[tim gilling]

Leanne

It will be interesting to see the priorities that colleagues identify. As you have a combined committee for health and adult care, the scope is huge.

Clearly the transitional period in relation to the health reforms is crucial and I'd urge your committee to engage extensively in relationship building with the new consortia and the health and well-being board. This will help to ensure that robust but constructive scrutiny and accountability arrangements are at the heart of the new systems, especially in the governance of consortia. It is also worth keeping an eye on the funding for LINks and local healthwatch.

I would also urge the committee to look at some of the fundamental aspects that remain whatever reforms take place - the pledges/rights in the NHS Constitution, dignity respect and human rights, readiness for the ageing society and health inequalities. These are all topics we have examined recently in our regional health events.

Hope that helps

[Earl Piggott-Smith]

hi leanne, I support both health and the adults & community scrutiny panels and there is already agreement from all members of the need to work together more closely as the issues you refer to are both relevant to current remit.

I would look at either having special meetings to brief all members on current progress and to agree which panel to lead on a specific area of work. A copy of each work programme will be shared with members of both panels to help keep them informed.

I would suggest that given you think about agreeing a list of specific topics for the year which would allow members to be updated on the current position but also to consider the local implications of what is being planned or proposed.

I would also think about building links with other scrutiny panels in your region, particularly issues about GP commissioning plans which in some cases may not be co-terminus with council boundaries,which adds another level of complication. I think that it should be used as an opportunity to build links with neighbouring authorities and to work together on common issues.

The difficulty at the moment is the lack of detail in some of the proposals and the exent to which some of the ideas will get through the palimentary process.

Hope this helps.