Agenda and minutes

A Member must declare any disclosable pecuniary interest where it relates to any matter being considered at the meeting. A declaration of a disclosable pecuniary interest should indicate the interest and the agenda item to which it relates. A Member is not permitted to participate in this agenda item by law and should immediately leave the meeting before the start of any debate. If the Member leaves the Chamber in respect of a declaration, he or she should ensure that the Chairman is aware of this before he or she leaves to enable their exit from the meeting to be recorded in the minutes in accordance with Standing Order 37.

None.

Minutes of the Panel meeting held on 13 October 2022 – to approve as a correct record.

Resolved: that the minutes of the meeting held on 13 October 2022 be approved as a correct record.

[Items 7 and 8 were taken early to enable Agenda item 6 to be taken later on the agenda].

The Deputy Director of Commissioning, BNSSG Integrated Care Board (ICB) gave a presentation updating Members on progress in the delivery of Winter 2022/23 planning and early lessons.  This included updates on the following:

·         tranches of funding;

·         the Winter Board Assurance Framework;

·         North Somerset Adult Social Care Discharge funding update;

·         industrial action; and

·         next steps.

In reviewing the information, Members sought and received clarification on the following:

·         discharge funding for step down care and the reference to “additional spot purchase beds remaining open … with no care coordination”;

·         the potential to involve GPs in allocating care;

·         addressing challenges around domiciliary care provision; and

·         progress on “call 111” early triage initiatives (Clinical Assessment Service).

In closing discussions, the Chairman recognised the considerable difficulties faced by health and social care services and whilst the initiatives discussed above would make a difference, the challenge was considerable and on-going.

Concluded: that the report be received.

[This item was taken out of sequence]

The Estates Manager, BNSSG ICB gave a presentation outlining:

·         the ICB Estates Management Plan, providing a broad overview of the national and local contexts and an update on NHS estates plans for the North Somerset area; and

·         the Graham Road GP Surgery Relocation: Engagement and Consultation - Providing background details of the project, overview of the consultation and engagement plan, the engagement activities undertaken, feedback received from participants and next steps.

Members received for following responses to issues and concerns raised:

(1)       New Parklands Surgery capacity – assurance was given that the new surgery would have sufficient capacity to accommodate proposed new housing development in the area but it was noted that there would need to be a prior consultative process if additional housing were to be proposed in the Local Plan currently under development with NSC.

(2)       Capacity at proposed new surgery at the Rugby Club– assurance was also given that the capacity at the new site was sufficient to take on Graham Road patients and he also gave definitive assurance that there were no plans to close the nearby Horizon health centre.  It was emphasised that this was a key asset for the local Bourneville community/

There was discussion about the acknowledged challenges around pedestrian and public transport access to the new site but notwithstanding these enduring concerns, Members acknowledged the urgent need to improve the quality and capacity of GP services in Weston-super-Mare, noting that provision in the town was recognised as being the least sufficient in the BNSSG area.  Members therefore welcomed and endorsed the outlined public engagement plans for the proposed new surgery.

Concluded:

(1)  that the report be received; and

(2)  that the engagement activities undertaken in relation to the Graham Road GP Surgery Relocation project be endorsed.

[This item was taken out of sequence.]

The Programme Director, BNSSG ICB gave a presentation updating Members on the cross-system efforts and progress to date in developing a system wide Integrated Care Strategy (ICS).  The presentation focussed on:

• the purpose of the strategy;
• the current position;
• the delivery timeline; and  
• a summary of the BNSSG Strategic Framework

Members noted the development of the BNSSG Outcomes Framework (as a means of measuring ICS delivery and the requirement that the ICB produce and consult on a Joint Forward Plan (JFP). It was suggested that the Panel may wish review to this plan annually.

