The Chairman advised that she had attended a meeting with members of Patient Participation Groups (PPGs), who were concerned that the Groups needed to create better links with partners including the Council.  Mr. Young who was a member of the Edenbridge PPG addressed the Committee and advised that there were 67 different PPGs across Kent, which were trying to encourage the use of local cottage hospitals rather than travelling to Pembury or Maidstone and were actively pursuing service provision in local areas to improve health.  The Chairman suggested that it would be interesting to hear from Mr Young and the PPGs in more details at a future meeting.

Cllr. Davison advised that he had a copy of the NHS Constitution and that the Chief Officer Communities and Business would get additional copies for the Board.  He had attended 8 health meetings recently.  The West Kent CCG were concerned with the progress that Children’s Mental Health Services (CAMS) were making, however the service was improving under the leadership of the Sussex Partnership with waiting and treatments waiting times reducing.  The hospital patient transport services commissioned to Primary Transport Service (PTS) were not reaching the contract standards and the contract was being investigated to make improvements.  Comments had been fed into the West Kent CCG’s ‘Mapping the Future’ Plan.  Edenbridge PPG were also working with Edenbridge League of Friends to arrange for a TV screen to be put into the surgery waiting room to inform patients of local services and updates about the surgery.

The Board were advised that at the South East Ambulance Trust AGM they were informed that the response time targets had almost been achieved and there would be rest centres for ambulance crews to use for short break within more isolated communities.  Currently each crew had to return to one central base each day.  It was hoped that a refurbishment at Maidstone Hospital would provide additional parking facilities. Kent County Council (KCC) Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee (HOSC) were concerned mainly with East Kent hospital issues but also about the amount of time taken to implement new contracts.

Cllr. Searles provided an update to the Board, detailing the 12 health meetings that he had attended. Hextable PPG were working with the Swanley Dementia Friendly Forum to make Swanley town more dementia friendly.  The visit to the food bank on Friday 29 September 2014 had shown Members how the food bank operates and they had a greater understanding of people’s need for food banks during crisis and how this support could help people.

He advised Members that he had attended the Dartford, Gravesham and Swanley CCG’s AGM which was in a similar position to West Kent’s CCG.  The Government’s target for A&E waiting time was 95% to be seen within 4 hours.  Darent Valley Hospital were achieving 96.3% of the 4 hour waiting time, with Medway only achieving 80% and were also in special measures for under performance.  Ambulance response times were also not being met.  Darent Valley Hospital also had an intake from Bromley and Bexley.  He advised that there was a Better Care Together Seminar for the North of the District on the 5 November 2014.  Darent Valley were no longer merging with Medway however, a merge with the South East London Foundation Trust was being investigated.  Members were in agreement that it was good that a merge between Medway and Darent Valley was no longer happening. Concerns were raised over bed blocking.

The Board was advised that 60% of Doctors were at retirement age and nationally there is a shortage of newly trained GP’s.  To reduce costs, many surgeries were looking to merge administration functions.  Information was being promoted to encourage people to visit their GP’s first rather than going to A&E unless it was an emergency.

Members discussed whether the CCGs were aware of the pressures of trying to get an appointment with a GP and whether consideration had been given to providing additional funding.  Cllr. Searles advised that Dartford, Gravesham and Swanley CCG were aware and that a second round of commissioning would take place within the next 6 months.

Cllr. Brookbank informed Members that HOSC were looking at Medway Hospital because it was in special measures relating to their performance.  This was affecting Maidstone and Pembury as more people were visiting these hospitals.  He advised that he had been involved with Care Quality Commission (CQC) inspection to monitor improvement plans within hospitals.   As part of this work, hospitals had been asked to look at improving end of life care as much of this was left to hospices with no consistent approach.  He advised that he had also attended the Dartford, Gravesham and Swanley CCG Board meetings.

Cllr. Clark advised that he had attended a Dartford, Gravesham and Swanley NHS Trust meeting.  The Queen Mary hospital in Sidcup had experienced some financial difficulties and had been taken over by Oxleas Trust with Darent Valley also providing some specialist services.  The Dartford Gravesham and Swanley NHS Trust had 39 intermediate care beds at the Bupa Care Home in Elm Court to try and prevent bed blocking at Darent Valley. These beds were helping to rehabilitate patients further before they were sent home after surgery.  The Sevenoaks District Seniors Action Forum had worked to install over 40 defibrillators across the District including a new one in New Ash Green.  Members were encouraged to support the Sevenoaks District First Responder Unit who were working with the Seniors Action Forum to attract funding to continue to meet the defibrillator needs of the District.

Cllr. Fittock advised that Kent Health Watch were now allowing Councillors to be members.  More people were using pharmacies for advice and pharmacies were keen to take on a bigger role in relation to advice and health.  In response to a question, Members were advised that if you attended a community Pharmacy rather than a private one in a supermarket then you do not have to pay for a health check.

Members discussed the visit to the Swanley food bank and how they needed a larger location.  3400 tonnes of food was distributed from the small warehouse, most of the foods were non perishables and toiletries were also provided.  People suffering a personal crisis used the Food Bank and were given a supply of food for 3 days and were also referred to a local support organisation or Social Care Services for an assessment of their situation.  Storage for the food had been offered to the Food Bank at Swanley White Oak Leisure Centre and the Chief Officer Communities and Business had been involved in supporting the Food Bank.  The need for a new venue was urgent and it was suggested whether looking for a new premises was something that Economic and Community Development Advisory Committee could look into. The Health and Communities Manager advised that it was a voluntary organisation, and the Council are working with them to support them to find new premises to operate their Food Bank.