About the Committee

The Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee has a statutory responsibility regarding matters related to Health. Swindon's Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee is responsible for reviewing, scrutinising and reporting on NHS services and organisations.  The Committee is also responsible for overseeing the local authority's role in the promotion of health and well being, including Adult Social Care Services and Leisure and Recreation Services.

Role of Councillors

Health Overview and Scrutiny needs to be viewed in the wider context of the role of Councillors, who are democratically elected community leaders, with the power to act to promote the economic and social well-being of the borough.  This power helps Swindon Borough Council build on existing health partnerships and tackle causes of ill-health and health inequalities throughout Swindon.

Get Involved

You can receive further guidance on the Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee, and on how to participate in meetings where you can ask any questions you might have, by contacting us.

The Guide to Health Scrutiny also provides more information about the Committee's statutory responsibilities.  Please click on the above link to download the PDF document.

Key Responsibilities of Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee

The Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee can scrutinise any Strategic Health Authority, Primary Care Trust, or NHS body that provides for people in Swindon.  The key responsibilities of the Committee include:

• Ensuring that local NHS bodies provide any information the Committee reasonably requires (excluding information about individuals). NHS staff can be required to attend meetings to provide information to the Committee;
• Making reports with recommendations to Council and NHS bodies.  If requested, the NHS bodies must respond within 28 days;
• Ensuring that the proper consultation process is adhered to by NHS bodies, regarding proposals for substantial development or variation of NHS services, which could affect the people of Swindon;
• Referring a decision or issue regarding a proposed substantial development or variation in services to the Secretary of State for Health, if the Committee is not satisfied with the merits for change, or if it considers there has been inadequate consultation;
• Reviewing, scrutinising and developing policy recommendations in relation to Health, Adult Social Care and Leisure and Recreation;
• Managing performance and monitoring progress against corporate policies in relation to Health, Adult Social Care and Leisure and Creation;
• Scrutinising the Healthy Communities and Older People Block of the Local Area Agreement;
• Carrying out collaborative working with other local authority Health Overview and Scrutiny Committees, as and when required.

Meetings

Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee meetings take place at 6.00 pm and are usually held in Committee Room 6 of the Council Offices.  For further information on dates and meetings, Committee Members, agendas and minutes of meetings, please click on the link below:

Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee

Previous Reports

Maternity Services Review

Modernising Mental Health Care for Older Adults in Swindon (November 2004)

GP and NHS Dentistry Provision Review

Health Overview and Scrutiny Work Programme

All Overview and Scrutiny Committees have a work programme which details the topics they will be investigating during the year.  This can alter throughout the year, in order to allow it to respond to any emerging issues of particular concern.  For further details regarding the Work Programme, please contact us.

Great Western Ambulance Joint Health Scrutiny Committee

Swindon is a member of the Great Western Ambulance Joint Health Scrutiny Committee, which was established in February 2008, to scrutinise the performance of the Great Western Ambulance NHS Trust.  The Trust provides emergency response and patient transport services in the Avon, Gloucester and Wiltshire areas.

The Committee

The Committee comprises respresentatives from the following local authority Health Overview and Scrutiny Committees:

• Bristol City Council
• Gloucestershire County Council
• North Somerset Council
• South Gloucestershire Council
• Swindon Borough Council
• Wiltshire County Council

It has the same statutory powers as an individual local authority Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee, specifically in relation to issues regarding the Great Western Ambulance NHS Trust.

Documentation

Please click on this link to view agendas and minutes for the Great Western Ambulance Joint Health and Safety Committee.

Meetings

Committee meetings are held in public and the venue rotates between the participating local authorities.  For more information, please contact us.