Councillor B. Rice, Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care and Health, introduced the report and, in doing so, highlighted some of the key achievements and successes of the Portfolio despite the challenging budget savings, which included:

·         Adult Social Care was the largest part of the Portfolio, which amounted to 40% of the General Fund, however spending had been continuously refused over the last few years;

·         People were living for longer, this meant that the number of people living with Dementia were also increasing between 5-10% per annum;

·         The Rapid Response and Assessment Team (RRAS) had seen an increase in demand for the service since 2012, including over 300 referrals received each month;

·         The RRAS had expended and now included COPD and dementia expertise. The team continued to perform beyond expectation with less than 2% of service users being admitted to Hospital;

·         The Health and Well-being Overview and Scrutiny Committee were looking into GPs Practices with the NHS to help improve the services offered to residents.

Members questioned the Cabinet Member and received responses as follows:

·         Councillor Ojetola commented that he submitted a motion in 2013 with regards to GP’s (General Practitioners) in Chafford Hundred, and requested an update.

The Cabinet Member explained that a meeting had been held with NHS England with regards to GP surgeries across the borough; however they had to work on a priority basis.

·         Councillor Halden enquired if, following the Cabinet Member’s reference to issues with GP practices, she agreed that there needed to be a way to ’weed out’ the poor services being offered to residents.

The Cabinet Member informed Councillor Halden the CQC investigated GP practices if they were not providing an acceptable service. She reported that a national scheme was also in place.

·         Councillor Baldwin queried as to why it took up to 10 weeks to see an Occupational Therapist.

The Cabinet Member reported that nationally there was a shortage of Occupational Therapists as there were not enough people within the profession and the degree took 4 years to complete.

·         Councillor Worrall asked the Cabinet Member to comment on the doctor’s surgeries in Tilbury.

The Cabinet Member informed the Chamber that there was to be a public meeting which Councillor Worrall would be invited to as a Ward Councillor, along with the CQC and Adult Social Care officers.

·         Councillor Gledhill thanked the Cabinet Member for her report and congratulated her on the success of the RRAS.

The Cabinet Member thanked Councillor Gledhill and confirmed that she had been working with the Health and Well-being Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

·         Councillor V. Holloway asked for clarification on the demand on services, given the circumstances with the Mental Health Welfare.

The Cabinet Member confirmed that there had been more demand on all services with most being under pressure. She continued that the service was not poor however it was not brilliant either; it was a challenging climate.

The Cabinet Member summed up the report by informing the Chamber that Ian Wake had been appointed as Director and praised the good work and dedication of the departments she worked with.