The Chair introduced her report that informed that providers of NHS healthcare services in England, including the independent sector, were required to publish an annual Quality Account. The Quality Account provided information on performance across the year and identified the priorities for improvement during the forthcoming year and how those priorities will be achieved and measured, focussing particularly on:

• Patient Experience;
• Safety; and
• Clinical Effectiveness.

For those Trusts providing services within the geographical area of the Local Authority, Health Overview and Scrutiny Committees were given opportunity to comment on the Trusts’ draft Quality Accounts, prior to publication of the final document. The Chair’s report informed that although the Health Trusts have a duty to consult with Overview and Scrutiny Committees regarding the draft Quality Account, it was not mandatory for the Committee to formally respond. However, in order to hold health providers to account, to do so was regarded as good practice.

The Chair informed Members that having discussed the matter with the Vice-Chair and the Committee’s Party Spokespersons it had been decided that with the Committee’s agreement, a task and Finish Group comprising of the two Spokespersons, the Chair and Vice-Chair be established to review the draft Quality Accounts. 

Mr Simon Banks, Chief Officer NHS Wirral CCG offered support to the Adult Care and Health OSC in reviewing NHS provider Quality Accounts. He suggested that Lorna Quigley, as Director of Quality & Patient Safety would be best placed to assist Members in their task.

Resolved – That

(1)  a Task and Finish Group be established to enable Scrutiny Members to review the draft Quality Accounts of the local health partners;

(2)  the Task and Finish Group membership comprise of the Adult Care and Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee Party Spokespersons, the Chair and Vice-Chair; and

(3)  the Task and Finish Group Chair be authorised to approve the final wording of the responses to the Health Trusts.