Agenda item

The following items will be considered:

 

·         A presentation on Local Health Priorities

 

·         The White Paper on Health and Care (a copy of which can be found here and the LGA’s response to the White Paper here) and implications for the Frimley Health Care system. A copy of a letter from the Council Leaders at Hart, Rushmoor and Surrey Heath to the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care in relation to the Integrated Care System consultation is also attached for reference.

 

Representatives from the Frimley Clinical Commissioning Group will be in attendance.

The Board, welcomed the following representatives from the Frimley Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG):

 

·         Kathy Atkinson – Lay Board Member, Frimley Clinical Commissioning Group

·         Stephen Clarke - Clinical Lead NE Hants Farnham CCG and General Practitioner (GP), Branksomewood Healthcare Centre, Fleet

·         Oliver White – System and Finance Performance Director, Integrated Care System (ICS)

·         Russell Swart – Primary Care Network (PCN) Clinical Director (Farnborough) and GP, Giffard Drive Surgery, Farnborough

·         Louise Payne – PCN Clinical Director (Aldershot) and GP Princes Gardens Surgery, Aldershot

·         Alice Earl – PCN Clinical Director (Farnborough) and GP, Southwood Surgery, Farnborough

 

Ms Atkinson, explained the NE Hants and Farnham CCG geography. It was noted that the original five local CCG’s had come together on 1st April 2021 to establish the Frimley CCG. However, in February 2021, a government white paper had been published on the future of the NHS. The paper covered the future direction and structure of the NHS and proposed to absorb the current CCG’s into ICS’s bringing the work of the providers and commissions together. It was noted that the paper was due to go through Parliament later in summer 2021, and the newly formed ICS’s becoming statutory from 1st April 2022.

 

The assumption within the white paper had been that all ICSs’ would be coterminous with county boundaries. Frimley CCG currently straddled Berkshire, Hampshire and Surrey county boundaries and therefore wouldn’t fit the required profile within the paper. Discussions were ongoing at the highest level on the implications of Frimley becoming an ICS due to its location and feedback was hoped for by end June, 2021.

 

It was noted that, should the request to retain the current set up be rejected, Rushmoor would become part of the Hampshire ICS but residents would still be able to utilise the facilities at Frimley Park Hospital. The ICS would ultimately be a conglomeration of all the health care services provided and a way to organise the resources and services by area.

 

The Board discussed the white paper proposals and supported the action being taken to retain a Frimley ICS in the future.

 

The Board then discussed local health priorities. Mr. White advised that in 2019 a number of priorities/ambitions were set for a period of 4-5 years. These priorities fell within the following five headings:

 

·         NE Hants and Farnham (NEHF) Place – developing local place and operate effectively with PCNs, the voluntary sector and local authorities

·         Restoration and Recovery – retention of local access to services through PCNs etc. wider integration with local authorities

·         COVID Response 2021/22 – key areas included primary care vaccine programme role out and remote monitoring of infection rates

·         Improving health of the local population - how the ICS supported health and equalities

·         Maintaining focus on core activities – engagement with local population

 

Dr Clarke gave an overview of some of the current work streams across the priorities, these included:

 

·         A review of clinical leadership

·         PCN Development

·         Access to primary care, digital tools to access a doctor – under development

·         New roles – more paramedics and physician associates working within practices

·         2hr crisis response – prevention of hospital admission

·         Waiting list initiatives

·         Data analysis to improve population health – joint working with partners, including local authorities

·         Core activities – estate issues ensure all premises fit for purpose

 

The Board discussed the priorities, in particular, mental health issues in both the elderly and young people. It was noted that initiatives such as a targeted “mental health workforce” was being introduced on a need basis across the Borough and, in Aldershot, work was being undertaken with MIND, a mental health charity, to provide urgent on the day access to help and support. Nationally, resources were being provided for addressing mental health matters and recently a free to under 25’s online service called “Kooth” had been launched. It was suggested that joint working with private mental health care practitioners could also be considered to support the increasing number of cases as a result of the pandemic.

 

The importance of health and wellbeing was also discussed, it was advised that health coaches were to be introduced into practices to offer advice of healthy lifestyle choices. Collaborative working with the Council was also key in this area, in particular through the work of the Supporting Communities Strategy and health inequalities.

 

A discussion was held around the NEHF Place priority. It was noted that conversations were being had with the Council on utilising space within the new civic hub to incorporate health care provision on the site. It was also suggested that Council hubs could be utilised to provide space to hold virtual appointments for those without access to the internet.

 

It was recognised that the voluntary sector had provided valuable support during the pandemic. It was important to maintain the relationships created to utilise their assistance moving forward through possible befriending initiatives, wellbeing activities etc. The Board noted some of the ongoing work coming from the Supporting Communities Strategy which included, tackling obesity, mental health initiatives, digital inclusion and a Mens Shed/Repair Café. Joint working was also taking place with the Aldeshot PCNs on reducing health inequalities and a Houses of Multiple Occupation (HMO) liaison programme to engage with some of the Borough’s harder to reach communities.

 

The Chairman thanked the representatives from the CCG for their presentation and it was noted that this item would be reviewed further at the Progress Group. Any further feedback and comments from Members should be referred to Karen Edwards who would collate a response.