Agenda item

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

Laura Ambler, Director of Place for Bath and North East Somerset, BSW ICB addressed the Panel and highlighted the following areas from within the update.

Future of Integrated Care Boards

Recent guidance from NHS England indicates that, to fulfil future functions effectively and sustainably, ICBs need to work across larger footprints, serve larger populations and take into account any new strategic local authority boundaries which emerge from the local government reform process, which is also under way.

As a result, BSW, Somerset and Dorset ICBs are exploring plans to cluster together. This proposal is still at an early stage and no decisions have been made.

Integrated Community-based Care

The BSW Community Delivery Group, which is a system-wide group made up of partners from local authorities, the third sector, acute and mental health trusts and primary care, will oversee the transformation happening within community-based care.

This group will seek to ensure that any changes or improvements being implemented in the community reflects the views and priorities outlined in the system’s overarching integrated care strategy.

HCRG’s methodology for transformation is based on a person-centred design approach, and follows a four-phase process of discover, define, design and deliver. This approach ensures that the service user is kept at the centre of all decisions along the journey, and co-design and co-delivery is built into the process.

HCRG Care Group intends to provide committee members with a more thorough, in-person update at the meeting in July.

Local uptake of Covid-19 booster vaccine

People living across all parts of Bath and North East Somerset who are eligible for the Covid-19 booster vaccination, which was first offered at the beginning of April, continue to come forward.

By targeting specific groups of the local population, the booster vaccine is not intended to generate herd immunity, but to ensure those most susceptible are adequately protected.

Since April 2025, approximately 60 per cent of eligible people in Bath and North East Somerset have had the booster vaccine, which is better than both the respective regional and national averages of 58 and 48 per cent.

Strong local appetite for routine MMR vaccinations in under-fives

Latest figures show that more than 96 per cent of under-fives in the local area have had at least one MMR vaccine. Nationally, the figure stands at just over 92 per cent, while the South West average is slightly better at 94.8 per cent.

It is recommended for young children to have two MMR vaccines, with the first being given as they turn one and the second coming just after their third birthday.

The vaccines can also be given to older children, as well as any adults, who may have missed out on getting protected as a baby. Late vaccinations can be arranged through a person’s GP practice.

Publication of new 10-Year Plan delayed

The long-awaited 10-Year Plan for the NHS has been delayed, after initially being scheduled for publication in May 2025. It is now expected that the plan, which was produced following an extensive months-long engagement exercise with members of the public, will now be published sometime in the second half of the year.

When it does, the plan is expected to outline how the NHS will evolve and adapt over the coming decade, and how it will utilise the latest technology to improve services, reduce waiting lists and speed up patients’ access to care.

Councillor Liz Hardman asked why the BSW ICB were exploring plans to cluster with Somerset and Dorset ICBs not Gloucester or Bristol. She asked if B&NES would have as much power within a larger area and were the staff implications known yet.

Laura Ambler replied that other options had been considered for clustering but said that the patient flow data for the proposed option does make sense. She added that national guidance continues to recognise the importance of ‘place’ and that they were committed to delivering the best services for the area.

She said that the full impact on staff was not yet known and that this work remains ongoing.

Councillor Paul Crossley said that it was his view that reorganisations rarely deliver what is needed and asked what priorities had been set so that any success or otherwise can be judged.

Laura Ambler replied that they remain committed to the delivery of the best services and the promotion of place-based services.

Councillor Dave Harding asked how a cluster with Dorset ICB would affect patients in Chew Magna.

Laura Ambler replied that integrated care remains in place across B&NES, Swindon and Wiltshire.

Councillor Harding asked for any comment on the Health Service Journal report that NHS England has told Integrated Care Boards that they need to slow down elective referrals.

Laura Ambler replied that they would provide a response to that point within their next update to the Panel.

Councillor Lesley Mansell asked what possible risks there could be with the potential new cluster arrangements.

Laura Ambler replied that it will be important to retain the local elements of work that have been established over the past few years of the BSW ICB should they cluster with others over a larger footprint.

Councillor Mansell asked how local accountability would be undertaken under any new arrangements.

Laura Ambler replied that current governance structures and arrangements with partners are expected to remain in place.

Councillor Mansell asked how transparent this process will be and what public engagement will be undertaken.

Laura Ambler replied that this was a process that was moving forward at pace and that the ICB had tried to share information when it has been received. She added that at this stage she did not know what level of input from the public would be sought.

Councillor Mansell asked if there were to be any shared roles across the cluster.

Laura Ambler replied that it was too soon to say on how roles will be formed in the new arrangements.

Councillor Mansell asked if any early thoughts could be shared on the progress of the nine projects within the Transformation Programme.

Laura Ambler replied that a representative from HCRG was due to attend the July meeting of the Panel and would be able to provide an update.

Councillor Mansell asked how the national priorities of the NHS 10 Year Plan would affect local services.

Laura Ambler replied that she expected a focus on neighbourhood teams and points of delivery to remain a priority within the plan.

The Chair asked if there was any update to be given regarding the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care to use their powers to call in the BSW ICB’s proposed changes to community-based care in Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire, particularly the appointment of HCRG Care Group, which was raised in March.

Laura Ambler replied that there was no update to be given at the present time.

The Chair asked if the footprint for the ICB does change, would a further tendering process be required in connection with these services.

Laura Ambler replied that this potential matter has not been looked into as yet.

The Chair asked if there was a timeframe for cluster arrangements to be in place.

Laura Ambler replied that there wasn’t as such but said that cost efficiencies need to be shown by the end of Q3.

The Chair, on behalf of the Panel, thanked Laura for attending and the BSW ICB for their update.