Agenda and minutes

Members are asked to declare any interests in the items under consideration and in doing so state:

(1) the type of interest concerned; and

(2) the nature of the interest concerned

If any member requires advice on declarations of interests, they are advised to contact the Head of Democratic Governance in advance of the meeting.

There were no declarations of interest on this occasion.

To agree the minutes of the last meeting held on 15^th July 2015 as a true and correct record.

Resolved:  That the minutes of the meeting held on 15^th July 2015 be approved as a correct record, subject to Item 5, second paragraph being amended to read ‘She emphasised the links between the key objectives of the programme and the priorities of the Health and Wellbeing Board and it was noted that the key objectives were centred around three areas:  Prevent, Pursue and Protect.’

To receive an update of the work of Strategic Commissioning Group.

The Board received an update on the activity of the Strategic Commissioning Group which included discussions from its last meeting in August.  It noted that that a section 75 agreement to enable Better Care funding to be paid through a pooled budget would be submitted to the Health and Wellbeing Board for ratification at its meeting in October.  The Group was also advised on progress on the Vanguard New Models of Care which included the Value Proposition which was due to be submitted to NHS England and Ms Curtis, Director of People, Blackpool Council advised that a report on this would be provided to the Health and Wellbeing Board for consideration at a future meeting.

The Board considered the Strategic Commissioning Group’s revised terms of reference and the changes to its membership.

Resolved:

1.      To note the update from the last meeting of the Strategic Commissioning Group

2.      To approve the new terms of reference for the Strategic Commissioning Group.

To consider an update on Health Protection arrangements

Ms Donkin, Public Health Specialist, Blackpool Council reported on the purpose of Health Protection in protecting the public from harm from infectious diseases and environmental hazards.  She advised Members of the responsibility for providing good health care and reported on the many organisations that contributed to this, which included Public Health England and the Council’s Public Protection and Public Health departments, along with a diverse range of providers.

The Board was advised that the Department of Health had recommended that a Health Protection Forum be established with a link from the Forum to the Health and Wellbeing Board.  Ms Donkin acknowledged that this was already the case in Blackpool but suggested that it should be on a more formal basis with bi-annual reports to the Health and Wellbeing Board plus additional reports submitted as and when required.

The Board held a lengthy discussion on the recent water restrictions that had affected a large part of Lancashire due to the presence of cryptosporidium in the water treatment works. Members raised concerns relating to the poor communication of the water restrictions and were provided with assurances that this was being pursued with the relevant organisations. Dr Rajpura, Director of Public Health, Blackpool Council provided the Board with information on how the situation had been dealt with by the Local Authority and other organisations and updated Members on the current situation.  The Board was also advised of the measures that had been put in place for schools and vulnerable people.

Resolved:

1.  That the existing Health Protection Forum becomes part of the formal governance structure reporting into the Health and Wellbeing Board in the first instance and the Strategic Commissioning Group as required.

2.  To receive regular reports and updates from the Health Protection Forum.

3.  That a formal set of terms of reference be drawn up by the Director of Governance and Regulatory Services and the Director of Public Health and be submitted to the next meeting for approval.

To consider a report on the Intermediate Care Commissioning Review.

Ms Harrop, Senior Commissioning Manager, Blackpool Council and Ms Raynor, Head of Commissioning, Blackpool Council presented with the Board with an overview of Blackpool’s Intermediate Care Review that had been undertaken jointly by Blackpool Clinical Commissioning Group and the Council.  Its purpose had been to review existing health and social care services with the aim of contributing to timely hospital discharges and prevention of avoidable hospital admissions by providing intermediate support in the appropriate care setting.

Ms Raynor reported on the proposed new model for a single local integrated Intermediate Care Service which included a robust management and governance structure with appropriate care being determined by a multi-disciplinary team.  The new model proposed a move from bed based support towards the provision of intermediate care at home.  Ms Raynor reported on the aims of the review which included a reduction in the cost of acute care, managing the projected increase in demand through a much more co-ordinated approach and increasing people’s potential to remain independent.

The Board was advised that the next steps would be to seek agreement to progress the findings of the commissioning review with a proposed implementation date for the proposed model at the end of March 2016.

Responding to a question, Ms Raynor confirmed that the voluntary sector was included in the proposed Intermediate Care pathway.

Resolved: 

1.      To agree to progress the findings of the work to date in relation to delivering intermediate care closer to home through improved joint working and development of the care pathway.

2.      To receive a progress report at its meeting in December and further reports at quarterly intervals.

To consider the Public Health Annual Report 2014 and hold a thematic debate on this document.

Dr Rajpura, Director of Public Health, Blackpool Council presented his Annual Report 2014 to the Board.  He explained that the main theme of the Annual report was a response to the Due North report that had been published by Public Health England and which had demonstrated the inequalities between the North and South of the Country including recommendations to address this.  The Board was presented with statistical information on the differences in life expectancy for men and women within Blackpool and nationally.  Dr Rajpura reported on the wider determinates of health inequalities, the majority of which, in his view, were outside of the health service.

Dr Rajpura reported on of the four recommendations from the Due North report, which were:

1.Tackle poverty and economic inequality

2.Promote healthy development in early childhood

3.Share power over resources and increase influence of public

4.Strengthen role of health sector in promoting health equity

Dr Rajpura went on to explain the actions already being taken locally to address the issues and advised on further actions that still needed to be taken.

Dr Rajpura concluded his presentation by advising the Board that the single recommendation of the Public Health Annual Report 2014 was to ensure that the recommendations for local action as set out in the Due North report were implemented without delay.

Responding to questions from the Board regarding support from the Health and Wellbeing Board, Dr Rajpura informed Members that an action plan on the implementation of the recommendations for local action in the Due North report was being produced and suggested that the Board should monitor progress on the action plan.

During a lengthy discussion, it was generally accepted that there had been a lot of success in tackling health inequalities in Blackpool but more was needed to be done. 

Resolved: 

1.To note the Public Health Annual Report 2014 and endorse the recommendation.

2.To add an item on the Health and Wellbeing Board’s Forward Plan to monitor progress on the action plan on the implementation of the recommendation.

To receive an update on the Public Health Ring-Fenced Funding Reduction

Dr Rajpura updated the Board on the proposed reduction in the ring-fenced funding for Public Health.  He advised Members that the deadline for consultation had passed and that a robust response had been provided to the consultation which had included the Council’s view that it was against any cut in the Public Health budget. 

The Group noted that a response from the Minister of Public Health had been received and circulated to Members of the Board. 

The Group noted that a response to the proposed reduction had also been provided by 38 Degrees Blackpool, Fylde and Wyre NHS Support Group and it was requested that this be forwarded to Members.  Dr Rajpura expressed concerns at the potential loss of £1.3million from the budget and suggested that any cuts should be on a pro-rata basis due to the length of time that would have elapsed before the extent of the proposed cuts was known.

Resolved:  To note the verbal update.

To consider the draft forward plan for the Health and Wellbeing Board.

The Board considered the Forward Plan.

The Board was advised that individual Members had the opportunity to request appropriate items to be included in the Plan.

Resolved:  To note the Forward Plan.

To note the date of future meeting as follows:

2^nd September 2015

21^st October 2015

2^nd December 2015

27^th January 2016

2^nd March 2016

20^th April 2016

Members noted the date of future meetings as follows:

21^st October 2015

2^nd December 2015

27^th January 2016

2^nd March 2016

20^th April 2016