Agenda and minutes

There were no declarations of interest received at this point in the meeting.

The minutes of the Health Scrutiny Panel meeting held on 16 January 2024 were submitted and approved as a correct record.

In 2021, the Executive had considered the Health Scrutiny Panel’s final report on Opioid Dependency - What Happens Next? and approved the action plan responding to the Scrutiny Panel’s recommendations.

The Head of Health Inclusion for Public Health South Tees will be in attendance to provide an update on the progress made with implementing the recommendations and an update on the current in-house Substance Misuse Clinical Prescribing Service, including:

·        an overview of how the service was planned, developed and implemented safely, in conjunction with relevant partners and stakeholders;

·        information on service demand (both previously at Foundations and for the in-house service); and

·        an outline of opportunities, benefits and challenges associated with service delivery.

In 2021, the Executive had considered the Health Scrutiny Panel’s final report on Opioid Dependency - What Happens Next? and approved the action plan responding to the scrutiny panel’s recommendations.

At the meeting, the Head of Health Inclusion for Public Health South Tees was in attendance to provide an update on the progress made with implementing the recommendations and an update on the current in-house Substance Misuse Clinical Prescribing Service, including:

• an overview of how the service was planned, developed and implemented safely, in conjunction with relevant partners and stakeholders;
• information on service demand (both previously at Foundations and for the in-house service); and
• an outline of opportunities, benefits and challenges associated with service delivery.

Members heard that the Substance Misuse Clinical Prescribing Service had been brought ‘in-house’ in October 2023 and joined together with the Council’s Care Coordination Team. It was explained, however, that Recovery Connections (as the lived experience recovery organisation) was still commissioned to offer residential rehabilitation and community recovery support. Recovery Connections was a local peer-led, substance use recovery charity based in Middlesbrough.

It was explained to the scrutiny panel that, previously, Foundations had delivered primary care on behalf of the North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care Board (ICB) and the specialist clinical element of the substance misuse service. In 2023, Foundations had served notice on its contract and it had ceased to operate on 30 September 2023. The primary care provided by Foundations had now been subsumed by other primary medical care services. Furthermore, the specialist prescribing that had been offered by Foundations was now delivered by the in-house Substance Misuse Clinical Prescribing Service.

Although there had been a requirement for the Local Authority and the ICB to work to extremely challenging timescales, a smooth transition for patients had been achieved and there had been no break in service provision.

In terms of the in-house Substance Misuse Clinical Prescribing Service, Members heard that the prescribing regime had been slightly changed and the supervised consumption rates had slightly increased, meaning they were now in line with the guidelines published by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE).

In addition to the changes in provider, Live Well East in Berwick Hills was opened and now operated as the main alcohol and drugs recovery hub, providing a wide range of support that included prescribing, psychosocial interventions, counselling, and recovery support. Members heard that, although the service could no longer be provided in the building that had previously been occupied by Foundations on Acklam Road, a building close by, on Ayresome Green Lane (previously occupied by the Middlesbrough Alcohol Centre of Excellence (MACE)) was now operating as Live Well West. That meant those who had previously accessed support at Foundations could continue to access support in a location that was convenient for them. In addition, Live Well South had been opened in Hemlington. It was explained that the primary hub for alcohol and drugs recovery support was Live Well East. It was highlighted that over half  ...  view the full minutes text for item 23/36

The Scrutiny Panel will be asked to consider, discuss and agree the Terms of Reference for the review.

Members were invited to consider, discuss and agree the draft terms of reference proposed for the review of Avoidable Deaths and Preventable Mortality, which had been circulated with the agenda papers for the meeting.

AGREED

That the terms of reference be agreed as follows:

a)     To examine key data and information on Middlesbrough’s:

·        leading causes of avoidable deaths (those that are either preventable or treatable); and

·        risk factors for ill health.

b)     To investigate the work undertaken by Public Health and the NHS to reduce the number of avoidable deaths, including:

·        public health primary, secondary and tertiary prevention interventions; and

·        healthcare interventions.

c)     To identify evidence-based best practice to tackle the local population’s major risk factors driving preventable ill health and avoidable deaths.

The Chair will present a verbal update on the matters that were considered at the meetings of the Overview and Scrutiny Board held on 18 January and 7 February 2024.

The Chair explained that at the meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Board, which was held on 18 January 2024, the Board had considered:

·        the Executive Forward Work Programme;

·        the scrutiny feedback on the Budget Consultation; and

·        information on Phase Two of the Local Government Ward Boundary Review.

In addition, Members heard that at the meeting on 7 February 2024, the Board had considered:

·        the Executive Forward Work Programme;

·        an update from the Executive Member for Environment;

·        an update on the Boundary Review 2023/24;

·        the OSB Work Programme; and

·        updates from the Scrutiny Chairs.

NOTED