Agenda item

Item for Consideration

Simon Trickett explained that the Sustainability and Transformation Plan (STP) was building on work which was already in progress and was developing the opportunities for local bodies to work on a more sustainable footprint.

The report gave feedback from the engagement process. The formal public engagement had concluded at the end of February 2017 and a revised draft plan was being produced. There was public support for the out of hospital care model but concerns over areas such as the reduction in the number of beds, transport and the use of technology. There would be on-going engagement with the workforce.

The Next Steps for the Five Year Forward View Document would be important for the future of the STP, especially how the accountable care system should be introduced.

Sue Harris confirmed that generally the public engagement had shown people supported the direction of travel especially improving collaboration between organisations and making more effective use of resources.

A meeting would be held the following day to confirm timelines for considering feedback and it was expected that the plan would be refreshed by the end of May ready for a joint Herefordshire and Worcestershire Health and Well-being meeting in mid-June.

During the discussion the following points were made:

·       Board Members pointed out that Simon Stevens suggested that two years were needed for reflection on the new plans and for time to involve councillors. Healthwatch felt Users, Patients and Carers also needed to get more involved in a meaningful way, although it was accepted that the purdah period for the general election may delay some conversations

·       In response to a query about how informed the process was and whether the right information was available on why people turned up at A&E, it was suggested that the care codes which were used to classify each case were quite rigid and could not fully represent the full list of reasons why people attended A&E.  The new system should be more collaborative with various professionals involved with individuals and enable better recording

·       When asked if there was more for the HWB to do the response was that the issue was not just for the acute service but that all public sector organisations needed to be involved and people needed to take more action themselves

·       Although prevention seemed to have been diluted by Simon Stephens in the Next Steps for the Five Year Forward View document, the STP Board were strengthening this area; however some delivery platforms such as digital delivery excluded some people

·       There was concern that staff engagement was only happening in the NHS, but it was explained that all communications managers had received information to distribute to staff. However the feedback received so far had mainly been from NHS staff. As more work-streams were addressed there would be a widening out of communications to staff

·       Chris Burden from the Health and Care Trust spoke at the invitation of the Chairman and explained that for services to be sustainable in future prevention and joint working were key.

RESOLVED that the Health and Well-being Board:

a)     Note the themes highlighted through the STP engagement exercise undertaken across Herefordshire and Worcestershire,

b)    Note the publication of the "Next Steps on the Five Year Forward View" and the associated implications for Herefordshire and Worcestershire's STP; and

c)     Having considered the process and timescales for updating Herefordshire and Worcestershire's STP in relation to the above, agree to progress the joint Herefordshire and Worcestershire HWB meeting.