Agenda and minutes

None

To confirm the minutes of the meeting of the Health & Wellbeing Board held on Thursday, 17 June 2021

RESOLVED – that the minutes of the meeting held 17 June 2021 be confirmed.

The Chair read out questions addressed to the Board from members of the public and heard from one in person.

No formal response was provided at the meeting; however assurances were given that written responses would be provided to each of those who had directed a question to the board, both written and in person.

To receive the report on the GP Access Update from the Director of Partnerships, NHS Shropshire, Telford & Wrekin CCG.

The Board received a report on the GP Access Update from the Director of Partnerships, NHS Shropshire, Telford & Wrekin CCG. They recognised the work and challenges faced by GP’s in the region and commended their ability to adapt to the challenges created by the pandemic. However, issues around triage had existed prior to the pandemic but had since worsened. Members heard that in a recent National GP Survey STW CCG practices scored an average satisfaction score of 69% for ease of getting through to GP practice on the telephone compared to the national average of 68%. 51% of appointments were taking place face to face in comparison with 81% in 2019 but the number of phone calls had increased by over 200%. The Director of Partnerships advised the Board that they were working with practices to manage this and that the paper detailed the range of actions underway to assist those accessing primary care.

The Interim Accountable Officer, Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin CCG added that it was important to find the right approach for each patient as some do find accessing a GP over the phone useful. He recognised that Wellington Practice had been highlighted by members of the public and that they have a responsibility to explain this.

Members of the Board were pleased to hear a promise to support improvement. They recognised that nationally there was a GP shortage but were concerned that some practices have the resources to manager better than others.

The Board noted the report and requested to receive an update in 6 months.

To receive the report on the Health Inequalities Action Plan from the Deputy Statutory Director of Public Health, Health & Wellbeing and Commissioning: Public Health and Resilience.

Members received a report on the Health Inequalities Action Plan from the Deputy Statutory Director of Public Health, Health & Wellbeing and Commissioning: Public Health and Resilience. The Board heard that following discussions around known gaps and inequalities held in May 2021 and approval of the strategy in June 2021 they had reaffirmed their priorities in the context of the pandemic. Life expectancy and narrowing the gap were identified as key areas of concern. The strategy framework was based broadly on the Marmot themes and there was a commitment to evolve a systematic, targeted, community-centered, intelligence-led partnership approach.

The Deputy Statutory Director of Public Health informed the Board that it had found people in poorer communities lived shorter lives in poorer health and that around 80% of inequalities were driven by factors outside of the NHS. As a result the action plan recognised there was a need to accelerate local action in areas of education, housing and employment. The Board heard that they would continue to share and work with partners such as the NHS and ICS on work streams and interventions.

Members recognised the importance of reducing inequalities at a local and a national level and that a joint approach was required.

Members voted by a majority that the plan be approved.

To receive a verbal update on the Hospital Transformation Programme from the Interim Accountable Officer, Shropshire, Telford & Wrekin CCG.

The Interim Accountable Officer Shropshire provided the Board with a verbal update of the Hospital Transformation Programme. Members heard that prior to the pandemic the SaTH lead on the Programme was working to create a strategic outline case which was a document that would set out the way the scheme would be delivered, but this was disrupted by the pandemic. They assured Members that work on this had now resumed and should be complete by the end of 2021. They noted that there was a need to consider the effects of building inflation against the original plan and the impact of single room requirements and infection control following the pandemic. This was currently being discussed with NHS England.

Members welcomed the update but expressed concern at the escalated costs associated with the programme that could have been used to improve services. It was requested that a further update be provided in the form of a report at the next meeting in Dec 2021.

To receive the report on Place Based Commissioning from the Commissioning Procurement & Brokerage Service Delivery, Adult Social Care.

The Board received the report on Place Based Commissioning from the Commissioning Procurement & Brokerage Service Delivery, Adult Social Care. The placed based commissioning project had been tasked with forming a single body to represent Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin in bringing together the commissioning and procurement function of the CCG and Local Authorities at Place, to work as one system.

The project was still in its early stages but they were working to understand the demands within social care as to what was offered currently and what should be offered moving forwards and creating a safe market for that.

The Board welcomed the report and commended the integrated approach used. Members felt that it was important in the context of a whole strategy for the health service.

To receive the report on the Community Safety Partnership from the Chief Inspector, West Mercia Police.

The Board received the report on the Community Safety Partnership from James Dunn, the Chief Inspector, West Mercia Police. The Committee heard that following a consultation with the Community Safety Partnership and their strategic partners in August 2020 they had identified 3 areas of priority that formed the Safer Telford and Wrekin Strategy 2021/2024. Thematically it focused on child exploitation and domestic abuse, and geographically it focused on three areas with the highest harm from crime and antisocial behaviour statistically: Sutton Hill, Brookside and Woodside; Dawley and Malinslee; and Arleston. There was flexibility within the strategy which allowed it to respond should crime types change.

The Chief Inspector explained to the board that the Community Safety Partnership fed back to the Telford and Wrekin Safeguarding Partnership Executive who reviewed whether they had achieved their priorities at quarterly meetings and welcomed the opportunity to do the same with the Health and Wellbeing Board.

Members thanked the Chief Inspector for their report and recognised the importance of working closely with both the Police and the public. The Board advised that they welcomed further updates on the Domestic Abuse and Child Exploitation strategies.

Members noted the report.