Agenda and minutes

None.

RESOLVED – that the minutes of the meeting held on 17 January 2023 be confirmed and signed by the Chair. 

To receive an update on Hospital Discharge and Intermediate Care.

The Service Delivery Manager: Hospital and Enablement and the Place Based Commissioning and Procurement Lead presented the update regarding Hospital Discharge and Intermediate Care to the committee. Hospital Discharge and Intermediate Care had largely been funded by the Better Care Fund (BCF) from 2015 onwards. The BCF focusses on strengths based and preventative approaches, prevention on further hospital admittance and hospital discharge.  BCF is a partnership approach with organisations like the Community Trust to provide health-based community support.

The process of discharge from hospitals focused on the patient and their journey to recovery. Future plans looked to improved processes; further work with urgent care, hospitals and the Community Trust for forward planning to discharges. There were further work with partners to support discharges such as working with the fire service to support ambulances and the inclusion of virtual wards.

Following the presentation, Members asked the following questions:

How did BCF funding work?

BCF is annual funding that Authorities are allocated based on relative needs assessment. The T&WC and the ICS work together to provide an assurance plan of how funding will be spent and the outcomes it will achieve before the monies are received. This is currently a one-year funding cycle but government has indicated this may change to 2 yearly. This has not been confirmed and so for now all contracts and agreement are based on one year’s funding.

How were self-funding residents supported with hospital discharge?

Intermediate Care was an extension of the NHS so each patient’ is assessed for their long-term needs in a community setting   for a time-limited period – bed-based intervention or care package following discharge. An assessment would then take place to consider their longer-term needs. 

How had lower BCF funding being accounted for?

A lower amount of BCF funding had been predicted and accounted for in the planning stages to utilise the funding efficiently. Members noted that the allocated levels of funding were based on outdated census data (from 2011) and noted that levels of funding allocated this year were the lowest that had ever been received.

How was the level of funding decided and who made this decision?

Funding was allocated on a national basis by Central Government. The local funding was then distributed Local Authorities by the ICB.

When was the allocation of funding decided?

Changes to funding levels changed every year. Allocation of the minimum levels of BCF budget is identified to the Council and ICB within financial planning updates. The policy guidelines were often extremely late, sometimes as late as July for September allocation.

Were the issues regarding BCF funding a local issue?

It was recognised as a national concern.

What work had been done in terms of community care?

Currently, there were no community hospitals in the Borough to provide direct community care. Community Care was provided by private sector care agencies.

What were the comparisons between Shropshire and Telford and Wrekin?

A review of Community beds was completed, and further work identified to agree a model  ...  view the full minutes text for item HAC-39

To receive a verbal update from the Integrated Care Partnership on their progress.

The Chair advised that no representative from NHS Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin was present at the meeting. The Chair advised that he would write to the Chair of the Integrated Care System to request their attendance at the next meeting of the Committee to provide an update on the work of the ICP.

The next meeting of the committee was scheduled for 20 July 2023.