Issue - meetings

Briefing and answers to questions – Councillor Dilek Dogus, Cabinet Member for Adult and Community Services.

The Committee received the portfolio briefing from the Cabinet Member for Adult and Community Services and written responses to the advance questions submitted.  In response to supplementary questions the following was noted.

The Committee congratulated the Adult and Community Services department on its performance but emphasised the need for partners in the NHS to continue working closely with the Council, particularly in the implementation of the NHS Continuing Care scheme, despite future uncertainty and budget pressures.  The Director of Adult, Culture and Community Services, Mun Thong Phung, explained that he had met with the Chief Executive of Haringey Primary Care Trust (PCT) to remind him of the need to adhere to the Continuing Care guidance and that the PCT had responsibilities for joint care arrangements.

Re. Q2 – The Committee requested a briefing note updating on the Council’s response to the Health White Paper and the GP Consortia structure as details emerged (Action no. 115.1). In response to questioning, the Cabinet Member explained that the Council’s view was that, whilst the establishment of GP consortia would make accountability difficult, Haringey should contain one or two GP groups in Haringey.  The national guidance set the standard at a minimum of one GP consortium per 500 thousand people, although GPs had the flexibility to choose not to accept the guidance.

Re. Q2 – The draft Health and Well Being Board Structure would be circulated to the Committee (Action no. 115.2).

Re. Q7 – In response to a question it was confirmed that Extra Care provision through a new independent partner, (Hill Homes)  for the whole Borough, in order to deliver quality care more effectively, would be available from March 2011.

Re. Q8 – The Committee would be sent details on any future plans for changes to the provision of mobile and housebound library services (Action no. 115.3).

Re. Q9 – In response to suggestions that local residents be encouraged to take over the running of libraries through social enterprise the Cabinet Member stated that all options were being considered although the preference was for libraries to remain in the Council’s ownership. 

Re.  The Laurels Health Centre – The Cabinet Member shared the concerns of members and residents about the incomplete building works and operational matters at the Laurels Health Centre and informed the Committee that she and other Council representatives had met with PCT partners and asked them to address the operational issues.

            The Committee noted the briefing and thanked the Cabinet Member.