Agenda item

The attached report sets out a strategic summary of the Bath, Swindon and Wiltshire STP ahead of the publication of the full ‘emerging’ plan on the 14th December.

Tracey Cox, CCG Chief Officer introduced this item. She explained that 44 Sustainability and Transformation Plans (STPs) are in the process of being developed across England as a local implementation plan for the Five Year Forward View (FYFV). She added that the FYFV sets out the five year blue print for transformation aimed at addressing the three health and wellbeing, quality and finance gaps across the NHS and social care.

She stated that the Bath, Swindon and Wiltshire STP full ‘emerging’ plan was due to be published on December 14th.

She said that the plan is at a much earlier stage of development than other STPs and we see this as an opportunity to engage our population in making choices. She added that if we do not continue to make efficiencies, then we know there will be a gap between our patient’s needs and available health and care resources of approximately £300m by 2020/21.

She said that over the next five years we are planning to change services around five priority areas that will improve our population’s health and wellbeing, improve the quality of care people receive and ensure our services are efficient.

·  Priority 1: Transforming primary care

·  Priority 2: More focus on prevention and proactive care

·  Priority 3: Making best use of technology and our public estates

·  Priority 4: A modern workforce

·  Priority 5: Improved collaboration across our hospital trusts

Councillor Paul May commented that the summary of the Plan before the Select Committee was not detailed enough and that he awaited the publication of the emerging plan. He said that there was only one vague reference made to specialised services, no recognition of devolution, no reference made to Sirona or Virgin Care. He said that residents require more information.

Tracey Cox replied that as the report was a summary of the plan it would not have that level of detail within it. She added that she hoped the points raised would be covered by the emerging plan when it is published in December. She stated that during this process that Sirona had decided to step away from discussions and that now that Virgin Care have been identified as the preferred bidder through Your Care, Your Way that they would be invited to add their thoughts to the plan.

Councillor Tim Ball commented that services should be available to people where they need them and that patients should be allowed to choose the services they want to use.

Tracey Cox replied that she did not anticipate patients within B&NES having to stop using the RUH. She added the process is not intended to disturb patient flow and should be seen as a way of working with the other authorities to provide a better service.

Councillor Eleanor Jackson commented that she was pleased to see within the report there were plans to have ‘Improved access to psychological support for patients with mental health needs’. She asked if following the Brexit decision were plans in place to address the potential loss of workforce.

Tracey Cox replied that national bodies have highlighted the risk of losing some members of the current workforce, but that this was not within the remit of the CCG.

Councillor Vic Pritchard said that whilst attending a recent conference there was a general view that STP’s are contentious and should only be signed off when all parties are completely satisfied.

Tracey Cox replied that this was the first time that areas had been asked to work together on such a basis and that the current thinking was to have a final plan published in May 2017. She added that in her view the plan was currently not ambitious enough and that fundamental and revolutionary initiatives should be sought.

Councillor Bryan Organ commented that the cost of appointments not being kept must have an impact on the financial pressure for the area.

Dr Ian Orpen replied that around 4,500 GP appointments a month are not kept within Wiltshire. He said that text reminders are in place at some practices and hospitals.

Councillor Paul May commented that he hoped the final document would recognise communities and their needs and that he would pursue the healthcare of patients close to other authority boundaries.

Councillor Lin Patterson said that she was concerned that services in some areas may drop to increase those in others.

Tracey Cox replied that she was accountable for the budget within B&NES and that each authority’s budget would remain their own.

The Chair thanked her on behalf of the Select Committee for the report and attending the meeting.