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Agenda item

Cabinet Member:      Councillor W. Gareth Roberts

 

To consider a report on the above matter.   (Copy enclosed)

 

 

* 11.15 – 12.00 p.m.

 

 

Minutes:

(a)  A response was submitted on the above matter along with:

 

·         responses to the recommendations made by this Care Scrutiny Committee on 21 September 2017 

·         A letter from the Chair of the National Assembly of Wales' Petitions Committee  

·         The Report of the Petitions Committee dated 22 January 2018

 

(b) The Cabinet Member for Adults, Health and Well-being welcomed the report of the Petitions Committee that approved the six recommendations of this Care Scrutiny Committee made on 21 September 2017.

 

(c) The Area Director (West), Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board referred to recommendation (i) in Appendix A of the report and confirmed that the Health Board had achieved the recommendation and the information had been shared with the Scrutiny Committee.  

 

(ch) In relation to recommendation (ii), namely the request for an immediate report on the health provision in the Blaenau Ffestiniog area from an independent agency, a Member drew attention to the fact that the Petitions Committee noted that 98% disagreed with getting rid of beds.    During the ensuing discussion, the Committee was in agreement that the best way forward was to keep to the original brief and ask the Community Health Council to undertake the task of investigating the health provision in the Blaenau Ffestiniog area and provide a report of the conclusions.   However, there would be a need to ensure at the same time that they were prepared to fund this.

 

(d) In the context of receiving information about the services provided in the new Memorial Centre in Blaenau Ffestiniog, the Assistant Director Initial Care explained that a post-project evaluation would be undertaken to see whether the services had reached targets within the business plan and this would be reported back to Welsh Government.   As part of this work, responses would be gathered from the service users and if any weaknesses became apparent, a response could be given. 

 

          The Cabinet Member for Adults, Health and Well-being added that it would be beneficial to submit a report on the conclusions of the evaluation of services in the New Centre to this Care Scrutiny Committee, and it was reported further, subject to the results, that the Care Scrutiny Committee could hold a further investigation.  

 

In response to an enquiry regarding how the residents of Blaenau Ffestiniog and the Blaenau Memorial Hospital Defence Committee could have an input, it was noted that complaints could be lodged as part of the procedure, however, it was ensured that a specific engagement process would be created at the end of the summer term to ask for feedback on the experiences of the services at the new Memorial Centre since its opening.   It was also added that the Community Health Council could undertake this process as well.    

 

          The Assistant Director Initial Care was of the opinion that the services were excellent in the new building which included therapists, pharmacists, services collaborating together in a more stable way by now as well as the recruitment of a general practitioner.

 

          In response to the above, a Member explained that the main grievance was the fact that the residents of Blaenau Ffestiniog had been deprived of those services that were available at the Ffestiniog Memorial Hospital such as in-patient beds, X-Ray provision and a minor injuries unit.   

 

          (dd) The Head of Adults, Health and Well-being Department confirmed that initial discussions had taken place and was in the process of preparing a work programme to carry out an accessibility assessment in the Ysbyty Alltwen catchment area (Recommendation (iv) in Appendix A).  

 

          The Scrutiny Committee appealed on the relevant Departments to press on with the above as soon as possible in light of the fact that some residents had experienced difficulties when trying to reach Ysbyty Alltwen.

 

          (e) In terms of recommendation (v), namely the need for suitable homes for older people including a provision of extra care housing in the Blaenau Ffestiniog area, the Head of Adults, Health and Well-being Department explained that relevant departments had been considering adding such provision in the Ffestiniog area in the past.   Since then, circumstances had changed and there may be an opportunity to revisit the situation as part of the review of housing needs across the entire County.   It was noted that there were gaps to fill in terms of having the right mix of houses across the County and that all needs would be considered when prioritising investment.   It was added that data was available by the Health Board of patients who were waiting for care, residential, nursing homes etc. and it may be beneficial for the Head of Adults, Health and Well-being Department and the Area Director (West), Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board, to discuss the way forward from the current information they had.  The Member added the need to discuss with partners such as Cartrefi Cymunedol Gwynedd / Cynefin who were eager to contribute to the provision. 

 

          For information, the Corporate Director noted that initial discussions had taken place with partners in the housing field including the Health Board, but that there was a lot of work to achieve in respect of investment and exact locations.     

 

          (f) In terms of recommendation (vi) in the Appendix, namely the recruitment of care and health staff, the Area Director (West), BCUHB, gave assurance that the matter at hand had moved on in terms of recruiting generic workers in South Gwynedd, namely in the Tywyn and Dolgellau areas.   If the model was successful, then it was hoped that it could be rolled-out to other areas within the County.   As part of the model, Gwynedd Council would be the employer, with care workers working closely with the Health Board and undertaking a training programme of up to 6 months to obtain a medical qualification for the post.  At present, three individuals had been employed and the effectiveness of the posts would be monitored before it would be rolled-out further.  

 

          The Cabinet Member for Adults, Health and Well-being reiterated that staff recruitment was a serious concern and that there was a need for a different mindset, be that in the form of work packages / salaries, as other elements such as advertising / collaboration with schools / colleges had failed to attract more workers to the care field.   

 

          Resolved:                     (a) To accept, note and give thanks for the report and the above-mentioned observations.

 

                                                (b) To approve the recommendations within Appendix A to the report and to act as follows: 

 

          Recommendation (i) - that the information had already been shared with the Members of the Care Scrutiny Committee. 

                                                           

 

Recommendation (ii):             - invite the Community Health Council to hold an independent investigation into the health provision in the Blaenau Ffestiniog area and provide a report on the conclusions, including the impact of depriving the area of patient beds, loss of the X-Ray facilities and minor injuries unit.   

 

To ask Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board to share post-project assessment data in relation to the effectiveness of the current health provision (Memorial Centre) in the Blaenau Ffestiniog area.

 

Recommendation (iii) - To encourage BCUHB to communicate regularly and effectively with the residents of the Blaenau Ffestiniog area in relation to monitoring the provision of local health facilities and services. 

 

          Recommendation (iv) - To ask the Head of Adults, Health and Well-being Department to submit an update of the discussions regarding an assessment of the convenience and accessibility of health service by means of public and community transport within the catchment area of Ysbyty Alltwen. 

 

          Recommendation (v) - To ask the Head of Adults, Health and Well-being Department to submit an update following discussions regarding the provision of extra care housing. 

 

          Recommendation (vi) - To ask the Head of Adults, Health and Well-being Department to submit an update regarding recruitment including feedback on a generic worker model. 

 

          A request was made for the updates to be submitted to the Care Scrutiny Committee in relation to recommendations (iii)-(vi) within 9-12 months.  

 

Supporting documents: