Issue - meetings

Report of Director of Community and Environment

Summary

The purposes of this report are to provide an update on local progress with the health sector reforms, to ask the Executive to respond to the Draft Oxfordshire Health and Wellbeing Strategy which is out to consultation and to provide the latest position on the Community Partnership Network (CPN) and in particular, its potential role supporting Oxfordshire HealthWatch.

Recommendations

The Executive is recommended:

(1)       To note the progress on the local health sector reforms;

(2)       To endorse the Community Partnership Network engaging directly with a formative Oxfordshire HealthWatch body; and

(3)       To consider with or without amendment the proposed response to the Draft Oxfordshire Health and Wellbeing Strategy at Appendix 2

Recommendations approved, subject to the following amendment to resolution (3):

(3)       That the proposed response to the Draft Oxfordshire Health and Wellbeing Strategy be considered and that authority be delegated to the Director of Community and Environment, in consultation with the Deputy leader, to amend the response to incorporate the comments of Executive, Members and officers, prior to submission.

The Director of Community and Environment submitted a report which provided an update on local progress with the health sector reforms, asked the Executive to respond to the Draft Oxfordshire Health and Wellbeing Strategy which is out to consultation and provided the latest position on the Community Partnership Network (CPN) and in particular, its potential role supporting Oxfordshire HealthWatch.

In considering the proposed response to the Draft Oxfordshire Health and Wellbeing Strategy, Members commented that greater reference should be made to the Banbury Brighter Futures project. In response to Members’ comments regarding Supporting People, Officers provided assurance that appropriate dialogue would take place.

At the discretion of the Chairman, Councillor Les Sibley addressed Executive. Councillor Sibley noted that there had been several county wide consultation processes run by Oxfordshire County Council or Oxfordshire NHS associated with the new clinical commissioning arrangements, Healthwatch and the Public Involvement Board but raised concerns about the lack of consultation with individuals who would be affected by the proposals. The need to provide easy access to care for people in the community was also highlighted.

Resolved

(1)       That the progress on the local health sector reforms be noted.

(2)       That the Community Partnership Network engaging directly with a formative Oxfordshire HealthWatch body be endorsed.

(3)               That the proposed response to the Draft Oxfordshire Health and Wellbeing Strategy be considered and that authority be delegated to the Director of Community and Environment, in consultation with the Deputy leader, to amend the response to incorporate the comments of Executive, Members and officers, prior to submission.

Reasons

The Council has for many years been engaged with the health and social care sector on many issues. This report outlines the ongoing changes in that sector and the way in which the Council can and should continue to be involved to influence key service provision, more often than not by others. 

HealthWatch is set to become the new independent voice and consumer champion for patients, service users and the public in health and social care, replacing the Oxfordshire Local Involvement Networks (LINks).

Options