Meetings

Mark Drakeford AM, Minister for Health and Social Services

Gwenda Thomas AM, Deputy Minister for Social Services

Albert Heaney, Director of Social Services & Integration

Dr Ruth Hussey, Chief Medical Officer

Dr Grant Robinson, Clinical Lead for Unscheduled Care

2.1     The Committee scrutinised the Minister for Health and Social Services and the Deputy Minister for Social Services on unscheduled care - preparedness for winter 2013/14.

2.2     During the meeting the following points were agreed:

• The Chief Medical Officer agreed to provide further details about the number of hospital ward closures arising during winter 2013/14 as a result of norovirus.
• The Minister agreed to provide an update on paramedic services in Wales, including: the percentage of paramedics who have become advanced paramedics in recent years; confirmation of how many advanced paramedics are practising in Wales; and, further detail about their current and future training plans.
• The Deputy Minister confirmed that details of funding allocated under the Intermediate Care Fund - and all relevant plans - will be published on a regional basis and shared with the Committee. Furthermore, the Deputy Minister noted that lesson learnt across relevant sectors as a result of this process will be published.
• The Deputy Minister agreed to share the statements of intent prepared by Local Health Boards, Local Authorities and other relevant partners in accordance with the Welsh Government's framework for delivering integrated health and social care once ready.

5.1 The Committee considered and agreed a draft letter to the Minister for Health and Social Services and the Deputy Minister for Social Services on the unscheduled care – preparedness for winter 2013/14 inquiry.

3c.1 The Committee noted the letter from the Minister for Health and Social Services in relation to unscheduled care and formal winter plans.

7.1 The Committee discussed the key issues arising from the scrutiny session on unscheduled care – preparedness for winter 2013/14 and agreed to write shortly to the Minister for Health and Social Services outlining its conclusions.

10.2 The Committee noted the letter.

Ministerial scrutiny session

·         Mark Drakeford AM, Minister for Health and Social Services

·         Gwenda Thomas AM, Deputy Minister for Social Services

·         Albert Heaney, Director of Social Services

·         Kevin Flynn, Director Delivery & Deputy Chief Executive of NHS Wales  

·         Dr Grant Robinson, Clinical Lead for Unscheduled Care

5.1 The Minister for Health and Social Services and the Deputy Minister for Social Services, and their officials, responded to questions from the Committee.

5.2 The Minister agreed to:

• provide clarification of the arrangements to provide children with flu vaccinations via general practice or school, and the relevant ages when such vaccination takes place;
• provide a link to the annual report of GP practice performance against the relevant Quality Outcome Framework;
• provide further detail on the policy of offering elective treatment outside the Welsh NHS if the service does not have the capacity to deliver due to winter pressures; and
• consider undertaking a piece of work to assess the impact of delays to elective care on unscheduled care in Wales.

5.3 The Deputy Minister noted that she would provide the Committee with details of the integrated care projects underway in Wales.

5.4 The Committee agreed to write to the Minister to:

·         note that it will return to this subject during Spring/Summer 2014 in order to:

                           (i)        review progress during winter 2013/14;

                          (ii)        consider the findings of the Public Accounts Committee’s forthcoming inquiry on unscheduled care and the role of local primary care; and

                        (iii)        consider whether a wider inquiry on unscheduled care is necessary in light of points (i) and (ii).

·         request further information on how consideration will be given to providing surge capacity across the health and social care system, not hospitals alone, over the winter period; and

·         request further information on the rationale that will be adopted to distribute the additional £150 million allocated to the health and social services portfolio for the 2013-14 financial year.

Baroness Finlay of Llandaff

Veronica Snow

4.1 The Committee discussed the work of the ministerial advisory group on unscheduled care with Baroness Finlay of Llandaff and Veronica Snow from Powys Teaching Health Board.