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.

Covid-19 mass vaccination programme

Our Covid-19 vaccination programme has been making solid progress since we started offering the vaccine to the first priority groups at the end of last year.

As of 25 February, almost 265,000 vaccines have been given across Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire, which is the equivalent of vaccinating the entire population of Swindon and the surrounding areas.

We are currently around halfway through the process of vaccinating people in priority groups five and six (people aged over 65 and anyone aged between 16 and 64 with an underlying health condition) and this puts us on track to meet recent government targets.

People who were among some of the first to have the vaccine will begin receiving their second dose from the beginning of March. Health and social care workers will also begin to receive their second dose, and we are working closely with all provider organisation to ensure this happens as smoothly as possible.

The rate for people testing positive locally currently stands at 30 / 100,000.

Twenty cases were still present within the RUH but no new diagnosis had been admitted within the last 48 hours.

BSW Partnership Integrated Care System development

In February the government set out new proposals covering the development of Integrated Care Systems (ICSs) which will have implications for the BSW

Partnership Integrated Care System (ICS).

The proposals have been outlined in a new white paper entitled Integration and

innovation: working together to improve health and social care for all.

Proposals in the white paper include:

·  The creation of an ICS NHS statutory body and an ICS Health and Care

Partnership which will place a duty to collaborate on organisations which are part of the Partnership

·  Proposed reform to the procurement of NHS services in order to give

commissioners greater flexibility in how they arrange services

·  Place-based arrangements between local authorities, the NHS and between providers of health and care services will be at the core of integration. Legislation will not prescribe how these arrangements are put in place or what they need to involve – that will be left to local organisations to arrange.

·  Legislation introduced to help address inequalities in public health outcomes and the need for government to act to help level up health across the country.

The BSW Partnership board is now looking at the implications of the proposals on how partners will work together over the coming months.

There has also been a concerted partnership approach to caring for a spike in the number of people receiving treatment in hospitals in Bath, Swindon and Wiltshire for Covid-19 during January and February. Partners did this by pooling resources and re-allocating staff so they could provide help where it was needed most.

Long Covid Service update

Over 128 patients across BSW have now been referred to a new service for people suffering from the effects of Long Covid.

The innovative new pilot service is available thanks to joint working by a number of health and care teams across BSW including physiotherapists, occupational

therapists and respiratory nurses.

The service is designed to help people who still have symptoms related to a Covid infection after 12 weeks. The aim of the clinic is to identify what symptoms a person is experiencing and how this is affecting them on a day to day basis.

The service helps them find resources and treatments to manage these symptoms effectively. This new service has involved support from multiple partners and health and care teams from across BSW and will provide much needed help and support to a number of people.

Councillor Jess David asked if any further comment could be given regarding the ICS and giving commissioners greater flexibility of their services.

Dr Bird replied that the white paper would be elaborated over the coming year, but that the flexibility relates to where care can be delivered.

Councillor David asked if the Long Covid Service had a physical base.

Dr Bird replied that it was being led by Wiltshire Health & Care through a virtual hub.

Councillor Liz Hardman asked in respect of the ICS and the proposals in the White Paper if an explanation be given about place-based arrangements. 

Dr Bird replied that he had no direct detail at this stage and would update the Panel as and when they are announced.

Councillor Paul May commented that a degree of care should be exercised moving forward with regard to the ICS, the contract that is in place currently with Virgin Care and any future possible statutory changes.

Dr Bird replied that Virgin Care are a very present part of these conversations and will need to evolve as we do. He added that integrated care will need to include mental health alongside physical health and that to understand the delivery of these services, discussions will be needed with both Primary & Secondary Care, the Voluntary Sector and the Community Sector.

Kevin Burnett asked if costs would be among the key benefits of the ICS.

Dr Bird replied that providing high cost services reactively in hospitals is not fit for purpose moving forward with the demographic changes that are likely over the next twenty years. He added that he expected the quality of care and quality of patient outcomes to be addressed as part of the new system, including increased opportunities for early intervention.

The Chair thanked Dr Bird for his update on behalf of the Panel.