Decision details

The Board was provided with a report from the Health and Adult Services Scrutiny Committee to agree 'in principle' the establishment of a potential joint health scrutiny committee with Sefton Metropolitan Borough Council to review proposals arising from the NHS Shaping Care Together Programme.

It was reported that this arose from the 18 September 2024 meeting of the committee where the NHS Shaping Care Together Programme was discussed. The report established that the programme aimed to improve the provision of health and care in Southport, Formby, and West Lancashire and highlighted that the next phase was to review the urgent and emergency care provision. Any proposals for service development or change were required to be presented to the relevant health scrutiny committees (Lancashire County Council and Sefton Metropolitan Borough Council) with a view to identifying whether proposals signify a 'substantial variation' to current services.

The Board was advised the committee resolved that 'in considering the information presented, the Shaping Care Together Programme be agreed a substantial variation 'in principle', with a view to more detail on proposed options presented at a future meeting'. It was confirmed that a further report would be presented to the 13 December 2024 meeting of the committee, with a view to confirming that the proposals meet the substantial variation of services criteria, which would require a joint committee to be convened in January 2025, should Sefton Metropolitan Borough Council also agree a substantial variation of services.

To facilitate the convening of a potential joint committee in January 2025, the Board was asked to consider and agree 'in principle' to the establishment of a joint health scrutiny committee with Sefton Metropolitan Borough Council, pending outcomes from both committees in December.

Resolved: That in considering the report, the establishment of a joint health scrutiny committee with Sefton Metropolitan Borough Council be agreed 'in principle'.