|
If these buttons don't work, try |
SOCIAL SERVICES NORTH WEST (NWASSA)
MEETING ON 14 SEPTEMBER 2001 AT BLACKBURN
REPORT OF THE CO-ORDINATOR
WORKING WITH THE NATIONAL HEALTH SERVICE
1. Matter for Consideration:
To report on the action taken regionally since the last meeting, with particular reference to a meeting with the North West Regional Association of Community Health Councils and a further meeting with the NHS Executive North West and the Social Services Inspectorate. Also to report on responses to certain key Government policy initiatives.
- Introduction:
A positive meeting was held in July with our sister body which is the umbrella organisation for Community Health Councils in the North West, and a programme of joint work was agreed. The prediction at the last meeting of rapid and radical changes in the NHS were proved correct with the publication of two key documents: Shifting the Balance of Power within the NHS - Securing Delivery and Department of Health - Focusing on Delivery. The former was put out for consultation but responses had to be received at the Department of Health by 7 September. Further legislation is likely in the Autumn and there are important issues for local government and social care interests which need to be monitored. A further meeting was held with regional Department of Health colleagues, at which steady progress was evident towards a number of objectives highlighted by Social Services North West representatives at earlier meetings.
3. Information:
3.1 The Chair and officers of Social Services North West met with represenatatives of the North West Regional Association of Community Health Councils in July. The notes of that meeting are attached at Appendix A. It had arisen from the anomalous position in the Health and Social Care Act as far as patient representation and the scrutiny of the NHS was concerned. Whilst all the provisions for the abolition of Community Health Councils were withdrawn, the new role for local authority overview and scrutiny committees in scrutinising the health service had been retained. Also retained were the duty of NHS bodies to consult the public and the duty for the Secretary of State to provide for an independent advocacy service. The LGA had suggested that local authorities should start discussion with all local relevant partners, including other local councils, CHCs and health bodies, to review together what arrangements will work best locally, and to ensure that there are effective and efficient mechanisms for scrutinising local health services and for improving the local health economy.
Social Services North West considered this situation at its June meeting and resolved that contact be made with the CHC movement at regional level to address issues of public and patient representation and scrutiny of the NHS.
3.2 As the meeting concluded, it was thought useful to find out from Social Services North West member authorities what liaison links already exist with CHCs, and in particular whether CHC representatives are already involved in scrutiny arrangements. Comments should be invited as to how such input could still be accessed if CHCs were abolished. It was agreed that regional arrangements between Social Services North West and the NWRACHC needed to be strong, particularly with the prospect of more devolution of government to regional level. Both organisations are currently surveying their respective members (See Appendix B), and it was agreed that a further meeting in the Autumn may well be appropriate to review the up-to-date situation.
3.3 The Department of Health have published two key papers since the last meeting: Shifting the Balance of Power within the NHS - Securing Delivery and Department of Health - Focusing on Delivery. The summaries of each are at Appendix C. The former was open to consultation until 7 September, and it was felt important that Social Services North West should make a response, in view of the vital issues at stake. That response is attached at Appendix D, and the key issues highlighted are:
- welcome for the principles set out, particularly the commitments to supporting delivery at the front line, and to encouraging partnerships in health and local government to ensure integration between health and social care. These are commitments which Social Services North West shares.
- Unease about the rapid and radical change which is planned to take place simultaneously at all four levels in the NHS, which is bound to lead to instability within the leadership and management of the NHS, and deflect attention from the many demanding targets currently facing the health and social care system.
- Welcome for the devolution of a large proportion of NHS budgets to PCTs, and their key role in local planning. Our member authorities are involved in (and often leading) a rapidly increasing number of joint projects between health and local authority services using Health Act flexibilities, and joint managerial appointments for key areas of service.
- Voluntary partnerships are seen as key to the successful integration of health and social care at the point of delivery to service users. Voluntary local agreements will achieve far more than centrally-imposed arrangements, be they Care Trusts or otherwise.
- We welcome the recognition that local government has much to bring to the table where promoting the well-being of individuals, families and communities is concerned.
- There is a need to develop more models of ‘what works’, and the means of spreading good practice. There must be a focus on the wider preventive agenda, involving local government and primary care as key players. The arrangements for overview and scrutiny of the NHS by local authorities need more work, as do those for public and patient representation in relation to NHS bodies.
- Social Services North West has valued its working relationship over many years with the North West Regional Office of the NHS Executive, and this continues as close as ever today. We hope to develop equally close links with the new Regional Director of Health and Social Care, as well as with the three Strategic Health Authorities in the North West.
- We assure the Department of Health of our commitment to maximise the partnership between health and social care at every level within the North West, and hope to be able to operate within a framework of constructive co-operation towards our shared objectives.
3.4 The latest in our series of top level meetings with regional Department of Health representatives, from both the NHS Executive North West and Social Services Inspectorate, took place on 22 August, and the minutes are attached. Members will note that discussion took place over the full range of joint issues, and it was encouraging to see that ever closer joint working is developing between local authorities and the NHS, and that DH regional officials from both SSI and NWRO are fully engaged with each other and with Social Services North West in addressing the interface issues between health and social care.
4. Recommendations:
4.1 That this report be noted and the actions taken endorsed
4.2 That a further report be presented to the next meeting
Appendices:
A Notes of a Joint Meeting between SSNW and NWRACHCs, held on 12 July 2001 at Bolton CHC
B Survey of CHCs and SSDs on NHS Scrutiny and Patient/Public Representation
C Extracts from DH Documents: Department of Health, Focusing on Delivery and Shifting the Balance of Power within the NHS - Securing Delivery
Supplementary Report tabled to meeting
|
Clicking on these links will help you to use SSNWeb, |