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 provides information on performance across the year and identifies the priorities for improvement during the forthcoming year. The purpose of Quality Accounts was to ensure providers were assessing the quality of service they provide and working to continuously improve this, focussing particularly on:

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

The report further informed that for those Trusts providing services within the geographical area of a local authority, Health Overview and Scrutiny Committees were given the opportunity to comment on the Trusts’ draft Quality Accounts prior to publication of the final document.

The Chair confirmed that a Task and Finish Group had been established, comprising the Chair and Party Spokespersons of the Committee and that an initial meeting date had been set for 7 May 2019.

Resolved – That 

(1)  the Task and Finish Group, comprising the Chair and Party Spokespersons review the draft Quality Accounts of the local health partners;

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