Issue - meetings

Councillor Getliffe submits a report responding to a consultation document issued by the Trent NHS Regional Office of the Department of Health on a proposal to establish a new Health Authority for Leicestershire, Northamptonshire and Rutland. The report also outlines a discussion document on involving patients and the public in healthcare, published in September as part of the Government’s proposals to replace Community Health Councils. The Cabinet is asked to; endorse the proposal for a Strategic Health Authority (SHA); make strong representations that it be based in Leicester; seek assurances that the interests of Leicester continue to be addressed strategically by the SHA and City Primary Care Trusts; secure the future of the City Health Action Zone; receive a further report on the development of an Overview and Scrutiny Committee for Leicester; continue to monitor developments in the Government’s plan to replace Community Health Councils; and to delegate responsibility for the final response to the Director of Social Services, in consultation with the Cabinet Lead Member for Social Services.

Councillor Getliffe submitted a report responding to a consultation document issued by the Trent NHS Regional Office of the Department of Heath on a proposal to establish a new Strategic Health Authority for Leicestershire, Northamptonshire and Rutland. The report also outlined a discussion document which considered ways of involving patients and the public in decisions regarding healthcare as part of the Government’s proposals to replace Community Health Councils.

Members of the Cabinet commented on the important need to ensure that Leicester’s unique needs as a diverse multi cultural City be recognised in the new Strategic Health Authority.

Members of the Cabinet also requested that further details on the proposed Overview and Scrutiny Committee be reported back to Cabinet at a future meeting.

RESOLVED:

that the Cabinet, after consultation with the Social Services and Personal Health Scrutiny Committee, :

(1)endorses the proposal for a Strategic Health Authority for Leicestershire, Northamptonshire and Rutland;

(2)makes strong representations that the Strategic Health Authority be based in Leicester;

(3)seeks assurances that the interests of Leicester as a large, multi-cultural city will continue to be addressed strategically by the Strategic Health Authority and City Primary Care Trusts;

(4)secures the future of the City Health Action Zone;

(5)receives a further report on the development of a Overview and Scrutiny Committee for Leicester;

(6)monitors developments in the Government’s plan to replace Community Health Councils; and

(7)delegates responsibility for the final response to the consultation paper, to the Director of Social Services, in consultation with the Cabinet Lead, following consideration by the November Scrutiny Committee, in order to meet the deadline for responses.