Issue - meetings

To review the current Work Programme (attached).

The Committee considered the current work programme.  At the previous meeting, Councillor Moran had suggested that a Scrutiny review on prostate services be undertaken.  The Committee had received some information on prostate services and screening from Dr Guy Hayhurst, Consultant in Public Health and Councillor Moran circulated further information from Leighton Hospital Prostate Cancer Support Group and Awareness Campaign, Cheshire.  It was noted that guidance from the National Screening Committee was that prostate cancer screening should not be introduced.  The Committee discussed issues around men’s health, including the importance of raising awareness of symptoms and encouraging men to attend their GP with any concerns. 

The Committee noted that the Constitution Committee had resolved to withdraw the Council’s nominations from the Joint Scrutiny Committee, meaning that mental health would be undertaken by the Council’s own Scrutiny Committees. 

It was noted that training sessions had been arranged for 12 October and 16 November to cover mental health and learning disability; it was agreed that these sessions would also cover self harm following early reference to rates being higher in Cheshire East than elsewhere. 

Members referred to earlier reference to excess winter deaths and discussed adding this to the Work Programme as a Task/Finish Group.

Finally, Members discussed the availability of budget and performance information and the possibility of having any areas of under performance flagged up to the Committee.

RESOLVED:

(a) the Work Programme be updated in accordance with the discussion at the meeting;

(b) a Task/Finish Group be set up to look at the issue of Excess Winter Deaths comprising Councillors Grant, Moran, Silvester; and members of Adult Social Care Scrutiny Committee be invited to nominate Member(s);

(c) the dates for the Training Sessions be noted;

(d) the issue of prostate services and screening be considered at a future meeting and in the meantime the views of a GP be sought and Dr Hayhurst be requested to consider the further information supplied by Leighton Hospital Prostate Cancer Support Group and Awareness Campaign, Cheshire.