Issue - meetings

To receive the report from NHS Haringey updating on the overall current position for the NHS and Haringey specific issues.

The Committee received the NHS Haringey Update document and was shown a video of local people’s positive opinions about the new polyclinics in Haringey.  It was noted that despite pressures NHS Haringey was still delivering the strategy to provide more care in the community.

In response to questions it was noted that demand for the use of services in Haringey had risen due to a number of reasons including population and need growth, diversity, health issues in the east of the borough, people wanting to use the service more as well as more publicity promoting health living.

A paper detailing future provision of health centres in the borough would be circulated to Committee Members (action no. 35.1).

Breastfeeding

The Committee heard from local residents concerned with the provision of support to new mothers who were breastfeeding and requested details of how the breast feeding targets in the Children & Young People’s Implementation Plan 2009 would be met.  A response would be circulated to members after the meeting with copies of the plan (action no. 35.2).

The Committee would be provided with information on how breastfeeding would be measured in future, including infants who were partially and exclusively breastfed (action no. 35.3).

It was confirmed that Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH) Health Visitor training was given to all volunteers. The Committee asked whether there were volunteers to assist with breast feeding in all children’s centres.  Mr Stroud agreed to circulate this information after the meeting and details of the timescales within which a new mother should have contact with a health visitor (action no. 35.4). It was noted that a dedicated officer in Haringey worked with GOSH to commission support for breastfeeding.

Low Priority Treatments

The Committee received a deputation on behalf of the Defend Haringey Health Services Coalition (DHHSC) opposing the proposal for a low priority treatments list, claiming that for some people these treatments could be life saving.  In response, Mr Harry Turner, Director of Finance – NHS Haringey, reported that the NHS was committed to ensuring equity across Haringey in all NHS services and that a strict criteria was followed to ensure that everyone was assessed equally according to their clinical needs. The treatments in question were regarded as being of questionable benefit.  Details of the prioritisation criteria in relation to the low priority treatments policy would be circulated to Committee Members (action no. 35.6) and it was noted that clinical judgement would be used during an “exceptional treatment panel” to decide on cases where individuals felt they did meet the criteria for having the relevant treatment.

Information on the projected impact of the low priority treatments policy based on figures for the population and demographics of Haringey (action no. 35.7) would also be circulated. The Committee noted that the cuts to such treatments in Haringey were not as large as the cuts made in other boroughs but expressed concern that early treatments often prevented worse illness later on.

The minutes of the PCT Board meeting held on  ...  view the full minutes text for item 35