To receive a verbal update from the Outside Body Appointee.

The Chairman referred Members to the briefing papers from Councillor Jill Makinson-Sanders, the Outside Body Appointee to the Health Scrutiny Committee (HSC) for Lincolnshire following its Meeting held on 11th September 2024, pages 65 to 68 of the Agenda refer and a further report which was tabled following the Meeting held on 9th October 2024, (a copy is attached at Appendix B to the Minutes),

The Outside Body Appointee highlighted concerns in relation to the review of the Urgent Treatment Centres where it was being considered that Skegness and Louth would not have an overnight service and that other options were being explored to enable the best use of staff.   The Outside Body Appointee further highlighted the disadvantages of having no overnight service and the challenges East Lindsey residents faced in travelling to and from hospitals further away and stressed that considerations to change overnight services needed further monitoring.

In relation to the targeted Lung Health Checks, the Outside Body Appointee advised Members that people between the ages of 55 and 74 that had smoked 100 cigarettes or more in their lifetime were entitled to a free lung health check to detect any issues early as a preventive measure.

Members were invited to put their comments and questions forward on the paper from the Meeting held on 11th September 2024.

·         Members commented in support of the report.

·         The Chairman queried  at what location individuals would be able to take up the offer of free lung health checks.  In response, the Outside Body Appointee advised Members that information would be contained in sign up letters and that people who had historically smoked and quit were still being encouraged to participate. 

·         The Chairman commented on concerns with the overnight closures of Urgent Treatment Centres which would increase pressures on hospitals and requested that information was circulated through Members’ Point Brief to raise awareness.

·         A Member queried whether staffing Louth Urgent Treatment Centre for the small number of patients seen overnight was a good use of expenditure.  In response, the Outside Body Appointee advised Members that staff numbers had reduced following COVID which had led to overnight closures and people had become unsure whether centres had returned to overnight opening.  The Outside Body Appointee further advised Members that urgent treatment centres saved lives when people were unable to reach a main hospital.

·         Members praised the services provided at Louth Urgent Treatment Centre.

·         The Chairman commented that awareness should continue to be raised and that more people should be encouraged to visit the Urgent Treatment Centres in Louth and Skegness.

·         A Member queried whether the Campus for Future Living in Mablethorpe was discussed at HSC Meetings.   In response, the Outside Body Appointee confirmed that the Campus for Future Living had not been discussed.

Members were invited to put their comments and questions forward on the paper from the Meeting held on 9th October 2024.

·         In reference to the construction of Norton Lea Mental Health Unit at Boston, a Member raised a concern with the safety of patients by implementing a 19-bed mixed gender adult in-patient Ward.  In response, the Outside Body Appointee advised Members that the Ward was expected to be sufficiently staffed.

·         In reference to cancer diagnosed at ULHT Hospitals, a Member queried whether the figures were reported on an annual basis.  In response, the Outside Body Appointee confirmed that the figures reported were from January to December 2023 and that the figures could be examined on a month-by-month basis on the NHS website.

·         In relation to Section 106 funding, a Member queried whether a response had been received to the Chairman’s letter to the Secretary of State.  In response, the Outside Body Appointee advised Members that a response was awaited.

No further comments or questions were received.

The Chairman thanked the Outside Body Appointee for her valuable contribution on reporting back from the HSC.