Agenda item

The Board are asked to consider the following verbal updates:

·  Local Healthwatch (procurement) – David Trethewey

·  Public Health – Paul Scott

o  Public Health Transition Plan

o  Memorandum Of Understanding

·  PCT – Ed-Macalister Smith

·  Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) – Ian Orpen

·  Council – Ashley Ayre

Local Healthwatch (procurement) – Derek Thorne said that HealthWatch is progressing positively, as planned.  The procurement phase will start in October with expectation to have provider in December so the service could start running in February 2013.  The timeline is good and everything is according to the plan.

Public Health – Paul Scott

·  Transition Plan – By April next year Public Health will join the Local Authority.  Work was underway for the last 18 months.  Very good relationship with the Local Authority and the main contact is through Ashley Ayre’s directorate but also with the other services across the Council.  There are good planning procedures in place and good engagement from the Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG).  New project manager was appointed recently as a part of the strategy, to help moving on in practical arrangements (i.e. IT, desks, etc.). 

·  Memorandum of Understanding –the purpose of it is to establish a framework for working relationships between B&NES CCG and Public Health in B&NES Council.  Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) Signatories are: Paul Scott (Public Health), Dr Ian Orpen (CCG), Ed MaCalister-Smith (NHS B&NES Chief Executive) and Jo Farrar (B&NES Council Chief Executive).

Members of the Board unanimously welcomed the MoU document as it sets out what will be expected in the future. 

Jane Pye (LINk) commented that the LINk was not involved in the Equality Impact Assessment (EIA) on this document.  Paul Scott explained that the EIA had been cleared by the Equality Officer from the Council but he welcomed a suggestion from Jane Pye to also engage LINk on this matter.

NHS – Jenny Powell said that the pace of the NHS reform picking up in speed and only six and a half months left before the PCTs are abolished.  The biggest impact locally is that some of the PCT’s functions will be transferred to the National Commissioning Board (NCB) who will have the responsibility for direct commissioning of primary care.  Other local area teams will take the responsibility for the specialised commissioning.  The property services company will be managing much of the assets.  They will become landlord not only for commissioning bodies but also for community services. Our PCT is ahead of the game with the transition as we recognised what was required few months back.

Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) –

Dr Ian Orpen said that there is a lot on going work at the moment.  There are 8 days before the CCG send all the documents for authorisation.  The Joint Working Framework between the CCG and Council was presented last week to all Councillors.  Jan Stubbings will be interim director for the Local Area Team.  Dr Orpen highlighted the commissioning support in back office arrangements are progressing.  Appointments:  2 lay members – one for Public and Patient Engagement and the Vice Chair for the CCG; Dr Ian Orpen has been confirmed as Chair of the CCG; Dr Simon Douglass has been appointed as Clinical Accountable Officer; Sarah James has been appointed as Chief Finance Officer; and Tracey Cox has been appointed as Chief Operating Officer. The CCG started advertising for the Executive/Chief Nurse recently.  As mentioned earlier the date for sending documents for authorisation is 1^st October and the formal site visit will be on 9^th November.  The results of the process will be known in January 2013.  Dr Orpen said that he and his colleagues feel that they are in the right place with this process.

Council –

Ashley Ayre said that the 1^st phase of the consultation on change of the structure of department has been completed with one Divisional Director yet to be appointed.  The 2^nd phase of the restructure is just about to be launched.  The final phase will start in January and the new structure will be functional as from 1^st April 2013 (in line with the changes within the NHS).  Mike Bowden will deputise for Ashley Ayre on Children’s Services whilst the deputy for Adult and Community Health Commissioning is still to be appointed.  Partnership agreement between the Council, Public Health and NHS, which exists since 2008, is to be refreshed to be ready with formal establishment of the local CCG as from April 2013.  The Council is quite keen to develop a strong working relationship with the Local Area Team.