Agenda item

Updates from Members

Minutes:

Cllr. Searles provided an update to the Board, detailing the 10 health meetings that he had attended since the last meeting. There were different initiatives taking place in Swanley to become a Dementia Friendly Community with banks, supermarkets and local businesses were also getting involved.

 

The Dartford Gravesham and Swanley Health and Wellbeing Board had a presentation from Kent Fire Brigade on how they were adding value to the Health and Wellbeing of Kent & Medway, which included helping people who suffer from falls which the Council also ran courses for. It was discussed taking a policy forward to encourage people to not call 999 when it was not an emergency. Members were informed that Darent Valley Hospital achieved a 4 hour wait at 96.4%, 3 hour wait at 95% and 94.5% just under a 3 hour wait.  It was also discussed how to encourage patients to return the hospital equipment they borrow.

 

At the January meeting of the Health and Wellbeing Board there were discussions around the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) and Section 106 agreements and how this money could be fed back into hospitals. Cllr. Searles advised Members that Community Wardens would become Community Care Agents and after attending Care Act Training, from April 2015 anyone can ask for an eligibility assessment for certain benefits.

 

Cllr. Brookbank advised Members that Pembury Hospital had been inspected by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) and had received a ‘good’ in respect of the care aspect however there were some criticisms. A proposal for improvement would be taken to the KCC Health and Overview Scrutiny Committee (HOSC).

 

Members were advised that the Council had received a copy of the CQC Ofsted inspection at Sevenoaks Childrens Centre which would be circulated to Members.

 

Action 2: That the Health and Communities Manager circulate a copy of the report to Members.

 

Cllr. Mrs. Sargent advised Members that Darent Valley Hospital had been praised in comparison to hospitals in East Sussex and it was encouraging that Darent Valley was improving. She informed Members that Guy’s and St. Thomas’ Hospitals Cancer Centres would be providing services at Oxleas Trust Hospital in Sidcup.

 

Cllr. Fittock advised that he had attended a Dementia awareness day, and expressed concern that there were not many new faces. He had attended the Dartford Gravesham and Swanley CCG where the patient transport group was raised again. The ‘Dementia Friends’ training session at the Council had been well attended by staff however more Members should be encouraged to attend the next training day.

 

Cllr. Mrs. Cook advised Members that West Kent Health and Wellbeing Board had a sub-group to look at obesity however progress was slow.

 

Cllr. Davison advised that 300 new homes in Edenbridge was being planned for, however there were problems with trying to identify who within the Health organisations would comment on the plans. In regards to Edenbridge hospital kitchen facilities, the construction of the temporary facilities would be starting on 26 February 2015 and the Edenbridge PPG were developing a questionnaire.

 

A CQC report had been received for Sunrise Care Home which had received 6 standards that were inadequate and 1 standard required improvement. However this care home was independent of KCC. It was discussed whether KCC could be invited to talk about the inspection process.

 

Action 3: For the Health and Communities Manager to contact the CQC to enquire regarding  the next steps are in relation to this report and to get SDC added to their mailing list to receive future inspection reports within Sevenoaks District.

 

Cllr. Clark advised that New Ash Green were currently waiting for the outdoor gym to be installed in June after the remaining funding was secured. The Christmas magic event had over 1000 people attend. Cllr. Clark advised that there could be an increase in parking problems at the New Ash Green Hospital, and the Parish Council were writing to the Hospital Trust.  Members discussed the parking problems that had occurred at Darent Valley and Pembury Hospital and Darent Valley would be opening 100 parking spaces at the end of February 2015 and another 400 at the end of the year within the Darent Valley Hospital grounds.

 

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