Public reports pack Wednesday 22-Jul-2015 19.00 Council

Page 58 Meeting theme: Council Strategy (July 2014)At the first meeting of the year the committee held a scene setting ‘Q & A’ with the DeputyLeader (Finance and Investment) who highlighted issues within the context of the severefinancial challenges and constraints facing the authority and the significant changes madeto the way the council operates, including to its political and managerial leadership. Thecommittee questioned closely on the operation of the new ‘Outcome Panels’, how thesewould sit alongside the council’s formal governance structures, and how they would providefor more efficient and effective decision making and delivery of the council’s outcomesincluding key corporate projects such as Your New Town Hall. Committee membershighlighted the importance of keeping scrutiny informed about different projects andworkstreams in order that scrutiny could contribute and add value at the appropriate pointswithin individual projects as they developed.The overview and scrutiny remit covers not just scrutiny of council services but also hospital,community and mental health services commissioned by NHS Lambeth ClinicalCommissioning Group (CCG) for Lambeth people and delivered by the three NHSFoundation Trusts in Lambeth (collectively Kings Health Partners). Scrutiny also works withHealthwatch Lambeth which represents the patient and public voice about local health andsocial care services.In accordance with its health scrutiny responsibilities the July OSC reviewed proposals byKings College Hospital NHS Foundation Trust for three service moves which would locatedelivery of some planned hospital care away from Denmark Hill to out-of- borough sites.The committee was advised by the trust that the initiatives were being undertaken to addressthe capacity pressures on acute sites and important quality issues across SE London as awhole. The committee also heard from Healthwatch Lambeth and resident groups of theirconcerns of the impact of the changes on Lambeth residents and access to these services.In response the committee emphasised to the trust the need for much earlier consultation onsignificant service changes and recommended that improvements be made for engaging andconsulting members of the public, service-users and other stakeholders to ensure that thebest outcomes and services are obtained for residents and service-users. The committeealso requested monitoring information and patient/public feedback on a number of mattersincluding the patient transport offer and its reliability, public transport access to the new sitesand assurance that GPs are giving patients options and information about choice. Thecommittee reviewed the monitoring information at its subsequent meeting and agreed tokeep the matter under review.Whilst capacity for dedicated health scrutiny has been limited in 2014/15, informal links andnetworks with health partners continued to be maintained through the OSC chair and vicechair (community wellbeing) and the lead scrutiny officer. Additionally Cllr Jacqui Dyerrepresents Lambeth OSC at the South East London CCG Stakeholder Reference Groupwhich tests and facilitates better engagement on pan-SEL health projects or major strategicissues that impact across many CCGs.6