Agenda and minutes

To confirm as true record the Minutes of the meeting held on 13 September 2021.

RESOLVED: 

THAT the minutes of the meeting held 13 September 2021 be confirmed as a true record.

To invite Members to declare any interest they might have in the matters on the agenda.

Cllr Andrew Garratt declared an interest in any matters relating to local authority care placements as a relative was permanently placed in a care home; and in any matters relating to the IW NHS Trust as his husband was employed by a Trust delivering services at St Marys Hospital.

Cllr Michael Lilley declared an interest as the chairman of the Voluntary Sector Forum and as a trustee of the Isle of Wight Youth Trust.

Members of the public are invited to make representations to the Committee regarding its workplan, either in writing at any time or at a meeting under this item. Questions may be asked without notice but to guarantee a full reply at the meeting, a question must be put including the name and address of the questioner by delivery in writing or by electronic mail to Democratic Services at democratic.services@iow.gov.uk, no later than two clear working days before the start of the meeting. The deadline for written questions will be Wednesday 24 November 2021.

No public questions were received.

To receive an update on the current impact upon health and social care services and the position on vaccination and booster numbers.

The Director of Public Health provided a brief update on Covid-19 recovery plans and vaccinations. The Committee were advised that the data demonstrated that vaccinations were effectively breaking the chain between infections and hospitalisations. It was advised that there were now a number of cases of the new Omicron variant in the UK.

The Clinical Lead for the Hampshire and Isle of Wight COVID-19 Vaccination Programme highlighted the key messaging to the community which included targeted vaccination promotion to pregnant and immunocompromised people, hands-face-space, and regular lateral flow testing.

The Managing Director of the HIOW CCG provided an update on the vaccination uptake rate and confirmed that all over-40’s would be offered their booster vaccine before Christmas 2021. The committee were advised that activities were underway to increase capacity including additional walk-in appointments and a roving mobile service to various sites across the Island.

Concerns were raised regarding the ongoing frustrations experienced by Island residents, and the Committee emphasised the importance of clear, realistic, consistent, and relevant communications about the availability and access to booster jabs.

Questions were raised regarding the activities in place to reach out to individuals who do not wish to be vaccinated, and discussion took place regarding the possibility of a minimum baseline expectation for all GP practices to ensure communications across the island are consistent.

RESOLVED:

THAT as a result of the ongoing public comments and concerns regarding problems with accessing Covid-19 booster jabs, the Committee urgently calls upon the Chief Executive of the Hampshire, Southampton and Isle of Wight Clinical Commissioning Group to ensure that it provides clear, realistic, consistent and relevant information for Island residents about the availability of booster jabs and how to book these, and suggests that Healthwatch Isle of Wight be consulted on the level of detail that requires to be included in such a communication.

To consider the report of the Director of Public Health.

The Director of Public Health presented the report which outlined the key suicide prevention activities on the Island since January 2020, through the delivery of the suicide prevention strategy alongside partners from the health, social care, and voluntary sectors, overseen by the Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Partnership.

Discussion took place regarding the trajectory for progress for the delivery of the strategy, the lag on the data and the criteria to investigate suicides. The key developments and achievements in suicide prevention since January 2020 were noted, and it was suggested that a further progress report to be submitted to the Committee in 12 months’ time.

Following comments from the Cabinet Member it was suggested that discussions be held between the Committee and the Policy and Scrutiny Committee for Children’s Services, Education and Skills, and the Director of Public Health on a joint meeting to consider mental health services for young people.

RESOLVED:

THAT the Suicide Prevention Update report be noted.

To receive an overview of the work undertaken by The Advocacy People from Cherie Gallin, Supervising Advocate, Independent Health Complaints Advocacy Service, Southampton City and Isle of Wight.

The Supervising Advocate of the Independent Health Complaints Advocacy Service for Southampton City and the Isle of Wight delivered a presentation which provided an overview of the service.

Discussion took place regarding the themes of complaints, and it was advised that this was consistent with the mainland and included areas such as access to services, medicine management, staff attitude and  communications. Questions were raised in relation to case studies, the treatment of vexatious callers, and the patient experience team, and the support for patients to assist them accessing the right information.

