Issue - meetings

Consideration was given to proposals for setting up a Local Healthwatch in Cheshire East, in accordance with the Health and Social Care Act 2012.  This would be an independent consumer champion for health and social care with responsibilities for monitoring and scrutinising services as well as providing advice and signposting; it would replace the Local Involvement Network (LINk) which would cease to exist.  A consultation process had been carried out to understand how Healthwatch could best be delivered and its procurement now needed to be carried out.  

RESOLVED

1.    That Cabinet endorses the Cheshire East Local Healthwatch consultation.          

2.    That a selection process be held for a Local Healthwatch Board for which support is given. 

3.    That procurement and tendering exercise be started now to set up and deliver Local Healthwatch in the Cheshire East Council area.

4.    That it be noted that the value of the contract for this service is likely to require a Key Decision as defined by the Council’s Constitution, which will be determined once the overall funding has been confirmed by the Department of Health later in 2012; the contract length would be for an initial 2 years from April 2013. 

5.    At least two Members be identified to take part in the selection/interview process for a Local Healthwatch support organisation. 

6.    That it be agreed that a representative from the Local Healthwatch should sit on the Health and Wellbeing Board (in both shadow and full form) to provide an additional channel for understanding the views of health and social care customers as set down in the Health and Social Care Act 2012.

7.    That the Local Healthwatch does not take on the Independent Complaints Advocacy Service and instead this is procured separately.