Toggle menu

Councillors and committees

Agenda and minutes

Venue: Bridges Room - Civic Centre

Contact: Helen Conway email  helenconway@gateshead.gov.uk 

Items
No. Item

CHW73

Minutes of last meeting pdf icon PDF 89 KB

Minutes:

RESOLVED    -           That the minutes of the last meeting held on 5 December 2017

were approved as a correct record.

 

CHW74

OSC Review - Work to Address Harms caused by Tobacco Evidence Gathering pdf icon PDF 68 KB

Report of the Director of Public Health

Minutes:

The Committee took part in an evidence gathering session into the work to address the harms caused by tobacco. A presentation was given by Hazel Cheeseman, Director of Policy, Action on Smoking and Health (ASH). ASH is a national charity, set up in the 1970’s, with an aim at ending the harm caused by tobacco.

 

It was noted that the ongoing support of local authorities continues to be very important in terms of tobacco control. It was reported that since smoke free legislation came into force in 2007 there was a sense that the job was done, however there was still progress to be made. It was noted that good progress has continued to be made, for example there has been increased taxes above inflation every year since 2010, effective anti-smuggling strategies reduced illicit trade and restricted access to children. In addition, tobacco advertising and sponsorship has been banned, tobacco is kept out of sight in shops and there is now standardised plain packaging. As a result, since 2007 the UK has led Europe in the implementation of best practice tobacco policies, with only Australia achieving the level of legislation the UK has in terms of marketing tobacco to children and young people.

 

Committee was advised that the public support continues to grow with the majority of people still seeing government action as important to tackle tobacco control. In the North East 78% of respondents supported further government action to limit smoking.

 

Tobacco related disease remains the lead cause of preventable illness, therefore there is challenge in terms of how ASH works with the NHS, as NHS focuses on treatment not prevention. Under the health service smokers are not universally encouraged to quit and given support and medication to do so, access to stop smoking services has become a postcode lottery. In addition, funding for tobacco control has been cut within local authorities and Trading Standards, in charge of enforcement, have diminished, this is as well as mass media campaigns being cut to the bone.

 

It was noted that 250 people per day die from smoking in the UK, with hundreds of children starting smoking for the first time every day. Smoking continues to show inequalities within the population, for example; 25% of manual workers smoke compared to only 10% of professionals, 40% of people with serious mental illness smoke and poorer people die on average nine years earlier. ASH is currently working to address mental health inequalities in terms of tobacco use as the rate of smokers is double in that population.

 

It was identified that the next steps to a smoke free future include; continued investment in comprehensive strategies nationally, regionally and locally, funding for tobacco control, reducing smoking related imagery and maximising the opportunities from e-cigarettes.

 

It was reported that youth smoking peaked in 1996, the first comprehensive strategy was in 1998 and this was the time when teen smoking rates plateaued, rates are currently at the lowest ever recorded. It was noted that only 8% of  ...  view the full minutes text for item CHW74

CHW75

Blaydon GP Practice - Consultation on Options pdf icon PDF 141 KB

Joint report of Chief Executive and Strategic Director Corporate Services and Governance.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Committee received a presentation on the possible future of the Blaydon GP led practice. Members were advised that a consultation was held on future options for the GP led practice as the existing emergency contract expires on 30 June 2018. It was noted that the current contract has already been extended and can’t be extended further. An updated patient list size figure of 2,040 was provided.

 

A period of engagement for phase one was completed in September 2017. This included engaging with members of the public, patients and stakeholders. The results of phase one informed phase two, a period of consultation to consider the options available for the future of the service.

 

Under phase one, patients reported the service they received to be either very good or good. Based on the feedback two options were identified;

 

·         Option 1 – Keep a GP Practice in Blaydon Primary Care Centre

·         Option 2 – Close the GP Practice

 

Option one would mean a procurement exercise would be undertaken for providers to apply to run the GP practice. Patients would automatically transfer to the new provider or would have the choice to register with another practice. Option two would not affect the walk-in centre at the Primary Care Centre and patients would be given advice about registering at another GP surgery in the area.

 

It was noted that that the practice has previously been subject to procurement exercises which were unsuccessful. This was possibly due to the relatively small patient list size.

 

The consultation methodology was noted and it was confirmed that the events organised with Healthwatch were well attended. 334 responses have been received to date (a 16% response rate).The closing date for responses was 14 January 2018.  A report will now be written on the information and feedback received. This will be presented to the NHS Newcastle Gateshead CCG’s Primary Care Commissioning Committee for a decision to be made on 27 February 2018.

 

It was queried what would happen to those patients who currently use Chainbridge Practice and are sent to Blaydon Practice as overspill.  It was confirmed that the consultation only relates to the GP practice and not the walk-in centre or extended access hub. These will continue to support all other practices.

 

Members wanted reassurance that if the practice were to close there would be enough capacity at other GP practices in the West to take on the additional patients. It was confirmed that NHS officers have contacted the Chainbridge Practice and it is actively looking to increase its patient list and appoint additional GPs (although the difficulties in recruiting GPs was noted). In terms of other practices in the West, members were advised that the report will identify which practices have capacity, including which have a medium or small patient list. It was also pointed out that a number of patients are travelling some distance to practices (including Blaydon) and, therefore, there is a need to widen the net in terms of GP practice areas when identifying potential  ...  view the full minutes text for item CHW75

CHW76

OSC Work Programme pdf icon PDF 59 KB

Joint Report of the Chief Executive and the Strategic Director Corporate Services and Governance.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Committee received a report outlining proposed changes to the annual work programme for the municipal year 2017-18.

 

RESOLVED    -           (i)         That the provisional work programme be noted.

 

                                    (ii)        That further reports will be brought to the Committee to

identify any additional policy issues which the Committee may be asked to consider.

 

Help us improve this site by giving feedback