This report presents the Health, Care and Wellbeing Scrutiny Committee Annual Work Plan 2022-2023, drawn up in consultation with members of the committee, now for review and agreement by the committee.

The Interim Statutory Scrutiny Officer introduced the report on the committee’s annual work plan for 2022-2023, noting that the plan had been drafted in consultation with members of the committee and with input from officers from the Community Wellbeing Directorate.

[Note: there was an adjournment for fifteen minutes to address a technical issue with the

live streaming of the meeting]

The principal points raised during the discussion included:

i.             Access to Council Wellbeing Services – Signposting

Referring to consideration of ‘Access to health and care for Herefordshire residents living on the border with Wales’, the Chairperson noted that Herefordshire and Worcestershire Clinical Commissioning Group (now Integrated Care System) had drafted a protocol.

ii.            Reserve Items

Comments were made about recent changes to West Midlands Ambulance Service and to NHS 111, and the potential need for a watching brief on developments in relation to urgent and emergency care services.

iii.          Obesity and Nutrition

It was noted that the Children and Young People Scrutiny Committee had undertaken a ‘Dental Health and Childhood Obesity Spotlight Review’ [minute 36 of 2018/19 refers]; the subsequent executive response was agreed by Cabinet [minute 39 of 2018/19 refers].

The Chairperson suggested that this topic should be looked at in the context of all ages commissioning and a ‘whole family’ approach.

A committee member commented that Talk Community had held a number of practical events on obesity and nutrition.

The Vice-Chairperson noted the need to focus on the role of the council and on opportunities to have an impact locally.

RESOLVED:

That the Health, Care and Wellbeing Scrutiny Committee Annual Work Plan 2022-23 be agreed.