Minutes:
The Health and Social Care update was provided by Dr Angela Bhan.
Dr Bhan commenced by stating that the Health and Social Care Integration Board chaired by Cllr Carr was continuing to meet.
Department of Health (DoH) and Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) representatives met with Lorna Blackwood and Jackie Goad from LBB and Mark Cheung and Dr Bhan from the CCG the previous week. This was not a formal meeting, but was convened to touch base and to discuss progress made to date. There was also discussion around the new guidance that was expected for health and social care integration. The representatives from the DoH and the DCLG were impressed by the quality of work that had been undertaken to date in Bromley at an operational level. It had been agreed that all concerned would stay in close contact.
Cllr Stephen Carr stated that discussions around the integration of Health and Social Care were ongoing and still at an early stage. A further exploration of issues was required. Agreement was still needed in certain areas, but he was pleased with the progress made to date. He recognised the need for the welfare of local residents to be a priority in all of the negotiations taking place around health and social care integration. Cllr Carr stated that it was important that the integration process be effective, and that high quality services be put in place. He noted the importance of effective prevention, and stated that all of these factors were especially important for the social care and acute services sectors.
Mr Stephen John informed the Board that LBB and the CCG were involved with various working groups that had been established to develop care pathways; no definite agreement existed currently, and discussions were ongoing.
The Board were briefed that LBB and the CCG were still on track in terms of developing the overall integration plans, and that an important area of work being analysed for the development of Integrated Care Networks (ICNs), was sorting out finances and budgets.
Dr Bhan informed the Board that in line with the development of a “frailty pathway”, a new Frailty Unit was being planned. She also informed the Board that an away day had been arranged the following week to discuss the Transfer of Care Bureau (TOCB). The plan for the TOCB was to gather together all the various providers into single units at each hospital. It was hoped that this would then reduce the length of time that people had to remain in hospital. Dr Bhan stated that extra care packages had been purchased, but it remained to be seen if this would be sustainable.
The Chairman suggested that developments concerning the new Frailty Unit and TOCB be added to the HWB Work Programme. Dr Bhan pointed out that all providers had signed up to a memorandum of understanding concerning metrics, which included the incentive pilot.
RESOLVED that updates concerning the development of the Frailty Pathway and the TOCB be added to the HWB work programme.