Agenda and draft minutes

Public Services Scrutiny Committee - Monday, 14th October, 2024 10.00 am

Venue: Council Chamber, County Hall, The Rhadyr USK. View directions

Media

Items
No. Item

1.

Declarations of Interest

Minutes:

None received.

2.

Public Open Forum

Select Committee Public Open Forum ~ Guidance

 

Our Select Committee meetings are live streamed and a link to the live stream will be available on the meeting page of the Monmouthshire County Council website

 

If you would like to share your thoughts on any proposals being discussed by Select Committees, you can submit your representation via this form

 

·      Please share your views by uploading a video or audio file (maximum of 4 minutes) or;

·      Please submit a written representation (via Microsoft Word, maximum of 500 words)

 

You will need to register for a My Monmouthshire account in order to submit the representation or use your log in, if you have registered previously.

 

The deadline for submitting representations to the Council is 5pm three clear working days in advance of the meeting.

 

If representations received exceed 30 minutes, a selection of these based on theme will be shared at the Select Committee meeting.  All representations received will be made available to councillors prior to the meeting.


If you would like to suggest future topics for scrutiny by one of our Select Committees, please do so by emailing
Scrutiny@monmouthshire.gov.uk

 

Minutes:

No public present.

 

3.

Dentistry Services

To invite the health board to discuss dentistry services and take members' questions.

Minutes:

Lloyd Hambridge, Divisional Director of Primary Care and Community Services at Aneurin Bevan University Health Board (ABUHB) provided an update on dentistry together with Rachel Prangley, Interim Head of Primary Care at ABUHB. Prior to answering Members’ questions, Lloyd highlighted the key current challenges of NHS Dentistry in Wales and focussed on the efforts the Health Board is taking to address them, as follows:

 

  • Significant challenges due to the ongoing impact of COVID-19 and the necessary infection prevention control measures.

 

  • Sustainability challenges related to workforce and recruitment issues, which the Health Board is attempting to address through a dedicated sustainability board and action plan.

 

  • General Dental Services and Community Dental Services, general dental services being commissioned through independent contractors under the National Health Service contractual regulations of 2006.

 

  • In Monmouth, there are 10 NHS General Dental contracts operating across nine sites, with a mix of the older UDA contract and the newer contractual reform introduced in 2022.

 

  • The Health Board has faced several contract resignations over the past few years but has managed to continue providing NHS dental care through new providers and re-provisioning existing contracts.
  • The Health Board is investing in dental services, including significant funding for the Tredegar Health and Well-being Centre and the Newport East Health and Well-being development.

 

  • Community Dental Services provide care for vulnerable children and adults, including those in care homes, special schools, and other at-risk groups, supported by an oral health promotion team.

 

  • The Health Board supports preventative dental programs such as Gwên am Byth for care home residents and Designed to Smile for children, focusing on toothbrushing and fluoride varnish applications.

 

  • In response to feedback, Welsh Government and Digital Health and Care Wales are developing a Dental Access Portal to centralize demand data and improve access to dental services.

 

Key points raised by Members:

 

  • A member asked about the extent of preventative work for young people, children, people with disabilities, and older people, and whether it is extensive across the region, referring to a figure of 400 children.

Lloyd advised that the health board is tasked with implementing the nationally agreed contract, which includes a shift from the old model of routine six-month visits to a risk-based assessment model known as ACORN. This new model aims to ensure that the right people are seen at the right time.

 

  • The member inquired if the change in the dental provision model was the reason for the observed differences and whether better communication about the changes could have helped in understanding the new model.


Lloyd confirmed that the shift to the new model was part of the contract reform that started in 2022. He acknowledged that better communication could have helped in understanding the reasons for the change.

 

  • The Member asked if the ACORN assessment was the reason why many NHS dental practices were going out of business.

Lloyd clarified that the practices did not go out of business but stopped providing NHS services, making a business decision to provide alternative services as independent contractors.  ...  view the full minutes text for item 3.

4.

Public Services Scrutiny Committee's Forward Work Programme and Action List pdf icon PDF 440 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

 

The following were suggested as topics for potential inclusion into the forward work programme:

 

·       Hold a workshop with the Police on County Lines

·       Investigate drug-related deaths in Monmouthshire and the impact of synthetic drugs

·       Violence and Women ~ Scrutinize the delivery of the Gwent perpetrator assessment and the impact of inappropriate sexual behaviour among 10-17 year-olds.  Address the increase in misogyny in schools, including the influence of figures like Andrew Tate.

·       Flood Risk Management ~ Jointly with Place Scrutiny Committee, inviting National Resources Wales

  • Public Transport and Accessibility: Assess the impact of dental service relocations on public transport accessibility for residents.

·       Update on the flying start ~ Update on the collaboration between health visitors and Sure Start, including changes in reporting structures and service provision.

·       Request a comprehensive health update from Aneurin Bevan University Health Board (ABUHB), covering:

§  Holistic approach to supporting older people.

§  Primary and secondary care integration.

§  Resource, nurses, doctors, sustainability and retention.

§  Communication with the public on service provision.

§  Preventative services, colon tests, jabs.

§  Updates on specific projects like the Neville Hall Velindre satellite.

§  The uptake of preventative measures like vaccinations, especially among children.

§  Adult Mental Health Services ~ adult suicide

§  Care for people in the community with dementia, family support services.

·       Community Policing

·       Invite the Integrated Strategic Partnership Board to discuss dentistry and the flow of funds.

 

 

5.

Cabinet and Council Work Planner pdf icon PDF 239 KB

Minutes:

The planner was noted.

 

6.

To confirm the minutes of the Special meeting held on 25th July 2024 pdf icon PDF 249 KB

Minutes:

The Chair proposed the minutes be accepted, which was seconded by Councillor Howells.

 

7.

To note the date and time of the next meeting: 9th December 2024

Minutes:

The date and time of the next formal meeting was noted as 10th February 2025 at 10am, however, the Committee agreed to hold an informal workshop on County Lines with the Police on 9th December 2024, to which all elected members would be invited.