Members are reminded to consider the categories of interest in the Code of Conduct for Members to determine whether they have an interest in any agenda item and any action they should take. For further details, please see the attached note from the Monitoring Officer.

Members are reminded to declare the nature of the interest and the agenda item it relates to. Please note that ultimately it’s the Members’ responsibility to declare any interests and to update their register of interest form as required by the Code.

If in doubt as to the nature of your interest, you are advised to seek advice prior to the meeting by contacting the Monitoring Officer or Democratic Services

There were no declarations of disclosable pecuniary interest. For transparency, Assan Ali informed sub-committee members that his wife works for Adult Social Care.

The Chair requested nominations for the position of Vice-Chair of the Health and Adults Scrutiny Sub-Committee for the municipal year 2023/24. Councillor Ahmodur Khan proposed Councillor Bodrul Choudhury for the position. This was seconded by Councillor Abdul Malik.

There were no further nominations received.

The Health and Adults Scrutiny Sub-Committee RESOLVED to:

1.    Elect Councillor Bodrul Choudhury the Vice-Chair of the Health and Adults Scrutiny Sub-Committee for the municipal year 2023/24.

Justina Bridgeman, Democratic Services Officer requested members to note the Health and Adults Scrutiny Sub-Committee’s terms of reference, membership, quorum and meeting dates for the municipal year 2023/24. The terms of reference were agreed at the Overview and Scrutiny Committee meeting held on 16 May 2023.

The Health and Adults Scrutiny Sub-Committee RESOLVED to:

1.    Note it’s terms of reference, quorum, membership and meeting dates as set out in appendices 1,2 and 3 of the report.

2.    Agreed to hold all Health and Adults Scrutiny Sub-Committee meetings at 6.30pm in the Council Chamber for the municipal year 2023/24.

The Chair requested nominations for representatives for the Inner North East London Joint Overview and Scrutiny Committee.  The terms of reference requires the membership to remain politically proportionate and were circulated to sub-committee members prior to the meeting.

The Chair proposed Councillor Ahmodul Kabir and Councillor Ahmodur Khan for the Aspire positions and the Labour group nominated Councillor Amy Lee for the Labour post. The proposals were  seconded by Councillor Bodrul Choudhury and the Labour group respectively. 

The Health and Adults Scrutiny Sub-Committee RESOLVED to:

1.    Elect Councillor Ahmodul Kabir, Councillor Ahmodur Khan and Councillor Amy Lee, the Inner North East London Joint Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee (INEL JHOSC) as LBTH representatives.

Chairs Update

The Chair;

-      Introduced both Nicola Lawrence and Assan Ali, to the sub-committee members, as Healthwatch representative co-optee and resident co-optee respectively. This was officially confirmed at the Overview and Scrutiny Committee on 16 May 2023.

-      Nicola Lawrence updated sub-committee members on the key concerns raised by residents in regard to access to mental health dentistry, GP services, appointments and SEND provision within the borough.

-      Assan Ali informed the sub-committee on concerns raised by residents regarding referral pathways for children with learning difficulties.

To confirm as a correct record the minutes of the meeting of the Health Scrutiny Panel held on 11 May 2023.

The minutes of the Sub-committee meeting held on 11 May 2023 were approved and signed by the Chair as a correct record of proceedings.

TO FOLLOW

Councillor Gulam Kibria Choudhury, Cabinet Member for Health, Wellbeing and Social Care, and Denise Radley, Corporate Director of Health, Adults and Community, provided reflections and achievements from last year and priorities for municipal year 2023/24.

Councillor Gulam Kibria Choudhury introduced the item and emphasised  a commitment to prioritising health care for the borough. Preparations for the upcoming inspection of the Adult Social Care (ASC) service from the Care Quality Commission are ongoing. Despite  service demands,  officers and partners are committed to providing vulnerable residents with a programme of initiatives to tackle health and wellbeing and the council has prioritised areas to ensure this is achieved.

Denise Radley, Corporate Director for Health, Adults and Community, reflected on the strength-based approach used.  The Directorate achieved the strategic priorities last year without red ratings. The only amber rating received related to the numbers of residents who successfully stopped smoking, which is an ongoing target.

Other notable achievements were the Public Health departments advertising policy and the implementation of health and wellbeing ambassadors supporting 3,000 residents post pandemic. 61 residential nursing home discharges took place, with Tower Hamlets placed in the top quarter for performance. Maintaining close partnership arrangements were critical to last year’s success.