RESOLVED:

i)               THAT the work of the independent NHS complaints advocacy service through The Advocacy People was noted.

ii)              THAT details of the service provided to Island residents be circulated to all members of the Council together with town and parish councils.

To consider the annual report of the Safeguarding Adults Board.

The independent chairman of the Isle of Wight Safeguarding Adults Board presented the annual report for 2020/21.

Questions were raised and clarification was provided regarding the statutory criteria for instances to be escalated to a safeguarding adults review. Discussion took place regarding the relationship between the Board and the coroner, and questions were raised regarding domestic abuse services and perpetrator programmes.

Discussion took place regarding the Thematic Review into cases which do not meet statutory criteria for Safeguarding Adult Reviews individually, but when aggregated  may offer valuable thematic insights into safeguarding practices on the Island. It was agreed that the findings of this review would be shared with the committee when available.

RESOLVED:

THAT the Isle of Wight Safeguarding Adults Board annual report 2020/21 be supported.

To formally consider the outcome of the CQC inspection of St Mary’s Hospital.

The Director of Governance and Risk at the Isle of Wight NHS Trust presented the recent CQC inspection report which rated St Mary's Hospital ‘good’.The Committee congratulated the Trust and all its staff on the positive outcome of the inspection.

Discussion took place regarding the restrictions at St Marys Hospital, particularly relating to visiting and the impact this has on the mental health of patients. It was confirmed that national guidance must be adhered to and it was reassured that some visiting was permitted for parents of children in hospital and for those receiving end of life care. Additional measures such as drop-off points and virtual facilities were highlighted. 

The committee acknowledged the progress made by the Trust since it’s last inspection and sought an update on the activities underway to address areas where improvements were required, and the steps being taken to prevent services from slipping back to ‘inadequate’. It was agreed that a  report would be submitted to the next meeting on the Must Do items so to monitor progress with the proposed actions to rectify these.

RESOLVED:

i)               THAT the Committee congratulated the Trust and all its staff on the positive outcome of the CQC inspection.

ii)              THAT report be submitted to the next meeting on the Must Do items so to monitor progress with the proposed actions to rectify these.

To consider any update on any significant service issue not already covered on the agenda but requiring the formal attention of the committee.

The chairman advised that the committee had serious concerns that NHS England and Improvement had not effectively responded to Healthwatch and to the Committee regarding the lack of access to NHS dentistry since the last meeting. The Managing Director of the Hampshire and Isle of Wight CCG acknowledged the comments and advised that dentistry contracting arrangements were due to move from NHS England to the local Integrated Care System.

Health partners were invited to report on any significant service issues which require the attention of the Committee and to be added to the future workplan if necessary. No further comments were made at this stage.

RESOLVED:

THAT this Committee resolves to write to the Secretary of State for Health in collaboration with the Leader of Isle of Wight Council and Chairman of Health & Wellbeing Board, and the Isle of Wight’s MP Bob Seeley, urgently on the serious lack of effective response.

The chairman to give an update on the progress on the outcomes and recommendations arising from previous meetings.

The chairman presented the report which provided an overview of the progress against outcomes from previous meetings. No comments or questions were made at this stage.

RESOLVED:

THAT the progress report be noted.

To consider any amendments to the current workplan.

Consideration was given to the future workplan, and the committee and health partners were invited to identify any key issues that should be included. It was advised the workplan would be further populated in light of the revised Corporate Plan 2021-2025.

Suggested items for inclusion within the workplan included an item relating to unpaid carers and an item relating to services for adults with autism. Concerns were raised over the accessibility and delays in getting data from the coroner.

It was confirmed that the issue relating to patient transport remained a high priority for the committee to consider. It was agreed that a briefing would be arranged to discuss the future provision of GP services in Newport.

RESOLVED:

i)               THAT item relating to unpaid carers, services for adults with autism, and delays from the coroner be considered for inclusion in the workplan.

ii)              THAT a briefing be arranged to discuss the future provision of GP services in Newport.

A question may be asked at the meeting without prior notice but in these circumstances there is no guarantee that a full reply will be given at the meeting. To guarantee a reply to a question, a question  must be submitted in writing or by electronic mail to democratic.services@iow.gov.uk no later than 5pm on Thursday 25 November 2021.

No questions were raised at this stage.