The minutes of the last meeting held on 13 September 2016 are attached for information.

RESOLVED -             that the minutes of the last meeting held on 13 September 2016 were                     agreed as a correct record.

Report of the Director of Public Health

The Committee received a report and presentation regarding an application by the partners of St Albans Medical Group to close the branch surgery at the Bede Centre, Old Fold Road, Gateshead and outlined details of the engagement process carried out so far with patients and stakeholders.

The Bede Centre flooded in February 2016 which resulted in clinical sessions being transferred to the main Felling practice site. Due to a combination of staffing shortages and the impact of service charges on the practice’s finances, the practice is proposing to close the Bede branch site. No complaints have been received and patients have accessed services at Felling Health Centre from February 2016.

The Committee understood the rationale behind the proposed closure but were disappointed to note that another GP surgery was being lost in the borough, especially in an area of low car ownership and high deprivation.

The Committee were reassured that the pharmacy at the Bede Centre,which provides a delivery service,would remain open as this is governed under a separate contract, and also asked for feedback from the engagement exercises to be provided.

The Committee sought to understand why a small group of patients had only been accessing the Bede site and was advised that the consultation had highlighted transport as an issue. The Committee was reassured that in terms of access to the main Felling practice, there is a regular bus service and Age Concern also offers a service offering transport to the Felling Practice at a small charge and where the driver waits.

The Committee also sought to understand what was being done to address the issues raised by CQC and improve standards at the practice. The Committee was informed that the practice was working with CBC Federation to review systems and processes and an overhaul of the appointments system was taking place. Skill mix at the practice was also being addressed to ensure that GP’s time was being used more efficiently.

The Committee queried whether the main site at Felling has sufficient capacity to cope with the patients who had been attending the Bede branch surgery. The Committee was informed that the Bede branch had been closed since February as a result of flooding at the site and the surgeries carried out at that site had subsequently been incorporated into the schedule at the Felling site.

The Director of Public Health advised the Committee that this scenario will be the first of others coming to OSC in the future as reduced funding and GP recruitment problems are being experienced across the country.

RESOLVED - that the information be noted.

Report of the Interim Strategic Director, Care, Wellbeing and Learning.

The Committee received a progress report of Gateshead Health and Wellbeing Board.

The Health and Wellbeing Board Forward Plan for 2016/17 and strategic priorities for Gateshead identified through the Joint Strategic Needs Assessment (JSNA) were presentedas well as the Strategic and Operational Plans during the period April to September 2016.

The Better Care Fund (BCF) Plan for 2016/17 was also agreed by HWB and the Board also received an update on progress in relation to the Performance Management Framework.

As part of the Board’s assurance agenda, the following updates were also considered by the Health and Wellbeing Board:-

·         Safeguarding Children Board Annual Report 2015-2016 and 2016-2017 Action Plan

·         Safeguarding Adults Strategic Plan 2016-2019 and Annual Business Plan

·         Healthwatch Gateshead Annual Report 2015/2016 and Priorities for 2016/17

·         Drug Related Deaths Annual Report for 2015 and an overview of drug related deaths in 2016 to date

·         Learning Disability Joint Health & Social Care Self- Assessment Framework

Other issues that were considered by the Board included:

·         Social Prescribing in Gateshead

·         Personal Health Budgets

·         Smoking Still Kills: Smoke Free Vision 2025

·         Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS)

·         Live Well Gateshead Evaluation

·         Primary Care Co-commissioning

·         National Review of the Voluntary and Community Sector in improving Health, Wellbeing and Care Outcomes

The Committee also requested that a further detailed report be provided to the OSC on the Health Needs Assessments (HNAs) for Homelessness (looking at multiple and complex needs through the lens of homelessness) and Black and Minority Ethnic Communities.

RESOLVED -             i)          that the information be noted

                                    ii)         that a further detailed report be brought back on the                                                 Health Needs Assessments (HNAs) for Homelessness

The Committee received a report and presentation in the first evidence gathering session examining the role of the supply of housing in Gateshead, with a particular focus on stock managed by The Gateshead Housing Company/anticipating the demand for and supply of housing in the future and highlight particular issues which are relevant to health and wellbeing and the activity being progressed to address these issues.

The Committee received two presentations:-

·         Working with the existing stock, Anneliese Hutchinson, Service Director for Development and Public Protection and Jon Mallen- Beadle, Managing Director, The Gateshead Housing Company and

·         Planning for future housing need, Anneliese Hutchinson and Neil Wilkinson, Spatial Planning and Environmental Manager.

Future evidence gathering sessions will cover the following:

December

·         Provide an overview of the relationship between health and housing standards (ie. Condition, management and energy efficiency)

·         Particular focus on fuel poverty

·         Consider the role of housing and place

January

·         How housing support and advice services maintain and improve health and wellbeing

The Committee expressed concern at the pay to stay initiative, the proposed impact on market rents being introduced and the proposed transfer of council stock by the Government and wished to support officers continuation to lobby government for clear legislation to be made available as soon as possible.

Committee expressed concern at the government’s definition and ruling on affordable rents and asked for further information to be provided to councillors at a future meeting.

RESOLVED -             i)          that the information be noted

                                    ii)         that the support of the committee be given to officers to                                           continue to lobby government

                                    iii)         that further information be provided to committee on the                                          definition by government of affordable rents.

                                         iv)         that a letter highlighting the OSC’s    concerns be forwarded to government.