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The decisions as the council's minutes record them. A plain-language summary follows once it has been written.
AGREED:- That subject to the changes outlined in the report, the Committee considered the work programme attached at Appendix 1.
AGREED:- (i) That the SCWSC thanks the Chief Executive for continued openness in reporting to the Committee. (ii) That the Chief Executive passes on the Committee's sincere gratitude to all WAST staff across Wales for their dedication under challenging circumstances.
AGREED:- (i) That the Committee thanks the representatives from the Managed GP Practices for their continued engagement and the reports presented over the years. (ii) That the Committee asks the representatives to pass on its sincere appreciation to all BCUHB staff and employees across Wales for their dedication in delivering care under challenging circumstances. (iii) That the Committee looks forward to receiving the agreed joint report next year from WAST, Wrexham Maelor Hospital (A&E and Discharge), and WCBC Social Care.
Apologies were received from Councillors Beryl Blackmore, Brian Cameron, Krista Childs, Jeremy Kent, Malcom King OBE, and Claire Lovett.
AGREED: That the minutes of the meeting held on 13 May 2025 be signed as a correct record.
Decision as recorded
AGREED:- That subject to the changes outlined in the report, the Committee considered the work programme attached at Appendix 1.
The Chief Officer for Governance and Customer submitted a report inviting Members to consider the draft work programme of the Safeguarding, Communities and Wellbeing Scrutiny Committee, as set out in Appendix 1. The Scrutiny Facilitator introduced the report and provided the following overview: • The Committee has now reached the conclusion of its 2024/25 Work Programme • During the summer and into September, officers will engage with relevant departments to identify appropriate topics and scheduling for the 2025/26 Work Programme • A draft programme for 2025/26 will be compiled and presented to the Committee for consideration at its September meeting • The July meeting represents the final session under the current programme cycle. • In line with established practice, the Committee received annual reports from Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board and the Welsh Ambulance Service. AGREED:- That subject to the changes outlined in the report, the Committee considered the work programme attached at Appendix 1.
Decision as recorded
AGREED:- (i) That the SCWSC thanks the Chief Executive for continued openness in reporting to the Committee. (ii) That the Chief Executive passes on the Committee's sincere gratitude to all WAST staff across Wales for their dedication under challenging circumstances.
The Chair welcomed the Chief Executive of the Welsh Ambulance Service, who delivered a presentation covering: · Emergency Medical Services: Performance (BCU Red indicators) and resource availability · Hospital Handovers: Impact of lost hours · Incident Reviews: SCIF data reported to the Health Board under the Joint Investigation Framework · Strategic Planning: New approaches to managing 999 demand · Service Transformation: Updates to the clinical model for Winter 2024/25 and implementation from 01 July 2025. The following was discussed:- · Only regional data was available at the meeting; site-specific figures can be shared separately. · Response time target for purple arrest cases has improved to six–seven minutes, reflecting better prioritisation and triage. · Betsi Cadwaladr area has yet to see handover improvements seen elsewhere; plans are in place to reduce all delays to under 45 minutes by October · Members praised ambulance staff for their commitment under difficult conditions. · National response targets vary across regions due to geography; some cases have received help in under 90 seconds. · Violence against ambulance staff was rising, with a 15% increase in assaults across the UK. Preventative measures and body-worn cameras are in development, with support from Welsh Government and unions. · Staff morale continues to be affected by delayed handovers and late shift finishes, impacting wellbeing and skill development. · Rural areas and national parks present access challenges, but they don’t significantly increase case volume. · Air ambulances and Mountain Rescue coordinate closely for appropriate incidents. · Patients arriving by private transport were triaged equally; mode of arrival does not affect priority. · Sickness rates peaked during summer months but have improved since post-pandemic levels, supported by wellbeing programmes. AGREED:- (i) That the SCWSC thanks the Chief Executive for continued openness in reporting to the Committee. (ii) That the Chief Executive passes on the Committee's sincere gratitude to all WAST staff across Wales for their dedication under challenging circumstances.
Decision as recorded
AGREED:- (i) That the Committee thanks the representatives from the Managed GP Practices for their continued engagement and the reports presented over the years. (ii) That the Committee asks the representatives to pass on its sincere appreciation to all BCUHB staff and employees across Wales for their dedication in delivering care under challenging circumstances. (iii) That the Committee looks forward to receiving the agreed joint report next year from WAST, Wrexham Maelor Hospital (A&E and Discharge), and WCBC Social Care.
The Chief Officer for Governance and Customer submitted a report (COGC/54/25) asking Members to consider an update on the measures put in place to address the problems being experienced when trying to access General Practitioner (GP) across areas of the Wrexham County Borough. Representatives from Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board attended the meeting: · Paula Smith – Head of Service, Managed Practices. · Dr Bisola Ekwueme – Primary Care Medical Director for Flintshire and Wrexham. · Sarah Lloyd-Hughes – Primary Care Programme Manager. The presentation covered the following areas: · Wrexham Managed Practices. · Pen y Maes Health Centre: Access, Appointments, and Incoming Calls (2024/25). · Beechley Medical Centre: Appointments and Incoming Calls (2024/25). · Hillcrest Medical Centre: Access and Appointments. · Patient Experience: National Survey and Patient Participation Groups. · Managing Increased Demand in the Local Area. · Urgent Primary Care. · GP Recruitment. · Skills, Education and Training Hub. Key points raised during discussion: · The DNA (Did Not Attend) rate for appointments at managed practices was reported at 10.69%, notably higher than the national average of 4–5%. · Current efforts included SMS appointment reminders with cancellation options, and further work was planned to reduce non-attendance. · Hillcrest Medical Centre did not currently have an online booking system; the issue will be reviewed and a response provided. · Figures showing 91,000 incoming calls to 33,000 appointments prompted questions on patient access. · An audit of call patterns will be carried out, and findings will be shared in future reports. · Only three practices were directly managed by the Health Board. The remainder operated independently as GMS contractors and are not obliged to share full data, although some information is provided through quality assurance mechanisms. · Service standards at GMS practices were monitored through the Common Assessment Framework, which captures data on patient access and experience. · It was noted that DNA rates vary locally, with one practice reporting a lower rate of 3–4%. · Members requested updates on Cefn and Hamner surgeries. · A second porta cabin has been provided for Hamner surgery, but further detail was limited due to a live consultation linked with Penley Hospital. A response on Cefn Health Centre was requested by 18 July. · Next year’s joint report will involve Wrexham Maelor Hospital (A&E and Discharge), Welsh Ambulance Service, and Wrexham Social Care. A topic request form will be submitted before Christmas. · Concerns were raised regarding long phone wait times and patient confidentiality within waiting rooms. · It was confirmed that practices aim to uphold privacy and that patients may request a preferred doctor, including by gender, subject to availability. AGREED:- (i) That the Committee thanks the representatives from the Managed GP Practices for their continued engagement and the reports presented over the years. (ii) That the Committee asks the representatives to pass on its sincere appreciation to all BCUHB staff and employees across Wales for their dedication in delivering care under challenging circumstances. (iii) That the Committee looks forward to receiving the agreed joint report next year from WAST, Wrexham Maelor Hospital (A&E and Discharge), and WCBC Social Care.
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