Ms Radley went on to discuss the priorities for 2023/24 which include; the recommissioning of all home care services, bringing the direct payments supports service back in-house. A Housing Care Strategy with a focus on additional supported housing and nursing homes is near finalisation and an enhanced ‘Technology Enabled Care’ offer is currently being drafted. Additionally, a  structured approach to supporting high risk residents with around 8,000 health checks and a ‘Combating Drugs Partnership’ strategy to support residents in a culturally appropriate manner, will be delivered by Public Health and Social Care teams.

Ms Radley lastly touched on the ongoing challenges; the increased pressures on complex care packages and the financial constraints which are negatively impacting the service, as well as the cost of living crisis and pensioner poverty. This is compounded by changes within the NHS and the static nature of ASC reform.

The new Care Quality Commission inspection of ASC services is estimated to commence later this year.

Further to questions from the sub-committee, Denise Radley, Katie O’Driscoll, Director of Adult Social Care and Somen Banerjee, Director of Public Health;

·       Clarified that the strength-based approach focuses on an individual’s strengths and goals and explores the support networks that already exist within people’s families and networks.  Eligible needs and how to meet them can then be identified. This ensures a person-centred, dignified approach including where appropriate reablement, adaptations or assistive technology support. The aim is to support the resident to maintain skills, independence and access to the community.

·       Explained that the current provider for drug treatment Reset, has a specific range of outreach sessions and additional funding has now been made available from the Department of Health, to support culturally appropriate services. A review will take place to simplify avenues to connect both mental and physical health services,  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.1

The Chair introduced the sub-committee to members of THT Partnership and the Integrated Care Board, who provided reflections and achievements from last year and outlined the priorities for 2023/24.

Primary Care

Dr Roberto Tamsanguan, GP and Tower Hamlets Place Clinical Director, emphasised  the Primary Care Network (PSN) achievements, primarily the Covid-19 Booster initiative for 2023 and the approval to deliver Spirometry (lung function) testing within the community, which detects asthma or  chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Other notable achievements included the  implementation of digital infrastructure with all 30 GP practices, to work more collaboratively throughout the borough. Digital exclusion policies have now been established.

Healthspot services for young residents with GP consultation rooms are located in two youth centres within the borough to assist younger people transitioning into adulthood.

Dr Tamsanguan noted the  challenges within the service as the high turnover in patients, a rapid population growth, workforce and housing pressures, high waiting lists and the cost of living crisis. The sub-committee were also reminded of  ongoing issues following the pandemic and budgetary constraints.

PCN’s priorities involve improving resident access to primary care services and ensuring improvement plans are effective with the delivery of a PSN same day urgent care pilot programme. A promotional campaign of services to residents on ways to access primary care and the wider workforce, has been particularly effective and plans to upgrade the telephony with a cloud based service and queue functionality, to cut down call waiting times are ongoing.

Further to questions from the sub-committee; Dr RobertoTamsanguan, Jo-Ann Sheldon, Head of Primary Care Commissioning, NEL ICB and Zainab Arian, CEO GP Care Group;

·       Confirmed that Asthma, COPD and respiratory issues are increasing in the borough and it is vital patients can access spirometry testing hubs closer to home rather than visit hospitals. This will be delivered across PCN’s although location details are pending. Further details will be circulated to sub-committee members once confirmed.

·       Explained that vulnerable and elderly residents who do not or are unable to engage in digital technology still require access to  health care. The Digital Exclusion policy ensures they still receive GP assistance when needed, either face to face or by phone.

·       Confirmed that existing health centres have moved sites to accommodate patient growth in the last ten years. Details on the numbers of new GP surgeries in the borough will be brought back to the sub-committee for review.

·       Clarified that Spotlight Youth centre in Poplar and the Overland Children and Family Centre in Bow are the two sites with GP services. Spotlight contacted the NHS following intensive youth work engagement and the idea of GP service provision was established. It is anticipated that consulting rooms will be made available in all youth centres within the borough. Case studies are available to the sub-committee for review.

·       Explained that the promotional campaigns are informing residents of the various ways to access primary care, including  the aforementioned telephone and  face to face consultations, as well as utilising clinical professionals other than GP’s.

·       Conceded  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.2

Filuck Miah, Senior Strategy & Policy Officer, proposed topics to discuss at the remaining meetings for the 2023/24 municipal year. The Chair informed sub-committee members that the draft was submitted to the Overview and Scrutiny Committee (OSC) on 24 July for discussion and will be submitted to Cabinet for finalisation. The final draft will then return to the OSC in September.

Sub-committee members were informed that the Adult Social Care Inspection feedback discussion, scheduled for 12 December, has been amended from the draft work programme until the date of the CQC Inspection is announced.

The annual report was noted.

None.