Agenda and minutes

In accordance with the Sub-Committee’s Terms of Reference to appoint a Chair who shall be a County Councillor representative for the ensuing year.  The Chair shall be appointed by the County Council representatives serving on the Committee.

The County Council representatives elected a Chair of the Sub?Committee from amongst their members.

RESOLVED,     that Mr N Hughes be elected Chair of the Sub?Committee for the ensuing year.

In accordance with the Sub-Committee’s Terms of Reference to appoint a Vice?Chair who shall be a District Councillor representative for the ensuing year.  The Vice?Chair shall be appointed by the District Council representatives serving on the Committee.

The District Council representatives elected a Vice-Chair of the Sub?Committee from amongst their members.

RESOLVED,     that Ms C McCarron?Holmes be elected Vice-Chair of the Sub?Committee for the ensuing year.

To receive any apologies for absence.

Apologies for absence were received from Mr M Hawkins, Mrs V Rees and Mrs J Riddle.

Members are invited to disclose any disclosable pecuniary interest they have in any item on the agenda which comprises

1.         Details of any employment, office, trade, profession or vocation carried on for profit or gain.

2.         Details of any payment or provision of any other financial benefit (other than from the authority) made or provided within the relevant period in respect of any expenses incurred by you in carrying out duties as a member, or towards your election expenses.  (This includes any payment or financial benefit from a trade union within the meaning of the Trade Union and Labour Relations (Consolidation) Act 1992.

3.         Details of any contract which is made between you (or a body in which you have a beneficial interest) and the authority.

            (a)       Under which goods or services are to be provided or works are to be executed; and

            (b)       Which has not been fully discharged.

4.         Details of any beneficial interest in land which is within the area of the authority.

5.         Details of any licence (alone or jointly with others) to occupy land in the area of the authority for a month or longer.

6.         Details of any tenancy where (to your knowledge).

            (a)       The landlord is the authority; and

            (b)       The tenant is a body in which you have a beneficial interest.

7.         Details of any beneficial interest in securities of a body where

            (a)       That body (to your knowledge) has a place of business or land in the area of the authority; and

            (b)       Either –

(i)            The total nominal value of the securities exceeds £25,000 or one hundredth of the total issued share capital of that body; or

                        (ii)        If that share capital of that body is of more than one class, the total nominal value of the shares of any one class in which the relevant person has a beneficial interest exceeds one hundredth of the total issued share capital of that class.

Note

A “disclosable pecuniary interest” is an interest of a councillor or their partner (which means spouse or civil partner, a person with whom they are living as husband or wife, or a person with whom they are living as if they are civil partners).

There were no disclosures of interest on this occasion.

To consider whether the press and public should be excluded from the meeting during consideration of any item on the agenda.

RESOLVED,     that the press and public be not excluded from the meeting for any items of business.

To note the Terms of Reference of the Cumbria Health Scrutiny Variation Sub?Committee (copy enclosed).

The Terms of Reference for the Cumbria Health Variation Sub?Committee were noted.

To consider a report by the Strategic Policy and Scrutiny Adviser (copy enclosed).

The Sub-Committee received a report from the Strategic Policy and Scrutiny Adviser regarding the proposal from the Cumbria Partnership Foundation Trust to close Flatt Walks Clinic and relocate patients and activity to Cleator Moor Health Centre.

The background to the proposal was briefly outlined to members and the Sub?Committee were informed there were currently 128 patients that received their continuing care at Flatt Walks Clinic, which comprised of a mixture of special care adult patients, special care paediatric patients and also looked after children.

Members were informed that Flatt Walks dental clinic had two surgeries on site and it was highlighted that the building was in need of a full refurbishment which it was anticipated would cost in the region of £25,000 per surgery.  The Sub?Committee noted that the dental surgeries at Flatt Walks had been risk assessed by the Trust’s Health and Safety Officer as not suitable for patients with mobility issues due to the location of the surgeries on the second floor and the lack of a reliable lift.

It was highlighted to members that the special care dental service had a large proportion of patients with mobility issues that did not allow them to attend general dental practice.  The Sub-Committee noted, therefore, the limitation in their facilities had an impact on patient waiting times as they had to wait to be allocated to clinics elsewhere in the county.  Members were informed that any refurbishment of the location would seek to address this issue but currently even if a surgery was allocated in a ground floor position the bathrooms were not wheelchair accessible.  It was explained that this was a shared site, therefore, addressing this would not form part of the renovation.

The Sub?Committee were also informed that Flatt Walks had never had a reception facility which was manned completely within normal working hours.  The impact of this meant that if a patient walked in to make an enquiry or telephoned they could be met with empty rooms or an answer phone message.

Members noted that the service currently had spare clinical space in a new purpose built facility that was fully accessible (including to bariatric patients) within a short distance of Flatt Walks (Cleator Moor Health Centre - 4.0 miles).  The Sub-Committee were also informed that the service also retained access to a dental surgery that was within the new build West Cumberland Hospital (WCH) (1.9 miles).  It was highlighted that the clinic at the Hospital was owned by the Trust and only accessible three days per week.  It was also noted that as WCH was a secondary care facility a number of patients felt uncomfortable being treat at that location.

The Sub-Committee were informed that the proposed relocation of the surgery would not have a negative impact on journey time for the staff involved.  It was also noted that the proposed site at the Cleator Moor Health Centre was more accessible for vehicles and had a bus stop outside the premises.

A  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7.