To allow Members an opportunity to [a] declare any personal, prejudicial or disclosable pecuniary interests they might have in any items which appear on this agenda; and [b] record any items from which they are precluded from voting as a result of Council Tax/Council rent arrears; [c] the existence and nature of party whipping arrangements in respect of any item to be considered at this meeting. Members with a personal interest should declare that at the start of the item under consideration.  If Members also have a prejudicial or disclosable pecuniary interest they must withdraw from the meeting during the consideration of the item.

To approve as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 8 February 2023 and the minutes of the extraordinary meeting held 22 February 2023.

In moving the minutes of 8 February 2023, a Member commented that the information available to the public via the website regarding how to access the Walk-In Centre in Boots was still out of date. The Executive Member for Healthy Manchester and Adult Social Care stated that he would follow this up.

Decision

To approve the minutes of the meetings held on 8 February 2023 and 22 February 2023 as a correct record, noting the above comments.

Report of the Executive Director of Adult Social Services

This report describes progress to develop a comprehensive pathway of support for Unpaid Carers in the city.

The Committee considered the report of the Executive Director of Adult Social Services that described progress to develop a comprehensive pathway of support for Unpaid Carers in the city, noting that the report focused on Adult Carers who are aged 18+ years.  

Key points and themes in the report included:

·         Providing an introduction and background;

·         Describing the significant work that had been achieved over the past five years to recognise the importance of Carers in the city and improve access to a whole range of services;

·         Describing that Commissioners, working together with Carers Manchester Network, had agreed a pathway of support for Carers and describing this model and noting that investment in the Carers VCSE organisations had been at the heart of the work, with all funding targeted at different organisations to deliver certain aspects of the work;

·         Detailing key updates on progress;

·         Information relating to Carers Manchester Network;

·         Impact of the Cost-of-Living increase;

·         Information on the Carers Manchester Contact Point and outcomes;

·         Communications and marketing;

·         Support for Carers in their respective localities and neighbourhoods;

·         Information on the Carers Emergency Fund and data in relation to this activity over the previous two years and case studies;

·         Information in regard to the Adult Social Care Carer’s Team and associated case studies;  

·         Carer’s Emergency Card, noting that this card was issued to a carer as a means of informing other professionals should the carer be involved in an accident or emergency admission to hospital;

·         Describing the work with Manchester GPs and Health partners;

·         The approach to carers in employment; and

·         The Commissioning Strategy and priorities for the next two years.

The Committee then heard from Nazir Patel, Outreach Worker, LMCP. He described the work his service provided to identify and support carers, especially those that did not identify themselves as carers and for whom English was not their first language. He provided numerous examples of the different ways people were supported. Mr Liaqat Ali, a citizen of Manchester spoke of his experience as a carer and the positive impact LMCP had on him and his family. He spoke of the many different ways he had been supported, including income maximisation, support during the pandemic, regular meetings and peer contact, trusted advice regarding vaccinations and the opportunities this support had given him to pursue his own hobbies and interests.

Some of the key points that arose from the Committee’s discussions were:

·         Thanking Mr Patel and Mr Ali for attending the meeting and sharing their experience with Members;

·         Recognising the important and invaluable role that carers played in Manchester;

·         Recognising the good work provided by LMCP;

·         Welcoming the detailed and informative report that had been submitted and commented that the information should be shared with all Councillors;

·         What was being done to reach and support carers in ‘hard to reach’ communities;

·         Noting the census figures presented in regard to the numbers of carers in Manchester and questioning if these reflected the true numbers of carers in Manchester;

·         Noting the importance of a well-planned and  ...  view the full minutes text for item 22.

Report of the Executive Director of Adult Social Services and the Director of Public Health

This report describes recent work to invigorate the Dementia pathway and improve services for people diagnosed with Dementia and their Carers.

The Committee considered the report of the Executive Director of Adult Social Services and the Director of Public Health that described recent work to invigorate the Dementia pathway and improve services for people diagnosed with Dementia and their Carers.

