Agenda item

The Panel will receive an update from the B&NES, Swindon & Wiltshire Clinical Commissioning Group (BSW CCG) on current issues.

Dr Bryn Bird, B&NES Locality Clinical Chair addressed the Panel. A copy of the update can be found as an online appendix to these minutes, a summary of the update is set out below.

Health and Wellbeing Board development

Members of the Council’s Cabinet and senior officers, together with senior executives and clinical leaders of the BSW CCG, met recently to discuss a number of issues including current operational and financial challenges.

Attendees at the meeting discussed an agreement to develop the children and young person’s report and safeguarding report to ensure that all stakeholders are aware of matters included in the reports and engaged at an early point.

The group is keen to address issues related to health inequalities and resolved make better use of existing health data about our local populations to do this.

Advice and guidance for outpatient development.

BSW CCG’s professional leadership network is continuing to manage the challenges around waiting times and referrals in our local hospitals caused by the ongoing restrictions in place because of the Covid-19 pandemic.

There is a particular focus on better management across advice and guidance lines and how they can be used more effectively.

We also have a particular focus on diagnostic, how capacity is being developed and how we can better manage with the current restrictions placed on services.

This extends to managing waiting lists and using an analytics approach to assist with risk stratification. 

Covid remote monitoring

We are developing a working group for local implementation of a Covid remote monitoring system which would allow clinicians to track the progress and recovery of Covid patients remotely, without having to see them face to face. 

This would help with infection control measures, but also significantly allow patients with potentially debilitating symptoms of Covid access to health services sooner and therefore have much better health outcomes.

Funding to upgrade specialist dementia mental health units

Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership (AWP) NHS Trust has secured almost £3m worth of new funding to upgrade facilities at Hill View Lodge, the mental health inpatient unit based at the Royal United Hospital.

The update to existing facilities will enable AWP to relocate Ward 4, its 12-bedded specialist dementia unit, which is currently located at nearby St Martin’s Hospital.

Ward 4 is the Trust’s only remaining dormitory-style ward and due to the age of the building and its existing layout is not suitable to be reconfigured to comply with the ‘Delivering Single Sex Accommodation’ regulatory requirements.

The funding will ensure patients can be cared for in high quality accommodation more suited to the needs of those with dementia.

The funding has been announced as part of the Government’s £400 million commitment over the next four years to eradicate dormitory style accommodation from mental health facilities across the country to improve the safety, privacy and dignity of patients with mental health difficulties.

Work to transform part of the Hill View Lodge site and the relocation of Ward 4 is expected to get underway in January 2021, with the relocation of patients planned for June 2021.

Councillor Jess David asked if the Panel could be informed of the uptake of the seasonal flu vaccine across different age groups, including infant schools.

Dr Bird replied that he would be able to report back on this in January. He said that he recalls that B&NES is normally above the average figure for those patients aged 65+ and between 50-64.

Councillor Alison Born commented that it was good to see the relocation plans for Ward 4 and asked to what standard / design the units would be built.

Alexandra Luke, Associate Director for BSW at Avon and Wiltshire Mental Health Partnership replied that there were constraints to the building, but the units will be an improvement and built to a high quality standard.

The Chair thanked Dr Bird and Alexandra Luke for the update on behalf the Panel.