To receive apologies for absence.

Apologies were received from Councillors Mrs W.U. Attfield, T.M. James, Brig. P. Jones CBE, and Ms G.A. Powell.

(The Committee observed a minute’s silence in memory of former Councillor Mrs J.A. Carter.)

To receive details of any Member nominated to attend the meeting in place of a Member of the Committee.

There were no named substitutes.

To receive any declarations of interest by Members in respect of items on this agenda.

There were no declarations of interest.

To approve and sign the Minutes of the meeting held on 29th January, 2004.

RESOLVED:   That the minutes of the meeting held on 29th January, 2004 be confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

To provide the Committee with an update on the process for responding to the Ear, Nose and Throat Service consultation exercise.

The Committee received an update on the process for responding to the Ear, Nose and Throat Service Consultation exercise.

A Group had been established by the Committee in January to prepare a draft response to the consultation once launched. The report set out action which had been undertaken by the Group to date to gather evidence on the provision of ear, nose and throat services. 

It was noted that the formal consultation document, a copy of which was appended to the report, had now been issued by the Herefordshire Primary Care Trust and that the consultation period ended on 7th May, 2004.  The report outlined the provisions of the Government guidance on responding to consultations.   

In the course of discussion it was noted that the options had implications for the Ambulance Service and proposed that the time was appropriate for a wider update on the operation of the service to be presented following work undertaken by Councillor R. Mills whom the Committee had asked to maintain a watching brief on the service.

RESOLVED:

That       (a)     the latest position on the preparation of the response to consultation report on the future arrangements for the Ear Nose and Throat Service be noted;

               (b)    a date be agreed to consider the Committee’s response to the Consultation, which ensured that the response reached the Primary Care trust by 7th May, 2004;

                        and

               (c)     a report be made to a future meeting on the Ambulance Service.

To provide details of an event to support the development of a new InvolvementStrategy across Health & Social Care, and consider Committee representation at the event.

The Committee was informed of an event on 6th May, 2004 to support the development of a new Involvement Strategy across the Health & Social Care sectors which had been arranged by Herefordshire Primary Care Trust and the Council’s Social Care and Strategic Housing Directorate, and invited to consider how the Committee might be represented at the event.

The Director of Social Care and Strategic Housing suggested that it would provide Members with an opportunity to familiarise themselves further with the arrangements for patient and public involvement.  The nature of the event would be compatible with their role and assist in developing it.

RESOLVED:That Members of the Committee be invited to indicate whether they wished to attend the event to support the development of a new Involvement Strategy across Health and Social Care in Herefordshire.

To provide the Committee with an update on the results of a survey undertaken by the West Midlands Local Government Association (WMLGA) on the regional health scrutiny development priorities.

The Committee received an update on the results of a survey undertaken by the West Midlands Local Government Association (WMLGA) on the regional health scrutiny development priorities.

In the course of discussion it was suggested that it would be helpful if in future the Committee were to be circulated with an informal briefing note alongside the agenda papers for programmed meetings.  This would consist of information which did not merit formal consideration as part of the agenda but would provide useful background information and assist Members in keeping up to date in particular with progress being made on issues in the Committee’s work programme.  Provision would also be made for Members of the Committee to have the opportunity to exchange information after each programmed meeting.

RESOLVED:  

That       (a)     the regional health scrutiny development priorities identified as a result of the survey undertaken by the West Midlands Local Government Association be noted;

                        and

(b)    that there should be a briefing note available to all Committee Members, as appropriate, alongside agenda papers.