Health Overview & Scrutiny Committee

The Council has appointed a Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee to discharge the functions conferred on the Council by statute to review and scrutinise, and receive referrals in connection with, any matter relating to the planning, provision and operation of the health service in its area and such other matters as are identified below.   In fulfilling its defined role, as well as reviewing documentation, the Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee will have the right to request information or to hold direct discussions with appropriate officers from NHS Mid and South Essex Trust, ICB or any other health-related body whose actions impact upon the City of Southend-on-Sea.   The Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee will have the following roles and functions:   ·         to review and scrutinise the totality of local services planned and provided including the work of the Health and Wellbeing Board as part of their wider responsibility to seek health improvements and reduce health inequalities for their area and its inhabitants; ·         to refer contested proposals for major service changes to the Secretary of State; ·         to scrutinise the social care services provided or commissioned by NHS bodies exercising local authority functions under section 31 of the Health Act 1999; ·         to review or scrutinise health services commissioned or delivered in the Council’s area within the framework set out below:   a)    arrangements to secure hospital and community health services to the inhabitants of the Council’s area; b)    the provision of such services to those inhabitants; c)    the provision of family health services, personal medical services, personal dental services, pharmacy and NHS ophthalmic services; d)    the public health arrangements in the area; e.g. arrangements for the surveillance of, and response to, outbreaks of communicable disease or the provision of specialist health promotion services; e)    the planning of health services, including plans made in co-operation with local authorities setting out a strategy for improving both the health of the local population and the provision of health care to that population; and f)     the arrangements made by NHS bodies for consulting and involving patients and the public;   ·         to review and scrutinise the totality of local services including social services, planned and provided as part of their wider responsibilities to seek health improvements and reduce health inequalities; and

  ·         to act as consultee to an NHS body within the remitted area on issues of:   a)    substantial developments of the health service in the Council’s area; and b)    any proposals to make any substantial variation to the provision of such services.