Agenda and minutes

To note the attendance at this meeting of any duly appointed Reserve Members.

RESOLVED:  To note that there were no Reserve Members in attendance.

To receive declarations of disclosable pecuniary or non pecuniary interests, arising from business to be transacted at this meeting, from all Members present.

RESOLVED:  To note that the declaration of interests, which had been published on the Council website, be taken as read and that no further declarations were made during the course of the meeting.

That the minutes of the meeting held on 20 June 2023 be taken as read and signed as a correct record.

RESOLVED:  That the minutes of the meeting held on 20 June 2023, be taken as read and signed as a correct record.

To note any public questions received.

Questions will be asked in the order in which they were received.  There will be a time limit of 15 minutes for the asking and answering of public questions.

[The deadline for receipt of public questions is 3.00 pm, 7 December 2023.  Questions should be sent to publicquestions@harrow.gov.uk   

No person may submit more than one question].

RESOLVED:  To note that no public questions had been received.

To receive petitions (if any) submitted by members of the public/Councillors.

RESOLVED:  To note that no petitions had been received.

To receive any references from Council and/or other Committees or Panels.

RESOLVED:  To note that no references from Council or other committees/Panels had been received.

Report of Borough Director Harrow Mental Health

The Sub-Committee received the Harrow Health and Care System Pressures report from Hugh Caslake on behalf of Lisa Henschen, Managing Director Harrow Borough Based Partnership.

The report contained a schedule of metrics that was used by the local health and care system to monitor pressure within the system and to plan remedial action.  The Partnership’s 2023/24 winter planning had included the development of an expanded list of metrics that would inform the system’s response to increased demand during the winter period.  The second part of the report focused on ‘The Place’ plan for Harrow during the winter of 2023/24.

The report also highlighted that average Covid cases remained below 20 at Northwick Park Hospital, while A&E attendances and non-elective admissions were currently above the average for last winter.  While London Ambulance Service handover delays over 60mins had reduced to zero following a change in approach from June 2023, there had been a sharp increase in 12 hour waits in A&E.  Hospital discharges in the most recent weeks from Northwick Park Hospital were 655 against an average over the last year of 503, while the number of patients leaving hospital requiring social care support in October (147) was lower than last year’s winter average (178).  Although the number of patients discharged from hospital requiring social care support had not increased since 2019/20, the number continuing to receive support in 2022/23 and 2023/24 had increased from fewer than 100 to approximately 300.

The second part of the report focused on Harrow’s Winter Plans which included the prevention and community winter wellness stream that covers warm hubs, flu and Covid vaccination and engaging local communities.  Care Home Support had been seen as a key focus of preventing winter admissions through community-based support, alongside improved asthma reviews, screening of asylum seekers, increasing pharmacy capacity with regards to consultation and prescription for minor ailments, as well as proactive frailty management.  Other aspects explored included in-hospital care, discharge pathways as well as an associated winter action plan.

Mitigations to system risks to the winter plan included ensuring CLCH was commissioned to provide discharge to assess community rehabilitation provision, addressing under-utilisation of beds and delayed discharges, managing cross NWL and NCL arrangements for discharge support, and securing a stoma care pathway for Harrow.

Members asked the following questions:

Members wanted more clarification as to why the number was so high for unscheduled care in Northwick Park A&E.  The officer explained that the A&E department at Northwick Park is one of the busiest and largest in London.  In addition, it had a stroke unit within the hospital.

A Member also sought clarification on the number of discharges compared to the previous year, discharges in the most recent week from Northwick Park Hospital (NPH) were 655 against an average over the last year of 503.  Officers advised that the hospital staff were working faster with the number of patients coming in and the fixed number of beds.

Members also wanted to know what percentage  ...  view the full minutes text for item 48.

Report of the Borough Director Harrow Mental Health

This item was deferred until the next meeting.

Which cannot otherwise be dealt with.

RESOLVED:  That there was none.