Agenda item

The Board is asked to review the ORCP and confirm that this provides adequate assurance for the CCG’s and wider health community’s preparations for this winter.

The Chairman invited Dominic Morgan (B&NES CCG) to give a presentation.

Dominic Morgan highlighted the following points in his presentation:

• ORCP – The New National Approach for 2014/15
•  The key role of the System Resilience Group (SRG)
• ORCP Planning Requirements and Best Practice
• BaNES ORCP
• ORCP – Key Dates
• BaNES SRG ORCP funding sources, allocations by providers and targeted project areas
• ORCP Reporting Arrangements
• Next Steps

A full copy of the presentation is available in the Minute Book at Democratic Services.

The Chairman asked how the quality of patient experience would be measured.

Dominic Morgan replied that the national vision has been that SRGs offer a powerful opportunity to improve care for patients by, for example, fully integrating emergency healthcare development with primary care (where most unscheduled care takes place). In some areas SRGs have already helped to establish more patient-centred care and were encouraging shared learning across health and social care communities by working in partnership.

Successful SRGs should work across boundaries to improve patient experience and clinical outcomes, by establishing partnerships and better working relationships between all health and social care organisations in a geographical area and health community.

Councillor Romero asked if being classed as ‘Medium – with assurance’ was good rating for Bath and North East Somerset and how many other areas had been classed the same like us.

Dominic Morgan explained that majority of other SRGs had been classed as ‘medium’.  Dominic Morgan explained that ‘medium’ SRGs had not been defined as ‘high’ or ‘low’  risk and would be expected to produce plans that contain all actions from the best practice guidance, which would then be assured.

Councillor Romero asked about winter planning considering that last year we had had mild winter, in particular about additional capacity if weather gets worse.

Dominic Morgan explained that winter planning capacity had been based on a five year historical forecast, with continued monitoring of weather.

Pat Foster asked if there were any expectations to involve Patient & Public Forum in the Plan.

Dominic Morgan responded that patient involvement in the Plan would be quite important.

Jo Farrar informed the Board on existence of quite proactive Local Resilience Forum, and suggested that they should be involved in the Plan.  Jo Farrar also said that the CCG had received non-recurrent national resilience monies of £1.3m for 2014/15 and asked if there was any contingency plan in case of the cost exceeding that sum.

Dominic Morgan responded that there were on-going discussions regarding the utilisation of £1.3m.

Tracey Cox commented that there was a culture within B&NES and between providers to continuously look into improving their services, as part of best practice.  In terms of patient experience – there are a number of routine indicators showing whether the system was succeeding or failing, such as cancellations of operations on the day of procedure, delayed transfers of  care and mixed sex accommodation breaches as well as the 4 hour target that were routinely monitored.  Tracey Cox concluded by saying that the CCG did not receive confirmation of winter pressure/ resilience funding until well into the financial year or clarity on how  much funding was available from the Government which made planning more difficult.  Tracey Cox said she would personally lobby to request notification of 2015/16 monies as early as possible or as part of the 2015/16 planning round as this would in turn save a lot of time, money, and  discussions with providers and help  to plan for future.

The Chairman thanked everyone for their input.

The Chairman concluded this debate by saying that we have demonstrated that our system has a good plan in place and there has been a strong focus on patient safety.  The Chairman also asked for Board’s approval to write to NHS England to request earlier notification of  additional funding, which would help better planning. 

It was RESOLVED to note the presentation and to agree with Chairman’s comments.