Agenda and draft minutes
PDF 215 KBVenue: Council Chamber, Woodhatch Place, 11 Cockshot Hill, Reigate, Surrey, RH2 8EF
Contact: Sally Baker, Scrutiny Officer
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APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE AND SUBSTITUTIONS
To report any apologies for absence and substitutions. Additional documents: Minutes: The Chairman noted apologies received from Cllr Caroline Joseph, Cllr Dennis Booth, and Cllr John Furey.
Apologies were also received from Claire Edgar, Executive Director of Adults, Wellbeing and Health Partnerships (AWHP).
Substitute: Sarah Kershaw, Strategic Director: Transformation, Assurance & Integration, Adults, Wellbeing and Health Partnerships
Cllr Robert Evans and Cllr Abby King arrived at 10.01am. |
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MINUTES OF THE PREVIOUS MEETING: 4 DECEMBER 2024
To agree the minutes of the previous meeting of the Adults and Health Select Committee as a true and accurate record of proceedings. Additional documents: Minutes: The minutes of the previous meeting were AGREED as a true and accurate record. |
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DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
All Members present are required to declare, at this point in the meeting or as soon as possible thereafter (i) Any disclosable pecuniary interests and / or (ii) Other interests arising under the Code of Conduct in respect of any item(s) of business being considered at this meeting NOTES: · Members are reminded that they must not participate in any item where they have a disclosable pecuniary interest · As well as an interest of the Member, this includes any interest, of which the Member is aware, that relates to the Member’s spouse or civil partner (or any person with whom the Member is living as a spouse or civil partner) · Members with a significant personal interest may participate in the discussion and vote on that matter unless that interest could be reasonably regarded as prejudicial.
Additional documents: Minutes: Cllr Trefor Hogg declared he was a community representative for Frimley Health. Cllr Victoria Wheeler declared a pecuniary interest in relation to anything relating to an electronic patient record which was impacted from Epsom and St Helier Hospital. Cllr Carla Morson declared a non-pecuniary interest that she had a close relative working at Frimley Park Hospital. |
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QUESTIONS AND PETITIONS
To
receive any questions or petitions. NOTES: 1. The deadline for Members’ questions is 12:00pm four working days before the meeting (28 February 2025).
2. The deadline for public questions is seven days before the meeting(27 February 2025).
3. The deadline for petitions was 14 days before the meeting, and no petitions have been received. Additional documents: Minutes: None received. |
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CABINET RESPONSE TO SELECT COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATIONS
To note the most recent Cabinet responses to the Committee’s past recommendations. Additional documents: Minutes: Witnesses: Sinead Mooney, Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care
Key points raised in the discussion:
Regarding Investment and the tracking of spending, much work was undertaken into the monitoring and tracking of the Adult Social Care (ASC) budget and the Cabinet Member for ASC offered assurances around that robust management of the monitoring which was already in place. Areas of risk had been identified, and reassurance provided that collectively as a team they would work to reduce and monitor those risks. The Chairman responded to address the importance concerning the area of assessments being robust and timely, due to the impact on hospital bed capacity and waiting lists. |
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The purpose of this paper is to brief the Surrey County Council Adults & Health Select Committee on work that is being undertaken across Surrey Heartlands ICS to standardise access to urgent and emergency care services for local people, specifically the redesignation of Minor Injury Units/Walk in Centres (MIU/WICs) to Urgent Treatment Centres (UTCs). This work responds to recognition – locally and nationally – that the current urgent care ‘offer’ is fragmented and confusing for the public which is front and centre of NHS England’s national strategy to redesignate all MIU/WiCs to UTCs by April 2025.
Additional documents: Minutes: Witnesses:
Prior to the discussion, witnesses provided a presentation on the report to the committee.
Key points raised during the discussion:
1. A Member asked for clarification on the 25 percent increase of patients figure mentioned in the presentation and why that would be. The Member also asked what the opening hours would be, and what would happen if someone arrived just before the service closed, and how peak times were dealt with particularly regarding children that may arrive with an injury. The Director of Urgent Emergency Care (UEC) and System Resiliencereplied that the 25 percent shift in activity in terms of the existing activity currently predominantly sat within Emergency Departments (EDs) in those hours and they would move them to the UTCs. Caterham Dene, Ashford, and Woking operated 8:00am / 8:30am until 8pm. Haslemere operated five days a week as opposed to seven days a week, however that would be changed to enable them to operate a minimum of twelve hours a day. As services develop the communications route would play a part in how those patients would be directed via the bookable slots via NHS 111 and by a triage process similar to those used in EDs at present, if people walk in. Regarding demand management, UTCs would be brought in with real time data, and via this data they would be able to identify where the pinch points are and appropriately signpost patients to perhaps be seen much quicker than at present. Walk-In patients reaching UTCs at the end of the day would be assessed via the triage process, and if necessary be redirected to another service with patient accompanying data being provided to that redirection service.
2. The Member reiterated the point concerning children arriving and for elaboration around the statistics related to peak times for walk-in patients. The Director of UEC and System Resilienceclarified that after school hours during the week and at weekends were considered peak times. A map provided the- modelled activity and Surrey Heartlands Integrated Care System (ICS) would ensure resource to that level. With the standardised data set and service, that modelling became more refined over time, which provided the opportunity to flexibly move the resource as appropriate.
3. The Chairman asked what provision was expected for mental health patients presenting at UTCs, and whether they had looked at the incorporation of the work of the UTC with for example, the Safe Havens. The Director of UEC and System Resilience confirmed that there was a process within ED departments, with strong links with the Safe Haven service and the mental health Trust, which had ... view the full minutes text for item 6/25 |
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SUPPORTING GENERAL PRACTICE ACCESS THROUGH THE ADOPTION OF AUTOMATION CAPABILITIES
General practice continues to evolve in response to increasing patient demand, workforce shortages, and the need for more efficient care pathways. Automation tools, such as Rapid Health Smart Triage, are being introduced to help practices manage demand, improve access, and ensure patients are directed to the right care at the right time.
This report sets out: · The challenges general practice faces and the need for change · Why practices have moved from eConsult to Rapid Health Smart Triage to support their access transformation · How automation to support access is being adopted and embedded in Surrey Heath and Farnham practices · Early experiences from Surrey Heath and Farnham, including successes and areas for ongoing improvement. Automation is an enabler in the transformation to establish more sustainable general practice models. Its role is to reduce unnecessary manual processes, improve triage, and ensure patients receive care in the most appropriate setting while preserving personal interactions where needed.
Additional documents: Minutes: Meeting resumed at 11.44am
Witnesses:
Prior to the discussion, witnesses provided a presentation on the report to the committee.
Key points raised during the discussion:
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RECOMMENDATIONS TRACKER AND FORWARD WORK PROGRAMME
For the Select Committee to review the attached recommendations tracker and forward work programme, making suggestions for additions or amendments as appropriate. Additional documents: Minutes: Note: This item was taken after Item 4.
The Committee NOTED the recommendations and forward work programme. |
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DATE OF THE NEXT MEETING
The next public meeting of the committee will be held on 11 July 2025 at 10:00am. Additional documents: Minutes: The Chairman NOTED the date of the next meeting was Friday 11 July 2025 |