Key points and themes in the report included:

·         Providing an introduction and background, noting that according to the NHS, Dementia was a syndrome (a group of related symptoms) associated with an ongoing decline of brain functioning;

·         Data on Dementia diagnosis rates;

·         Describing the work delivered with South Asian communities;

·         Describing the multi-agency Dementia Steering Group had refreshed its membership to include people and Carers with lived experience to ensure that the transformation of the post-diagnostic pathway delivered high quality, timely, equitable and effective services;

·         Describing how the Steering Group had worked together to develop a new Vision for how Dementia care and support was progressed, and a new Action Plan ensured that key organisations and sector leads were accountable; and

·         Reporting that there was recognition of the vital role that the VCSE (Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise) organisations, with specific expertise in Dementia support, with a proposal to develop a citywide VCSE Dementia Alliance.

Some of the key points that arose from the Committee’s discussions were: -

·         Information was sought as to the makeup of the Dementia Steering Group;

·         How was the lived experience of people for whom English was not their first language captured and responded to;

·         Noting the projected figures presented regarding the prevalence of dementia and the impact this would have on families;

·         Further information was sought as to the job descriptions of the Dementia Care Co-ordinator and the Dementia Specialist Nurses;

·         The Government should fund a Dementia Care Co-ordinator post at each Primary Care Network; and

·         Noting the complexity of dementia and noting the importance of good quality adult services to support people living with a diagnosis of dementia. 

The Co-Chair of the Steering Group and Clinical GP Lead stated that the Dementia Steering Group was a multi-disciplinary group and included the voice of the patient and lived experience. The Later Life Service Manager, Manchester Services, GMMH commented that work was ongoing to engage with a range of communities in Manchester, including African Caribbean community groups using culturally appropriate settings, including faith settings.

The Co-Chair of the Steering Group and Clinical GP Lead described the role of the Dementia Care Co-ordinator as being responsible for completing a relevant wellbeing plan for an individual, however more importantly it provided a named contact for a patient and their families. He stated that this was very important for people as it was important to recognise the complexity of a dementia diagnosis, adding that it was important not to dismiss dementia as simply an older person’s condition. He added that the wellbeing plan would be produced and agreed with the patient and the ambition would be to have this digitally shared, with consent with other health practitioners so that patients were not required to repeat their stories. He stated that the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 23.

Report of the Director of Strategy, MFT and Locality Director of Strategy/Provider Collaboration (MICP)

This report presents an update regarding the dissolution of the former Pennine Acute Hospitals Trust and re-provision of services by both Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust and the Northern Care Alliance.

The Committee considered the report of the Director of Strategy, MFT and Locality Director of Strategy/Provider Collaboration (MICP) that provided an update regarding the dissolution of the former Pennine Acute Hospitals Trust (PAHT) and re-provision of services by both Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust (MFT) and the Northern Care Alliance (NCA).

Key points and themes in the report included:

·         Providing an introduction and background to the acquisition of the Pennine Acute Hospitals Trust;

·         An overview of the disaggregation approach and the context of complex services;

·         A summary of proposals to disaggregate four complex services namely Cardiology, Gastroenterology, Rheumatology and Urology; and

·         Providing a summary of the assessment of the impact of these proposed changes on North Manchester residents in terms of quality, equality, patient choice, travel and access.

Some of the key points that arose from the Committee’s discussions were:

·         Members welcomed the update and noted that the proposals did not represent any asset stripping at North Manchester General Hospital.

Decision

To note the report.

Report of the Governance and Scrutiny Support Unit

The monthly report includes the recommendations monitor, relevant key decisions, the Committee’s work programme and items for information. The report also contains additional information including details of those organisations that have been inspected by the Care Quality Commission.

The report of the Governance and Scrutiny Support Unit which contained key decisions within the Committee’s remit and responses to previous recommendations was submitted for comment. Members were also invited to agree the Committee’s future work programme.

Decision

The Committee notes the report and agrees the work programme.

The Chair recognised that this would be the last meeting that Councillor Newman would be attending as he was retiring. The Committee wished to place on record their appreciation for his many years of dedication and service to the work of the Health Scrutiny Committee.