In considering the Strategic Framework (to who how the system will plan to deliver strategic aims) Members provided the following feedback:

·         areas of need emerging from the analysis: end of life care – Members felt there needed to be greater emphasis on the need for support for “informal” carers (family/friends);

·         System Outcomes framework: ENV21 – more emphasis was needed on business engagement and the significant potential for positively influencing employees and contribution to enhancing the natural environment;

·         the need to develop qualitative measures of the strategy’s impact on people’s health and wellbeing experience; and

·         active travel and its contribution to improving public health and addressing climate emergency needed greater emphasis.

In bringing the discussion to an end it was agreed that the developing Integrated Care Strategy would be considered by all scrutiny panels when the process converged towards identifying key priorities.

Concluded: that the report be received and that Members feedback be provided in the form of the minutes.

The Director of Public Health presented the report highlighting how key findings from the adults and children and young people (CYP) mental health needs assessments and engagement activities were shaping emerging priorities to be addressed in the Mental Health Strategy.

The strategy would have a five-year timeline (2023-2028) and would be oriented around overarching themes of (i) Prevention, (ii) Early Intervention, and (iii) Supported and Living Well, to map to the overarching themes of the Health and Wellbeing Strategy 2021-2024.

In discussion Members commented and raised queries as follows:

(1)       A national approach was needed to address impact of social and mainstream media on children’s mental health – the Director confirmed that the Council was lobbying the Government on various related issues but there was much that was being done at local level to support parents.

(2)       Youth services had provided a useful and positive support in the area but many of these had been closed – The Director acknowledged the impacts of ongoing budget challenges but emphasised the opportunities around leveraging and supporting community and third sector initiatives. 

Concluded: that the report be received and that Members feedback be provided in the form of the minutes.

The Physical Activity and Healthy Lifestyles Manager presented the report highlighting the current position with the development of the Physical Activity Strategy.  The strategy would demonstrate how the Council and partners can contribute to improving the health and wellbeing of North Somerset residents and reduce health inequalities through increasing physical activity.

Members sought and received clarification on the following aspects of the strategy:

• encouraging organised activity with more focus on active travel to school
• the numbers of housebound people and carers in the district and work being done to encourage them to be more active; and
• work with Age UK and other partners on pulling together resources for older people.

Concluded: that the report be received, and that Members feedback be provided in the form of the minutes.

In reviewing the Panel’s workplan, the Chairman updated Members on progress with the implementation of Healthy Weston phase 2 – noting that both workstreams set out in Section 1 of the work plan were now complete and would be removed from the Plan.

Members then considered the appendix to the work plan setting out the Chair’s recommended priorities (as set out in the report to Council on 21 February 2023) for the HOSP Panel that would be reconstituted with the new Council administration following the forthcoming election. 

Concluded:

(1)       that the work plan be received and updated accordingly; and

(2)       that the following recommended work plan priorities for the new HOSP Panel (formed after the forthcoming elections) be endorsed:-

·        Priority 1: Ensuring that North Somerset residents see the benefits of the new Integrated Care System and this is truly collaborative across all partners.

·        Priority 2: Access to dentist across North Somerset needs to vastly improve and with the Integrated Care System taking on greater responsibility for this locally it offers an opportunity to influence. Working with Bristol and South Gloucestershire Councils via the Joint Health Overview Scrutiny Committee will be important.

·        Priority 3: Weston General Hospital has made significant improvements in recent months following their latest CQC report. Continue to work closely with the Trust to ensure continued improvement in patient outcomes.

·        Priority 4: Monitor the Healthy Weston 2 programme and whether this has delivered the benefits envisaged and influence the next stages of the strategy.

·        Priority 5: Hospital discharge remains a challenge, so work closely with the Adult Services and Housing Policy Scrutiny Panel to provide assurance and scrutiny that steps are being taken to address this.

·        Priority 6: The Joint Health and Wellbeing Strategy is relatively new across North Somerset and has the potential to reduce health inequalities across North Somerset, but it will only be effective if all partners fully embrace and commit to it. So engage with the Joint Health and Wellbeing Strategy Board, and use the Health Overview and Scrutiny Panel to support this.