Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors C Andrew, G Baxendale and G Hayes.

To approve the minutes of the meeting held on 7 March 2019.

RESOLVED –

That the minutes of the previous meeting held on 7 March 2019 be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

To provide an opportunity for Members and Officers to declare any disclosable pecuniary and non-pecuniary interests in any item on the agenda.

Councillor L Durham declared a non-pecuniary interest in Minute Nos. 114 and 115.

To provide an opportunity for Members to declare the existence of a party whip in relation to any item on the Agenda

No declarations of a party whip were received.

A total period of 15 minutes is allocated for members of the public to make a statement(s) on any matter that falls within the remit of the Committee.

Individual members of the public may speak for up to 5 minutes, but the Chairman will decide how the period of time allocated for public speaking will be apportioned, where there are a number of speakers.

Note: in order for officers to undertake and background research, it would be helpful if members of the public notified the Scrutiny Officer listed at the foot of the Agenda at least one working day before the meeting with brief details of the matter to be covered.

No members of the public were present.

To consider an update on the closure of the two services, as well as the responses to the recommendations made by the committee at its previous meeting on 7 March 2019.

Consideration was given to written and verbal updates on the cessation of specialist orthodontic and oral surgery services at Macclesfield General Hospital, submitted by NHS England North (Cheshire and Merseyside) and East Cheshire NHS Trust, respectively.

John Wilbraham, Chief Executive of East Cheshire NHS Trust, accepted that consultation with the committee should have taken place immediately after the Trust served notice on the two contracts, and expressed a sincere apology on behalf of the Trust.

It was explained to the committee that notice had been served on the two contracts because both services were considered clinically-fragile and small-scale, meaning that finding an alternate way of delivering the services would be more sustainable and potentially more effective for patient outcomes also.

Members asked questions and put comments in relation to;

·         how many patients had been, or were on a waiting list to be, transferred to new service providers;

·         whether NHS England North (Cheshire and Merseyside) or East Cheshire NHS Trust had confidence that the two services could still be provided from Macclesfield in the future;

·         concerns for patients (and their families, carers or friends) who would be required to travel further for appointments; and

·         concern about the future of Macclesfield District General Hospital and whether more services would face a similar fate in the future.

The committee gave consideration to informal advice provided by the Independent Reconfiguration Panel regarding the committee’s previous decision to refer the closure of the two services to the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care (Minute No. 105, Health and Adult Social Care and Communities Overview and Scrutiny Committee, 2018/19.)

The committee then deliberated whether or not to continue with its referral in the light of the updates it had received.

It was proposed, seconded and moved that the committee would continue with its previously agreed course of action and ensure the matter be referred to the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care. Of the eleven members present, nine voted in favour of the proposal while the Chairman and Vice-Chairman abstained from the vote.

RESOLVED –

1          That the committee refer the matter to the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care.

2          That a further update on this matter be submitted for consideration by the committee on 13 June 2019.

To consider a report outlining why East Cheshire NHS Trust is unable to further provide a Parkinson’s disease support service from Macclesfield General Hospital, and the steps taken by the commissioner (NHS Eastern Cheshire Clinical Commissioning Group) to ensure the service is sustained in the immediacy and what the longer term aims are for the service.

Consideration was given to a report submitted by NHS Eastern Cheshire Clinical Commissioning Group regarding changes to the provision of nursing services that supported people with Parkinson’s Disease within the eastern Cheshire locality.

The committee asked questions in relation to;

·         how quickly the patients would be able to develop positive relationships with the new Parkinson’s Disease nurse support service;

·         how the new proposed service delivery model would benefit patients and the longer-term sustainability and resilience of the service;

·         when the new service would likely commence;

·         whether the total number or proportion of Parkinson’s Disease diagnoses had increased in Cheshire East in recent years; and

·         whether people were increasingly living longer with Parkinson’s Disease.

RESOLVED –

That the committee be made aware of the new service provider once it has become public knowledge.

To consider the council’s forward plan of key decisions.

Consideration was given to the council’s forward plan of key decisions, for the four month period ending 31 July 2019.

RESOLVED –

That the forward plan be noted.

To review the current work programme and agree to the addition or deletion of any items as per the selection criteria set out in the work programme covering report.

Consideration was given to the committee’s current work programme and whether any new or existing items needed to be added or deleted respectively.

Members of the committee suggested that three items be added to its work programme, on;

·         the Transformation Board;

·         One for You service; and

·         the range of clinically-fragile health services provided by hospitals in Cheshire East.

RESOLVED –

That the Scrutiny Officer liaise with the relevant officers and partners to obtain more information on the suggested work programme items, to ultimately allow the committee to make an informed decision to add any additional items to its work programme.