Agenda and draft minutes

Purpose: To approve as a correct record the Minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 10 December 2024.

The Minutes of the meeting held on 10 December 2024 were approved as a true and correct record and signed by the Chairman.

Purpose: To receive an update on actions following the previous Health Scrutiny Committees.

Members reviewed the updates on actions from the previous meetings:

·       34 – it was noted that the All Age Continuing Care Draft Dispute Policy had been with local authorities to comment. The final version would be progressed for approval with implementation by 1st April 2025. Paul Coe, Executive Director Adult Social Care and Public Health, confirmed that it was close to being signed off and would follow up with the BOB ICB.

Purpose: To remind Members of the need to record the existence and nature of any personal, disclosable pecuniary or other registrable interests in items on the agenda, in accordance with the Members’ Code of Conduct.

There were no declarations of interest received.

Purpose: To consider any petitions requiring an Officer response.

There were no petitions received at the meeting.

Purpose: To review the System approach to oral health and dentistry including the preventative approach and commissioned services.

Steven Bow (Consultant in Public Health, West Berkshire Council) gave an overview of the report on Oral Public Health. Steven Bow highlighted the role of local authorities in oral health, noting oral health surveys and prevention. Data on local population oral health was shared and it was highlighted that one in six children in West Berkshire had tooth decay. A number of initiatives including brushing for life in early years, as well as work in family hubs and in schools had been implemented. A national review of the oral health of people living in residential and nursing care homes found that untreated tooth decay was higher among older people than the general adult population. It was advised that the next steps for public health included a local oral health survey focused on adults over 65 living in a care setting. Once completed the Public Health Consultant would work with the BOB ICB to provide support on an approach to build preventative care into treatment pathways.

It was advised that future work on oral health in West Berkshire could include an oral health needs assessment, a review of evidence and guidance and to develop partnership working.

During the debate the following points were discussed:

·       There was a general downward trend for tooth decay among five-year-olds in West Berkshire. Fluctuations in the graph (Figure 1 in the Oral Public Health report) may have been explained by the smaller numbers locally being compared to larger national figures. It was noted that there was a slight increase in the graph between 2018 and 2022.

·       It was noted that the number of tooth extractions in five- to nine-year-olds in West Berkshire were worse than the national average. It was asked if supervised brushing schemes in early years had helped. It was advised that there were limitations with up-to-date data.

Action: Steven Bow to provide up to date data on tooth decay and tooth extractions in children when available.

·       The results of the national oral health survey in older people in residential and nursing care homes was noted and it was asked how this was being addressed in West Berkshire. Matt Pearce, Director of Public Health, advised the Committee that the local oral health survey planned would help to identify issues. Hugh O’Keeffe, Head of Pharmacy, Optometry and Dentistry BOB ICB, advised that there was a pilot underway in Oxfordshire with care homes that they would review the outcome of. It was a very complicated area that was a multiagency issue. There was a community dental service available, but it had limited capacity.

·       It was noted that the data in the report was not up to date and made it more difficult for Public Health to respond to. A Public Health Analyst had been recruited recently and would work more closely with the BOB ICB to get data that would assist in informing a direction of travel in a timelier manner. Matt Pearce advised that the oral health survey sample size could be increased, however there  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

Purpose: To review the progress of the Improvement Programme and services in West Berkshire.

Kirsten Willis-Drewett (Assistant Director of Operation) and Caroline Morris (Transformation Programme Director) presented the report from the South Central Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (SCAS).

During the presentation the following points were highlighted:

·       SCAS remained in the NHS Recovery Support Programme following the 2022 Care Quality Commission (CQC) rating of inadequate. However, significant improvements had been made across the organisation and they were focussed on longer term strategic and cultural change.

·       In terms of patient safety and experience, significant improvements had been made to safeguarding, training in the approach to the Mental Capacity Act and in learning from patient safety incidents.

·       An overview of operational performance was shared. This included reduced handover times at hospitals leading to faster call response times. This was in response to their Release to Respond initiative to reduce handover delays and had resulted in SCAS being the fastest responding ambulance service in the country in January 2025. There had also been improvements in ensuring patients got the right care as quickly as possible. It was highlighted that SCAS were responding to Category 2 and Category 3 calls better than the England average. Category 1 calls were not meeting target and so would be an area of focus for SCAS.

·       It was advised that SCAS also provided the 111 call service. The demand for that had increased significantly. 111 used various pathways to direct patients to. The target was for less than 10% to be directed to 999 services.

·       It was highlighted that SCAS had a strong working relationship with Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust.

The following points were raised in the debate:

·       It was noted how successful the Release to Respond initiative had been for ambulance response times and in reducing the queues of ambulances at hospitals across the SCAS operating area. It was noted that at peak times there were 25 ambulances operating in Berkshire West and about 15 during the night. If there were long queues at hospitals it was not viable for the ambulance service.

·       Members noted there had been immense improvements since the CQC inspection and that the work undertaken was impressive. In particular, the work around culture and wellbeing was highlighted. It was confirmed that there was good evidence that an engaged workforce improved performance. SCAS had used evidence-based ways of making improvements.

·       It was noted that there was a particular challenge around resourcing vehicles. There was a national procurement process, and the government mandate was for only two types of vehicles. They had to replace vehicles every five years and with only two products it was a challenge to get vehicles. A third provider would be beneficial, and it was a long process to acquire new vehicles. In addition, there were only two workshops in the SCAS area and so they were looking for a third workshop. Ambulances needed servicing every six weeks. Particularly during winter, there were fleet challenges.

·       It was confirmed that the non-emergency patient transport service would no longer be provided by SCAS. A new provider  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.

Purpose: To receive the annual report from the Inquest Review Panel.

Jo England (Service Lead – Adult Social Care) presented the Social Care Inquests Annual Report. During the presentation the following points were highlighted:

·       There was a monthly inquest review panel looking at requests for information from the Coroner and at incidents that may or may not go to the Coroner.

·       This was the second annual report following the initial report shared with the Committee in March 2023. Since that report, there had been a levelling off of requests for information from the Coroner. There had been only three requests in the last year.

RESOLVED to note the report.

Purpose: Healthwatch West Berkshire to report on views gathered on healthcare services in the district.

Fiona Worby (Lead Officer from Healthwatch West Berkshire) advised the Committee that Healthwatch West Berkshire were in the process of creating their work plan for next year. They were closing some projects and writing up their reports. A full report would be provided for the Health Scrutiny Committee in June 2025.

It was advised there was concern raised regarding funding for a women’s health hub which they were pursuing. This had been raised with the ICB and with the Health and Wellbeing Board.

RESOLVED to note the report.

Purpose: To receive updates from the Chairmen of Task and Finish Groups appointed by the Health Scrutiny Committee.

The Chairman advised Members that the Task Group looking at Children’s Mental Health and Emotional Wellbeing had carried out two sessions with partners from health, education, the Council and the voluntary sector. One further session was scheduled for later in March.

A report with recommendations would follow and be presented at a future Health Scrutiny Committee.

Purpose: To receive new items and agree and prioritise the work programme of the Committee.

The Chairman invited Members to review the draft work programme for the 2025/26 municipal year. It was noted that Dementia and All Age Continuing Care were on the agenda for the Health Scrutiny Committee in June 2025.

Paul Coe advised Members that the CQC visited West Berkshire Council in February 2024 to look at Adult Social Care. It was agreed a report would be brought to the Health Scrutiny Committee in September or December 2025.

RESOLVED to note the work programme.