Agenda item

The Panel will receive an update from the Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) on current issues.

Dr Ian Orpen, addressed the Panel. A copy of the update can be found on their Minute Book and as an online appendix to these minutes, a summary of the update is set out below.

Working together in B&NES, Swindon and Wiltshire (BSW) – CCG Merger Update

NHS England and Improvement approved in principle our application to merge with Swindon and Wiltshire CCGs on 14 October 2019. This was following support from each CCG Board to merge, stakeholder engagement and communication, and a member practice vote.

The new CCG’s vision will be: Working together to empower people to lead their best life.

We will achieve this by:

•  Working more closely with partner organisations, so people experience services work in a more joined-up way; only have to tell their story once and receive care better tailored to their individual needs

•  Developing a positive, inclusive, people-centred culture and making BSW CCG the best place to work

•  Achieving value in everything we do and more efficient ways of working, so the growing demand for health and care services is affordable

The three CCG’s Governing Bodies are currently meeting in common, but from 1 April 2020 there will be single a Governing Body for BSW CCG.

On 21 January 2020, following a member practice vote, Dr Andrew Girdher from Box Surgery was appointed the new GP Clinical Chair for BSW CCG. Locality Clinical Chairs (one for each locality) and locality GPs (one for B&NES and Swindon, and three for Wiltshire) will also join the Clinical Chair on the new BSW CCG Governing Body. Interviews for the secondary care specialist, registered nurse and lay member positions on the Governing Bodytake place from 29 January 2020.

Winter pressures impacting on urgent care services

As has been the case elsewhere in the country, the extreme pressure that affected urgent care services in B&NES throughout the Christmas and New Year period has continued into January.

The CCG is committed to doing all it can to support colleagues working in in acute and community services. We’d like to express our gratitude to those who have worked tirelessly to ensure that our local people are treated with the highest possible quality of care.

Along with colleagues from across health and care in Swindon and Wiltshire, BaNES CCG is part of a new taskforce that meets weekly to plan and implement quick actions to help reduce pressure across the system.

Some of the actions that have been taken so far include:

·  Improved data sharing across the system that is enabling teams to quickly understand how providers are managing at any given time

·  A continued drive for consistency in the urgent care offer across BSW CCGs

·  Developing the Single Health Resilience Early Warning Database (SHREWD) in the BaNES system and Alamac in Swindon to ensure that system escalation actions are in line with trigger indicators , so that they are timely to support patient movement and discharges across health and care partners.

NHS England’s new proposals for Primary Care Networks

Nationally, GPs have levelled scathing criticism over NHS England’s new proposals for Primary Care Networks (PCNs). The new specifications set out the expectation of PCNs in B&NES and across the country with regard to five national services, to be delivered from April 2020; enhanced care in care homes, structured medication reviews, anticipatory care, personalised care and early cancer diagnosis.

The Clinical Chairs for BaNES, Swindon and Wiltshire CCGs submitted a local response to the consultation and made a high level representation expressing their concerns on behalf of the BSW membership.

The consultation closed on 15 January 2020. Acknowledging the strength of opinion, NHSE England have indicated that they will be making changes to the next iteration of the PCN specifications that consider 'what can realistically be delivered' by PCNs.

The CCG agrees that these services are the right areas of focus and we are commencing discussions with our PCNs to explore local opportunities and solutions.

Release of Long Term Plan for BSW

The BSW Partnership have published the draft Long Term Plan for BSW which sets out how health and care services across the region will be organised between now and 2024.

The priorities have been drawn up by health and care organisations from across BSW and include feedback gained from an extensive public engagement campaign carried out last summer.

The priorities set out to:

• Address the problems posed by an increasingly elderly population by helping people to age well, stay well at home and improve how community services can help them
• Help to improve the quality of life for people with learning disabilities and autism and their families by improving access to services
• Help to deliver the best mental health support for local people, regardless of personal circumstances, age or individual need

The full version of the plan will be available from March 2020.

Red Bag Scheme

In 2017, BaNES CCG and B&NES Council piloted a new initiative where care home residents who need to visit hospital are accompanied by a distinctive red bag which contains all relevant medical information as well as their personal belongings.

Following the success of the pilot and in line with Swindon and Wiltshire’s care homes being given red bags for residents, towards the end of 2019, this scheme was rolled out across all of B&NES. There are currently 150 red bags in circulation in B&NES.

The red bags will stay with residents for the duration of their hospital visit and contain specific admission and discharge checklists for medical staff to fill out. These lists help ensure that every member of the medical team receives exactly the same information, and nothing gets misplaced or miscommunicated on the way in or out of hospital.

Councillor Paul May asked if there was anything the Panel could do to help reinforce the opinions expressed by the Clinical Chairs of the BaNES, Swindon and Wiltshire CCGs in relation to Primary Care Networks.

Dr Orpen replied that in his opinion the more views that were received the better. He added that he had also spoken with local MPs on the matter.

Councillor May asked for the Panel to be provided with some relevant facts to support the views expressed.

The Chairman asked the Panel if they supported this course of action.

The Panel agreed with this proposal.

Councillor Liz Hardman commented that some residents had expressed concern that B&NES would be consumed within the BSW CCG.

Dr Orpen replied that he understood why members of the public had these concerns, but stated it was an opportunity to learn and share with other areas and work closely with other organisations, especially hospitals to understand relevant community themes.

Councillor Paul May asked whether financial information will be included when the BSW Long Term Plan is launched in March 2020.

Dr Orpen replied that it would.

The Chairman thanked Dr Orpen for the update on behalf of the Panel.