Agenda item

The Panel will receive an update from the B&NES, Swindon & Wiltshire Integrated Care Board (BSW ICB) on current issues.

A copy of the update will be attached as an online appendix to these minutes.

Councillor Liz Hardman said that she was pleased to read about the launch of the Paediatric Urgent Service Hub (PUSH) which will run until the end of March 2024, but asked how widely this had been publicised.

She also referred to the Women’s Health Hubs and asked how many would be within B&NES, where they were to be located and when would they be open.

Laura Ambler, Director of Place, B&NES, BSW ICB replied that the PUSH clinics have so far been very successful with over 200 children having been seen within them. She added that a significant campaign to advertise them had taken place and that they were willing to see what more could be done.

She stated that along with all other ICBs across England, BSW ICB has received over £600,000 in funding until 2025 to expand or establish a Women’s Health Hub that focuses on delivering more intermediate care in the community and that plans regarding this were at a relatively early stage.

She added that the Women’s Health Hub will be developed by partners across BSW including the NHS, public health teams, the Voluntary, Community and Social Enterprise (VCSE) sector and engagement with local people. She said that they will bring further information to the Panel when it is available.

Councillor Joanna Wright commented that an issue had been raised with her about women receiving health visitor support after giving birth. She asked if all mothers should expect to have this support offered to them whether it be their first child or a subsequent child.

The Director of Public Health & Prevention replied that she felt sure that all women would be offered the service of a health visitor regardless of it was their first child or not.

The text below has been supplied following the closure of the meeting.

• In terms of service offer, all subsequent babies / children are offered the same visits and support from the Health Visiting service as their first baby/child.
• Although families may be more confident in parenting subsequent children, each child is unique and will have their own needs which could require greater support from the service.
• The parents/carers may choose to not access / decline reviews, but the service is always offered.

If a parent/carer has a question or is unhappy about the contact they receive from their Health Visitor, we’d encourage them to email into HCRG.bathnesspa@nhs.net so that the HV professional lead can register the issue as a concern if appropriate, and then investigate and speak to the family involved and offer further support as needed.

Kevin Burnett asked if further information was available on the Hospital Improvement Programme (HIP).

Laura Ambler replied there was none at this present time, but would update the Panel when any does become available.

Kevin Burnett asked if it could be explained what was meant by the term in the report ‘restoring access to dental care for the population’.

Victoria Stanley, Programme Lead, BSW replied that she could address that point within the report when discussed in the next agenda item.

The Chair thanked Laura Ambler on behalf of the Panel for the update report.