Agenda item - Public Health Nursing: Update Report

47.1    This item was introduced by Kerry Clarke, Public Health  Commissioner for children, youth and PH schools, Families, Children and Learning; Caroline Parker, Head of Service, Early Years & Family Support; and Emma Cockerell, Head of Services: MASH.

47.2    The Chair pointed out that the Recommendation at 3.2 contained an error where it stated that “the Health and Wellbeing Board delegates powers to the Director of Public Health to extend the contract at the end for three year term with the potential to extend the contract a further two years if he deems it appropriate and subject to the budget being available.”  Cllr Yates proposed that the wording be amended to read: “That the Health and Wellbeing Board delegates powers to the Director of Public Health to extend the contract at the end of the three year term, with the potential to extend the contract a further two years if he deems it appropriate and subject to the budget being available.” This amendment was seconded by Cllr Norman and approved by the Board. 

47.3    In response to a question from Cllr Page as to why the council had gone to tender, Geoff Raw explained that this had been deemed necessary by the council’s lawyers. To do otherwise would have risked being challenged by potential providers. The Chair noted that West Sussex County Council was also going out to tender for this contract. Cllr Page queried why the Sussex Patient Transport Services (PTS) contract had been re-let to South Central Ambulance Trust without going through a tender process. The Chair explained that this was just a short-term measure and that in the longer term the PTS contract would be taken out to tender.

47.4  RESOLVED – That:

(1)   the Health and Wellbeing Board accepts the recommendation that the Public Health Community Nursing Services, Children and Young People aged 0-19 contract is awarded to Sussex Community NHS Foundation Trust (SCFT) at a value not exceeding £14.1m over a three year period, subject to the Director of Public Health being satisfied that the clarifications requested have been received and are satisfactory and have been incorporated into the mobilisation plan.

(2)  the Health and Wellbeing Board delegates powers to the Director of Public Health to extend the contract at the end of the three year term with the potential to extend the contract a further two years if he deems it appropriate and subject to the budget being available.