Agenda item

To consider the end of year performance of the Blackpool Clinical Commissioning Group (April 2020 – March 2021) and also a more in depth look at the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on current performance and ongoing recovery planning.

Ms Kate Newton, Performance and Improvement Manager, Blackpool, Fylde and Wyre Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) introduced the end of year performance data for Blackpool Clinical Commissioning Group (BCCG) and invited questions from the Committee.

Members referred to the cancer waiting times and raised the ongoing concerns relating to breast cancer targets. Ms Newton advised that a long term locum in radiology had been employed in order to address wait times and noted that the target related to those who were ‘breast symptomatic’. It was hoped that the position would be much improved in the near future and it was agreed that the data for May and June 2021 would be circulated to the Committee as soon as it was available.

The Committee raised questions relating to the term ‘medically fit for discharge’. In response, Mr Peter Murphy, Director of Nursing, AHP and Quality, Blackpool Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust advised that the term meant that a member of the medical team had assessed a patient and determined that there was nothing more medically needed or that could be provided and the patient could therefore be discharged. The decision could be made by one clinical professional in their own right with patients and families able to ask for a second opinion. Clinical professionals might also liaise with other professionals involved in the patient’s treatment prior to making a decision.

In relation to the proposed merger of the eight Clinical Commissioning Groups in Lancashire and South Cumbria into the Integrated Care System (ICS), Mr Roy Fisher, Chair, Blackpool Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) reported that the requisite legislation was expected in July 2021. The ICS would sit above more localised Integrated Care Partnerships (ICP), with the local ICP covering the Fylde Coast. Dr Neil Hartley-Smith, Executive Clinical Director, Blackpool, Fylde and Wyre CCGs added that CCGs would cease to exist in March 2022 with shadow arrangements for the new structure already being put in place. The ICP would bring together the acute trust, primary care, social care, mental health provision and the voluntary, community and faith sector to deliver healthcare provision to the local community. It was agreed that a presentation on the development of the ICS and ICP would be provided to the Committee towards the end of 2021.

It was noted that the report provided used an increased number of acronyms that made it inaccessible to the wider public and it was requested that future reports contained a glossary and that one be sent through for the report on the agenda.

Members went on to consider the targets in relation to dementia and queried whether they were robust and challenging enough. Dr Hartley-Smith advised that the targets were national targets which had been rolled forward due to the pandemic. Ms Beth Goodman, Deputy Director of Commissioning, Blackpool Clinical Commissioning Group added that the targets were not seen as an end result but as a minimum level to exceed. She advised that the CCG was consulted with regarding targets and could feed in the Committee’s views on this particular target to NHS England.

It was considered that all health services in Blackpool had made the best possible efforts during particularly difficult circumstances during the pandemic. The implications of which had been keenly felt on all aspects of provision. Dr Hartley-Smith noted that in these difficult circumstances, when considering performance in Blackpool against that of neighbouring localities, Blackpool compared favourably. Members commended the work of the NHS during the pandemic and emphasised their desire to carry out their role effectively and ensuring patients continued to receive the treatment expected and that services returned to normal as quickly as possible.

The Committee also requested data on the number of patients ready to be discharged and being delayed due to waits for prescription medication. It was noted that timely discharge was a key goal of the Trust and that the data requested could be provided following the meeting.

The Committee agreed:

1.      To receive the ‘breast symptomatic’ data for May and June 2021 as soon as it was available.

2.      To receive a presentation on the development of the ICS and ICP in due course.

3.      To receive a glossary of the acronyms included in the report.

4.      To receive data on the number of patients ready to be discharged and being delayed due to waits for prescription medication.