Issue - meetings

The update on the Better Care Fund report was given by Mr Clive Uren, who was currently the Interim Director of Commissioning at Bromley CCG.

Members were reminded that the BCF submission was agreed by the Executive and signed off by the HWB Chairman on September 19^th 2014. The revised guidance required that the BCF submission ensured that provision for social care was protected and that emergency hospital admissions be reduced by 3.5%

Mr Uren reminded the Committee that to achieve these primary objectives, eight specific schemes were developed with partners. Three of these schemes would look to reduce emergency admissions by 2.8% directly in 2015/16, and the other schemes would act as “enablers”.  The “enablers” were in essence longer term initiatives.

The Committee were informed that the Bromley BCF Plan was currently being assessed by the Better Care Fund Programme Team at NHS England, and the expectation was that the Bromley plan would be approved with support. The next stage would be to look into specific project details, some of which may be procured. To this end, project management support would be brought in, and JICE (Joint Integrated Care Executive) would oversee the process.   

Mr Uren reminded the Board that the report had identified several risk factors to the BCF work programme. It was estimated that the financial risk that would result from failing to achieve the reduced admissions targets would be in the region of £1.35m, and that this would be borne by the CCG as Commissioner. Mr Uren advised the Board that the CCG had set aside £4.5m to protect social care services.

Mr Uren informed the Board that the work programme had been agreed by LBB and Kings, and that a 2.8% reduction in admission targets had been agreed. It was also the case that another BCF plan had to be submitted by 21^st November to release £45m from the BCF.

The Board endorsed the contents of the report.

RESOLVED  that:

  I.  the contents of the report be noted

  II.  the Board endorse the Chairman’s action in approving the Bromley BCF plan

  III.  updates on the development and implementation of the BCF plan be brought to future Board meetings

  IV.  the Board acknowledged the key role of the JICE in overseeing and delivering the BCF schemes