Agenda item

To receive a report on the Possible Implications for Scrutiny of the Francis Report Working Group – update. (20 mins)

The Possible Implications for Scrutiny of the Francis Report Working Group was set up to look at the potential implications of the Francis Report for scrutiny in Wokingham.  The Working Group made 28 recommendations which were presented to the Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee on 10 September 2014.  The Committee considered a report which gave an update on the implementation of the Working Group’s recommendations.

During the discussion of this item the following points were made:

·         With regards to Recommendation 7 ‘That all HOSC members and substitutes should receive induction and refresher training and briefings on topics which the Committee will be looking at in detail’, it was noted that scrutiny related training sessions held following the agreement of this recommendation had generally not been well attended.  It was appreciated that often Members had not attended for valid reasons.  The Committee felt that it would be helpful to hold a training session in the new municipal year for any new members of the Committee and for more experienced committee members to also be invited.

·         Recommendation 10 stated ‘That new HOSC members be encouraged to view membership of the Committee as a long term commitment, so far as possible.’  The makeup of the current Committee was a mixture of Members with experience of health scrutiny and those who were new to it.  Members were of the view that continuity where possible was a good idea.  Councillor Haines commented that this would help to reduce duplication of information provided.

·         Recommendation 15 stated ‘That the HOSC members monitor information regarding complaints published by each of the NHS Foundation Trusts which provide services to Wokingham Borough residents and on which the Committee is prioritising its focus, for Board meetings held in public.  That Committee members highlight any concerns to the Chairman, for follow up by the Committee.’  The Committee was updated periodically regarding complaints. 

·         It was noted that in the Committee’s terms of reference there was provision to assign members of the Committee to lead roles in relation to particular health issues or health service providers.  Members were informed that Bracknell Forest Council Health Overview and Scrutiny Panel had appointed Members to act as leads for different areas.  It was felt that this would be potentially beneficial for Wokingham.  Possible areas suggested were; Health and Wellbeing Board, Clinical Commissioning Group, Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust, Berkshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, South Central Ambulance Service, Public Health and the Care Quality Commission.

·         The membership of both the Health and Wellbeing Board and the Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee had changed since the last workshop had been held with Healthwatch to gain an understanding of each other’s roles and responsibilities and the interdependencies between the three.  It was felt that a refresher workshop could be helpful.

·         Councillor Swaddle expressed concern regarding verbal reports and reports which were tabled at the meeting and commented that this made it difficult for Members to prepare sufficiently.

RESOLVED:  That the update on the implementation of the recommendations of the Potential Implications for Scrutiny of the Francis Report Working Group be noted.