To receive apologies for absence.

Apologies for absence were received from Mr R. Hamilton, Chief Executive, and Mrs J. Newton, Chairman of the Hereford and Worcester Ambulance Service, and Ms J. Francis, Chairman of the Voluntary Sector Alliance.

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

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 made.

To approve and sign the Minutes of the meeting held on 11th July, 2005.

RESOLVED:   That the minutes of the meeting held on 11th July, 2005 be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

To receive a report from the Programme Manager IMPACT in respect of items dealt with by the Joint Health and Care Commissioning Group on 12th September, 2005.

Prior to the updating of Members on the report of the Joint Health and Care Commissioning Group the Chairman asked Paul Bates, Chief Executive of the Herefordshire PCT, to update Members on the Government proposals for changes within the National Health Service. The Chief Executive stated that the recommendation submitted to the Department of Health was to retain a Herefordshire PCT and there is to be a three-month public consultation period which would start shortly.  There would need to be a review of PCT management costs to identify where savings would be made, which might be an unsettling time for staff.

It was noted that there was a suggestion of fast tracking the proposed merger of the Herefordshire and Worcester Ambulance Trust.

A separate mental health trust would be created, probably merging services currently provided by Herefordshire, Worcestershire and possibly Shropshire. However proposals relating to this were now progressing at a slower rate and they were not expected until 2006/07.

The Chief Executive of the Herefordshire Hospitals Trust advised the Partnership that the hospital was going through a similar process and exploration was underway to see if the hospital could become a Foundation Trust by April 2007. 

The Chief Executive of the PCT advised Members of his personal position and stated that he would, as of 1st November 2005 be acting as Chief Executive for both South Worcestershire and Herefordshire PCT(s).  He added that he would be carrying out this role until new PCT(s) were in place, which should be in July 2006.  He reiterated that he would be working hard for Herefordshire to retain its own PCT.

The Programme Manager, IMPACT, briefly outlined to the Partnership the issues dealt with by the Health and Care Joint Commissioning Group when they last met on 12th September, 2005. 

RESOLVED:   THAT the report be noted.

To receive an oral update on the work of the Children and Young People’s Board from the Director of Children’s Services.

The Director of Children’s Services informed Members that a Children and Young People’s Board had been established and that it was developing a Children and Young People’s Plan for April 2006.  The Director confirmed that the newly formed Youth Council, along with Looked After Children would be consulted about the plan and that the Government green paper on the Connexions service would be significant in the next round of work on the plan.  Members’ attention was drawn to the Youth Council and how it could be used by organisations for consultation with young people.

The Chief Executive of the Hereford Hospitals Trust stated that they were looking to continue to provide good children’s services.  Three additional paediatric consultant posts were being advertised in order to provide a full team for children and young people.

The Leader of the Council passed on his thanks to all members of staff that had been involved in the recent CPA and JAR Inspections.

To note the work being undertaken and to receive an oral presentation updating Members of the Health and Care Partnership on progress to date and the next steps in the review of the Herefordshire Plan.

The Herefordshire Partnership Manager presented a report and an oral presentation to Members on the review of the Herefordshire Plan.  She reminded Members that the original Plan which had a ten-year vision had been developed in 1999. It was updated in 2003 and a wider review was now taking place, in order to test that the Vision and Ambitions were still appropriate. She advised that the new vision for the Plan was:

“Herefordshire is a place where people, business and an outstanding natural environment will together bring about sustainable prosperity and well being for all.”

She added the proposed new plan had been changed significantly based on the consultation carried out.  The four themes for the new Plan which mirror those in the Local Area Agreement are :

• Economic development and enterprise.
• Safer and stronger communities.
• Children and young people.
• Healthier communities and older people.

The process for delivery of the themes of the Plan would be achieved through Ambition Groups, but these would be fewer than the current ten.  She sought Members views on the Herefordshire Partnership arrangements and what they thought worked well for the Health and Care Partnership.  Members agreed that the relationship between the local authority and local health partners went back over a long period of time and worked well.  They felt the key focus in future should be on joint policy and governance, to deliver better joint policy and care and this would require a change of role for the Health and Care Partnership.

Members agreed that a meeting should be arranged to discuss Mental Health and Learning Disability Services prior to the next meeting of the Partnership, in order to provide guidance for the next Partnership meeting in January 2006.  

Regarding the Local Area Agreement the Partnership was informed that the first submission had been sent to Government office, which it was felt was well received.  Looking to the future Members thought that bringing the figures down on the target indicators would be challenging, but what resulted from it would make the Herefordshire Partnership more action orientated.

RESOLVED:

               THAT(a) the report be noted; and

(b)               a meeting be held to discuss learning disability and mental health issues prior to the next meeting of the Health and Care Partnership on 23rd January 2006. 

Members were advised that there was ongoing discussion around funding for the Ambulance Service and management resources.  Members discussed the provision of Ambulance Stations in the County.  It was noted that the proposed closure of stations was not around savings but around whether they were efficient and effective as ambulance bases for the County.  Members agreed that providing an efficient service in a sparsely populated County was difficult.

The Leader of Herefordshire Council welcomed the Director of Adult and Community Services as a new member of the Partnership.

To note the proposed date for the next meeting of the Health and Care Partnership is 10.30 am on Monday 23rd January, 2006.

RESOLVED:   THAT the date, time and venue for the next meeting of the Health and Care Partnership is Monday 23rd January, 2006 at 10.30 am at the Council Chamber, Brockington, Hereford.