Agenda item

Purpose: The report presents a draft protocol that sets out how the West Berkshire Health Scrutiny Committee will work together with bodies who commission or provide health and wellbeing services to residents of West Berkshire.

Gordon Oliver presented the report on the protocol between the West Berkshire Health Scrutiny Committee and local health bodies (Agenda Item 6). He explained that the need for a protocol was identified within the Terms of Reference for the Committee. The aim of the protocol was to encourage improved engagement and communication between the Committee and local health bodies. It also set clear standards for working together and would give confidence in planning for service change. The protocol included a series of seven working principles. It also set out the factors that would be considered when determining whether a proposed variation in health services was considered ‘substantial’ and therefore requiring formal consultation with the Health Scrutiny Committee. The protocol proposed that initial consultation on proposed changes in health services would take place with the Chairman and Vice Chairman of the Health Scrutiny Committee, who would make a recommendation to the rest of the committee as to whether the proposed change was considered to be ‘substantial’. It was explained that the protocol was closely modelled on that used by Oxfordshire Joint Health Scrutiny Committee.

Councillor Andy Moore felt it was a sensible approach. He noted that it was an agreement between the Committee and health bodies and asked if all partners would be required to sign the document and how many protocols would be needed. The Chairman noted that the recommendation sought to authorise consultation with local health bodies with a view to bringing a final version back for sign-off. This would give partners a chance to have their say on the draft protocol.

Councillor Tony Linden noted that a Joint Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee (JHOSC) had been set up to scrutinise the Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire West Integrated Care System (BOB ICS). He asked if any meetings were planned. Gordon Oliver indicated that no meetings were planned yet, but officers at Oxfordshire County Council were drafting a protocol to be adopted by the JHOSC and were liaising on the need for future meetings.

Councillor Alan Macro asked if the fact that the proposed protocol was based on that used by Oxfordshire meant that it was more likely to be accepted by health partners. Gordon Oliver confirmed that there were some common health partners and the move towards the BOB ICS meant that it made sense to model the scrutiny protocol on the Oxfordshire model.

Councillor Graham Bridgman asked what would happen if one of the health bodies objected to a particular aspect of the protocol. He suggested that it would be good to try to have a common protocol across the BOB ICS area, since it would be easier for health partners. The Chairman agreed with Councillor Bridgman and suggested that protocols were only as good as the engagement from all partners.

Councillor Moore suggested including the list of bodies consulted in the protocol and that there should be some reference to their agreement or response to the consultation. The Chairman agreed and expressed her thanks for the work undertaken in developing the draft protocol.

Action: Gordon Oliver to include a list of bodies consulted in the Protocol.

Resolved that the committee:

1. Endorse the draft protocol and the process for dealing with proposed substantial developments of variations to health services.

2. Authorise consultation with local health partners on the above, with a view to bringing a final version back to Health Scrutiny Committee for approval.