Scrutiny Committees represent
the interests of local people about important issues that affect
them. They look at how the decisions, policies and services of the
Council and other key public agencies impact on the area and on
residents. Scrutiny Committees do not take decisions but can make
recommendations to decision-makers about how they are delivering on
objectives.
Scrutinises any matter relating
to the planning, provision and operation of health services in the
County, including Ambulance Trusts and the policies of the
Strategic Health Authority. The aim is to act as a lever to improve
the health of local people, ensuring that the needs of the local
people are considered as an integral part of the delivery and
development of health services.
·
To focus on action to achieve health
improvement;
·
To examine health care in the context of the wider
determinants of health;
·
To examine how health services address the needs of
local communities;
·
To especially address health
inequalities;
·
To ensure that local health and health related
issues are being tackled jointly and in a co-ordinated way across
agencies;
·
To contribute to the annual health checks by
providing commentaries to the Health Care Commission on the
performance of NHS Trusts serving North Yorkshire and on the
experiences that the Committee has had with those
Trusts.