Agenda item

The Chairman invited Douglas Blair to introduce the report.

Douglas Blair said that NHS England was responsible for directly commissioning a number of services:

·  Primary care services (including GP services, dental, optometry and pharmacy services)

·  Secondary care dental services

·  Secondary healthcare services for armed forces serving personnel and families

·  Public Health services under Section 7a

·  Specialised healthcare services

·  Healthcare services for offenders and those within the justice System

This draft delivery plan sets out the strategic framework for the development of health services in the Bath, Gloucestershire, Swindon and Wiltshire (BGSW) area commissioned by the NHS England.

The Chairman asked more about the commissioning intentions.

Douglas Blair explained that there were no set models or fixed views on expression of interest from the NHS England and the CCG in terms of the expression of interest.

The Chairman asked about the NHS England part in the spatial strategy.

Douglas Blair responded that the NHS England would have to be part of the planning in order to understand demand for primary care at new development.  The demand for primary care would depend not only from new development but also from the existing population in the area.

John Holden commented that this was the first time that such plan was produced by the NHS England.  John Holden asked about link between the CCG’s 5 year plan and the 2 year NHS England plan.

Douglas Blair responded that Strategic Health Authority, NHS England predecessor, did not have commissioning responsibilities.  The 2 year plan had been created as one plan, for the whole area, though when separated documents were needed, for the specific CCG areas, then those would be generated.  Douglas Blair also said that due to changes in commissioning arrangement for the NHS England there were some differences in budget balances.  Douglas Blair also explained that the NHS England would co-commission with the CCG in areas such as GP services and similar.

Bruce Laurence welcomed the new direction of the NHS England and Public Health England.  Bruce Laurence commented that one of the biggest issues for the NHS England would be primary care workforce.

Douglas Blair commented that specialised services had been also under the NHS England and historically there had been always a lot of pressure on specialised services.  The NHS England had been getting familiar with the primary care workforce, together with the CCG.

Dr Douglass said that the issue around the demographic of the workforce was an important one.  One of the interesting outcomes around urgent care was on a focus on getting clinical expertise early on in patient’s journey.  That would have to be part of the primary care as well.  In terms of the co-commissioning between the CCG and the NHS England – local area team had been quite clear what were their expectations from it.

David Trethewey said that our main challenge was to ensure that our local strategies and national strategies around economy recognise the value of the health and social services.

It was RESOLVED to note the report.