Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from County Borough Councillors, J Barton, H Boggis, J Bonetto, A Calvert, A Chapman, A Cox, J Elliott, Sera Evans, S Evans, A S Fox, E George, E Griffiths, J Harries, G Hopkins, L Hooper, G Hughes, J James, K Jones, M Fidler Jones, R Lewis, M Powell, S M Powell, S Rees-Owen, G Stacey, E Stephens, W Treeby, M Tegg, S Trask, R Turner, E Webster, J Williams and R Williams.

To receive disclosures of personal interests from Members in accordance with the Code of Conduct

1.     Members are requested to identify the item number and subject that their interest relates to and signify the nature of the personal interest;and

2.     Where Members withdraw from a meeting as a consequence of the disclosure of prejudicial interest they must notify the Chairman when theyleave.

In accordance with the Council’s Code of Conduct, the following declarations were made pertaining to the agenda:

County Borough Councillor G Caple – “My son is a doctor at the Prince Charles Hospital”

County Borough Councillor P Jarman – “I am a former member of Cwm Taf LHB”

County Borough Councillor R Yeo – “My wife works for Cwm Taf UHB in Prince Charles Hospital”

County Borough Councillor J Davies – “I work for Cwm Taf Morgannwg UHB”

County Borough Councillor L M Adams - “My wife is in receipt of an NHS pension having worked for the Health Board for 37 years”

County Borough Councillor M Forey – “I was an independent member on the Health Board for 3 years”

County Borough Councillor K Morgan – “ I am employed by the Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board”

To receive representatives from Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board, providing Members with an update in respect of Covid recovery, elective recovery programme, Maternity Services and other key work of the Board.

The Chairman of the Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board, Mr Emrys Elias introduced himself and four members of the Executive team, Mr P Mears, Chief Executive, Dr Kelechi Noaham, Director of Public Health, Mr Greg Dix, Director of Nursing and Mr Gareth Robinson, Chief Operating Officer.

Through the aid of Power point slides the Chief Executive of the Cwm Taf University Health Board., Mr Paul Mears, presented an overview of key matters under the following headings:

• Covid Update,
• Elective/ Planned Care Recovery Programme,
• Maternity & Neonatal Services

In addition to the matters included on the Power Point presentation, the Chief Executive advised on the current hospital visiting arrangements across all the hospital services which have been implemented in line with the National Guidance. He added that there is a red, amber and green status for visiting, currently the Cwm Taf University Health Board is adhering to the red status with restricted visiting although that is currently being reviewed as the transmission rates within the hospital reduce. From a maternity perspective, visiting has continued with birth partners attending dating scans although visiting to post-natal wards has been restricted to mitigate transmission from external visitors to new mothers and babies.

The Chief Operating Officer also provided an update on the minor injury unit at Ysbyty Cwm Cynon which has experienced a sustainability issue as two of the four nursing staff are currently on long-term sick, therefore the service has been consolidated into Prince Charles Hospital so it can operate more effectively and consistently. It is hoped the unit will re-open in the New year when the staff will resume their duties.

The Leader of the Council thanked members of the Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board for their presentation and for their close working relationship with the local authority throughout covid-19 particularly within the social care sector which is under huge pressure. The Leader acknowledged the good will of everyone despite the short-term staff shortages and the difficulties experienced at the moment.

The Leader referred to the latest report from the Independent Maternity Oversight Panel which found major failings in over 20 cases and stated that he felt vindicated about speaking up at the time and felt he had been lied to with regards to the failings regarding those cases where a different outcome could have been achieved had it not been for the staff shortages and failures to report serious incidents.The Leader sought confirmation as to whether all the recommendations raised as a result of the review had been addressed. He commended the current leadership and executive team at the Cwm Taf University Health Board for the actions they have undertaken to address the issues.

The Chief Executive of the Cwm Taf UHB confirmed that the immediate ‘make safe’s’ have all been actioned and he advised that the Independent Maternity Oversight Panel had been commissioned directly by the Cwm Taf UHB as they felt that the neonatal services were not functioning at the required level. He added that following  ...  view the full minutes text for item 80.