 The following interests were declared at the meeting:

(a) Councillor Kaye - agenda item relating to Changes to Local Pathology Services - non-pecuniary - Mental Health Act Manager SEPT, Chairman for Hearings; observer on Shadow Health & Wellbeing Board;
(b) Councillor Velmurugan - item relating to Changes to Local Pathology Services - non-pecuniary - GP and colleague of Dr Husselbee; Council appointed Governor of Southend University NHS Foundation Trust; member on Shadow Health & Wellbeing Board;
(c) Councillor Chalk - item relating to Changes to Local Pathology Services - non-pecuniary - member on Shadow Health & Wellbeing Board;
(d) Councillor Betson - item relating to Changes to Local Pathology Services - non-pecuniary - member on Shadow Health & Wellbeing Board;
(e) Councillor J Garston - item relating to Changes to Local Pathology Services - non-pecuniary - member on Shadow Health & Wellbeing Board;
(f) Councillor Crystall - item relating to Changes to Local Pathology Services - non-pecuniary - Council appointed Governor of Southend University NHS Foundation Trust at the Hospital; member on Shadow Health & Wellbeing Board;
(g) Councillor Lewin - item relating to Changes to Local Pathology Services - non-pecuniary - distant relative is an employee of the pathology department;
(h) Councillor Salter - item relating to Changes to Local Pathology Services - non-pecuniary - husband is Consultant Vascular Surgeon and Business Unit Director for Surgical Services; Chair of Shadow Health & Wellbeing Board.
761 Changes to Local Pathology Services
Business for item 761
Resolved:

1. That NHS South East Essex and the Southend Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) be notified of the following concerns of the Scrutiny Committee:

1.1 The risks associated with the proposals, particularly given the views of local health professionals.

1.2 The potential for a reduction in the quality of the pathology service particularly:
(a) Delays in processing blood tests;
(b) Speed and safety of transporting samples to the Bedford Hospital hub;
(c) Effectiveness of IT links.

1.3 Whether the projected savings are realistic and achievable.

1.4 The impact of the changes at Southend Hospital (and Basildon Hospital), with a potential for loss of expertise and service quality.

1.5 Ability of the Consortium to deliver the new service, given previous reported problems with Serco.

1.6 Contingency arrangements in the event that the new service fails.

2. That the Committee welcomes the offer by Dr Husselbee, Accountable Officer, Southend CCG and Andrew Pike, Chief Executive NHS South East and South West Essex Cluster, to return to the Committee with answers to the concerns and questions raised before any contract is signed.

Note: This is a Scrutiny Function
18.00 / 20.50

Attendance Details

Present:
Councillor Kaye (Chairman), Councillor Flewitt (Vice-Chairman), Councillors Betson, Byford, Dr Caunce, Chalk, Crystall, Holland, A J Jones, Lewin, McMahon, Norman, Van Looy, Velmurugan and Walker
Mr Camp, Ms Semmence and Ms Clarke (co-opted members)
In attendance:
The Worshipful the Mayor, Councillor Carr, Councillors Assenheim, Borton, Courtenay, Evans, J Garston, Gilbert, Godwin, Salter, Terry and Woodley
R Tinlin, J K Williams, F Abbott and S Leftley

Business

ItemBusiness
761The Committee welcomed Dr Paul Husselbee, to the meeting. Dr Husselbee is the Accountable Officer, Southend Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) and co-Chair of the Transforming Pathology Services Project Board.

Dr Husselbee provided a Power Point presentation, on the proposals for changes to local pathology services covering the following areas:
• Pathology services in the East of England
• Case for change
• Consolidation of laboratories
• Benefits of proposal
• Accessibility of services
• Improvements in patient care
• Demand management
• Current status of proposal and preferred provider for south Essex, Consolidated Pathology Services (CPS)
• Caveats put in place by the south Essex CCG's
• What is not proposed, and the service is expected to start in 2014 if approved
• Southend CCG position and reassurances.

Following the presentation, Dr Husselbee was joined at the table by Andrew Pike, Chief Executive NHS South East and South West Essex Cluster and they responded to the significant number of detailed questions from the Committee and other Councillors.

There was considerable level of concern expressed at the meeting about the proposals and Members asked for further assurance from the CCG about them before a decision is taken by the CCG about the contract.

 

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