Agenda item

Scrutiny Update - Francis Report and New Health Scrutiny Regulations

Minutes:

8.1

The Policy Officer (Scrutiny) gave a presentation on an update of the Francis Inquiry and Health Scrutiny Regulations.  She reported that the final report on the public inquiry, which had been launched in 2010, with the aim of looking at the role that commissioning, supervisory and regulatory bodies played in monitoring the work of the Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust, had been published in February, 2013.  The report contained 290 recommendations, of which six related to scrutiny issues.  A Government response was still awaited, but the Department of Health was encouraging all organisations involved to debate and discuss the findings and recommendations of the Francis Report.

 

 

8.2

Ms. Standbrook-Shaw referred to the scrutiny recommendations and reported on the key points with regard to the Health and Social Care Act 2012 – Regulations, which had been published in February, 2013, and would come into force on 1st April, 2013.

 

 

8.3

Members of the Committee and representatives of Sheffield LINk made the following observations:-

 

 

 

·                     There had historically been poor dialogue with the Care Quality Commission (CQC).

 

 

 

·                     In terms of the scrutiny recommendations, the Committee needed to be careful that it did not become an operational body, as opposed to continuing with its role of analysing and providing feedback on all aspects of the NHS.

 

 

 

·                     Would it be possible for the Scrutiny Committee to look at how the NHS had responded to complaints about the service?

 

 

 

·                     The Committee needed to focus on whether the correct arrangements in terms of clinical audit were in place.

 

 

 

·                     The Committee needed to be more proactive, as opposed to reactive, in terms of its work.

 

 

 

·                     There was a need for a review as to what work the Committee undertook in the future, as well as how the Committee operated.

 

 

8.4

RESOLVED: That this Committee notes the information reported as part of the presentation, together with the comments now made.