Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Bhullar and Khatun.

Members to declare any interests in matters to be discussed at the meeting.

Councillors Akpoteni and R Jones declared that they both worked in the health and social care sector and would declare specific prejudicial interests if the need arose.

To confirm the minutes of the meetings held on 13 September and 4 October 2021.

Resolved that the minutes of the meetings held on 13 September and 4 October 2021 are approved as a correct record.

To determine whether there are any additional items of business which, by reason of special circumstances, the Chair decides should be considered at the meeting as a matter of urgency.

                  There were no additional items of business to consider.

To consider and comment on the presentation regarding the roll out of Community Diagnostic Hubs (CDH) for the Black Country and West Birmingham region.

The Board noted a presentation outlining plans for the development of Community Diagnostic Hubs (CDH) in Sandwell over the next two to five years.

An independent review (The Richards Review) had outlined the need for radical reform of diagnostic services.  The concept was for diagnostic services to be separated from acute care, at sites that were safe from Covid-19 urgent care, and where all tests could be carried out concurrently to stop multiple visits for different tests.  The centres would offer a range of tests and scans which could include: imaging (e.g. ultrasounds, X-rays, mammograms); cardiology tests (testing for heart conditions); pathology (testing body tissues and fluids); phlebotomy (testing blood); and endoscopy (looking at organs inside the body using an endoscope).  The proposals would create capacity for an additional 14million diagnostic tests a year. Faster access to diagnostic tests meant that people could start treatment sooner for serious conditions like cancer and heart problems, leading to better outcomes.

A hub and spoke model was proposed for Sandwell and West Birmingham and a proposal had been submitted to NHS England to develop both Sandwell Treatment Centre and Birmingham Treatment Centre as hub locations, with a view that further health care centres would be utilised as spoke locations.  Four sites had been identified in Sandwell - Rowley Regis Medical Centre, Lyng Centre, Neptune Health Park, and Glebefields Health Centre.  No decisions on the locations had yet been made, and feedback from councillors and Public Health would inform the final decision. 

NHS England had agreed capital funding to build the hubs. However, revenue funding was only committed until 2027, after which system-based funding allocations would apply.

Workforce capacity was also being reviewed and proposals were being developed, in conjunction with local colleges and universities, to create academies to support specialisms such as sonography and cardiography.

The following was noted in response to comments and questions:-

·      Members were concerned that the proposed locations were not evenly distributed across the six towns with three of the locations close to each other (Neptune Health Park and Glebefields Health Centre were both in Tipton and Lyng Centre in West Bromwich). In addition, Lyng Centre was less than one mile from the general hospital where diagnostic tests were also provided.

·      It was important that the hubs were located close to public transport links, and empty town centre locations should be considered.

·      Sandwell General Hospital would continue to offer the current suite of tests until the new centres were operational.

·      A centralised booking system would be in place for the community diagnostic hubs. This would provide the option for users to access appointments at any of the locations across West Midlands.

·      There would be there accreditation from royal colleges for people who wished to upskill where a degree was not required.  The emphasis was on “growing our own “ and working together across the system to remove competition and create a stable workforce.

·      Recruitment would be from a local pool from within the Black Country and for the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 38/21

Standing item to consider an update on the review of Mental Health Services.

The Board noted that an information pack containing data on mental health services in Sandwell was being prepared and would be distributed to members prior to the commencement of the review.

Resolved that review working group be established to take forward the review on Mental Health Services withcouncillors Costigan, Fenton, Fisher, E M Giles and L Giles.

Standing item to consider any the Scrutiny Action Tracker.

The Board noted an update on progress on previous actions and recommendations.

Standing item to consider the Cabinet Forward Plan.

The Board noted the contents of the Cabinet Forward Plan.

Standing item to consider the work programme of the Board.

The Board considered its work programme for 2021/22.

The Chair announced that the expected report on the consultation on the future of Walker Grange would now not be received by the Board.  This was due to the consultation progressing quicker than anticipated, which had allowed the Cabinet to make a decision at its meeting on 18 November 2021.  The Chair had been kept up to date throughout the consultation period and was satisfied that all service users had had an opportunity to make their views known.

The Cabinet had agreed that Walker Grange would remain open and would be refurbished (Minute No. 205/21 refers).  Officers in Adult Social Care would continue engagement with the tenants, family members, and staff during the development of the unit and this Board would be kept informed on progress.

Officers undertook to obtain an update from the CCG on the progress on the recommendations made at the special meeting of the Board held on 4 October 2021, relating to Access to Primary Care.

Members discussed undertaking a piece of work in connection with the findings of the national HIV Commission and how Sandwell would progress the Commission’s findings.  Consideration would be given to the best time to undertake this work.

Resolved that the following items be added to the Board’s work programme for 2021/22:-

·               Progress update on Community Diagnostic Hubs.

·                Operation of phlebotomy services in       Sandwell.

·                Targeted Lung Health Checks Programme.

·                West Midlands Ambulance Service (WMAS) Winter Service Plan.

·                Sandwell’s response to HIV commission          findings.

Meeting ended at 7.10 pm.