Agenda item

The Cabinet Member will update the panel on any relevant issues. Panel members may ask questions

The Chairman invited Councillor Simon Allen (Cabinet Member for Wellbeing) to give an update to the Panel (attached as Appendix 1 to these minutes).

The Panel made the following points:

Councillor Bryan Organ said that he didn’t entirely agree what the investment, from the pooled health and social care fund, was intended for.  Councillor Organ felt that people still need to explain their problems to the health and social care services more than once.  Councillor Organ said that there is still a lot of work to improve intervention as 70% of people admitted to Accidents and Emergency were there because of falls.  Councillor Organ welcomed the other two bullet points in the ‘investment in integration’ paragraph.

Councillor Allen responded that at the moment we have situation where information is coming from different sources.  It is a novel idea but it seems like a positive way forward making sure that an individual is in control of that information.  Councillor Allen agreed with Councillor Organ’s view on intervention and falls.  It is about educating people now how they are going to live into older age as well as meeting the needs of people who are at that age now.  Falls prevention is within Sirona’s area and they are doing fantastic job.

The Chairman asked about the Health & Social Care Integration Pioneers application and where it is coming from.

Councillor Allen replied that it is joint application between the Local Authority and BaNES Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG).

The Chairman said it is encouraging that the application is a joint one.  The Chairman said that he struggled to understand what the driver for this pioneer project is as there is no financial reward, although if the reward is in the shape of accolades then they still need to persuade certain elements of the Council to engage in this project.

Councillor Eleanor Jackson asked if the Council is monitoring Sirona’s system of filling in forms for home care.  Councillor Jackson also said that she was having complaints about the cutbacks in BaNES for respite care and asked Councillor Allen to comment on that.  Councillor Jackson said that some residents do not want to take MMR vaccines because of their culture or faith and asked Councillor Allen if anything has been done to tackle these perceptions.

Councillor Allen responded that Sirona has complex system and the Council value what they do.  They have slightly different way of working but they are also part of the pioneering programme mentioned earlier.  In terms of the respite care - Councillor Allen said that all social care services are offered on the basis of the assessment of need.  If someone disagrees with the assessment then they can challenge that but the offer of support is based on eligibility criteria.  Councillor Allen asked Councillor Jackson to let him know if there are any specific examples on that matter outside the meeting.  In terms of MMR vaccines – there is no mandate for people to have vaccines.  It is a personal choice though vaccination rates are good (92% of a targeted 95%).

Councillor Lisa Brett commented that it is good that voluntary and partner organisations are involved in the Health & Social Care Integration Pioneers project and asked Councillor Allen to comment on that.

Councillor Allen responded that he finds working with those organisations surprisingly positive.

The Chairman thanked Councillor Allen for the update.