Issue - meetings

To review the current Work Programme (attached).

The Committee considered a report on the current work programme which had been updated following discussion and recommendations made at the informal meeting on 8 September.

The work programme was updated as follows:

      The Annual Public Health report would be presented in January 2012;

      An update on Health and Wellbeing Boards would be made to every meeting;

      A training session on the Joint Strategic Needs Assessment and the Health and Wellbeing Board would be held on 24 and 25 November.

Members were invited to visit Wilmslow Leisure Centre to see the Lifestyle concept in operation. 

In relation to the item on Alcohol, the Committee was advised that the Sub Regional Leadership Board would be considering a report in December on minimum pricing; the North West region was lobbying the Government on the topic too.

In relation to the item on the Local Involvement Network, it was reported that a Notice of Motion would be submitted to Council calling for confirmation and clarification that funding for LINks would be available at the earliest opportunity to enable transition arrangements to Healthwatch to be planned and a smooth handover to be achieved. 

In relation to Health Inequalities, Dr Grimbaldeston reported that there would be information in her Annual Public Health report covering this and including practical steps that could be taken, not just statistics.  It was also noted that some Local Area Partnerships were keen to engage on this topic.

Members also considered the following requests:

      From a member of the public, Charlotte Peters Rock, that a Task/Finish Group be set up to look at the health and wellbeing of carers.  It was noted that the Adult Social Care Scrutiny Committee had received a presentation on the “Strategy for Carers in East Cheshire 2011-2015” and would be reviewing the Strategy in six months time; any Scrutiny work on the topic of Carers would need to take this into account as well as seeking involvement from members of the Adult Social Care Scrutiny Committee;

      From Councillor Gardiner to set up a Task/Finish Group to look at proposals in Knutsford around primary healthcare; a Task/Finish Group had been set up in 2009 and reported on its findings earlier in the year; however, there was now a renewed focus on developing new primary care facilities and it was suggested that a Task/Finish Group be reconstituted;

      From Councillor Flude to set up a Task/Finish Group to look at suicide; it was explained that Councillor Flude had held a meeting with the Cheshire Coroner which had suggested an increase in suicide verdicts, it was also likely that there would be an increase in suicide or incidents of self harm during a recession.

RESOLVED: that the Work Programme be updated to include the following topics:

      Impact on the health and wellbeing of carers and service users, across Cheshire East, arising from closures of health and social care services already undertaken, and proposed changes currently under consultation;

      Future healthcare provision in the Knutsford area;

      Suicide prevention.