The Health Scrutiny Committee
is responsible for ensuring that the needs
and experiences of local residents are considered as an integral
part of the planning, development and operation of health services
and that those services are safe and effective in meeting local
needs.
The Committee responds to
formal consultations on health matters. Health bodies are required to consult a local authority’s
Heath Scrutiny Committee about any proposals they have for a
substantial development or variation in the provision of health
services in their area.
Health scrutiny also has a
strategic role in taking an overview of how well integration of
health, public health and social care is working and in making
recommendations about how it could be improved.
Additionally, health scrutiny
has a legitimate role in: proactively seeking information about the
performance of local health services and institutions; in
challenging the information provided to it by commissioners and
health service providers; and in testing this information by
drawing on different sources of intelligence.
It is made up of five Members,
reflecting the political composition of the Authority. Members of
the
Executive cannot
be members of the Health Scrutiny Committee.
The Health Scrutiny Committee
can either consider scrutiny topics during a full Commission
meeting, or delegate topics to a task group which will
report back to the Commission with its findings.
The Health Scrutiny Committee
can only consider matters relating to public health and NHS
services provided within West Berkshire. Scrutiny of other services
is undertaken by the
Overview and
Scrutiny Management Commission.
Contact:
Scrutiny
Officer
Further information links:
Scrutiny at West Berkshire
Council
Getting Involved in
Reviewing Council Decisions
Part 6 Constitution – Overview and
Scrutiny Rules of
Procedure