Meeting documents

To consider the report.

This report was a further example of the Better Care Fund and its practical application. The Government White Paper entitled ‘ ‘Integration and innovation: working together to improve health and social care for all, setting out plans for a Health and Care Bill’ has the stated aims of making integrated care the default, reducing legal bureaucracy, and better supporting social care, public health and the NHS.

The key proposals are:

The creation of statutory Integrated Care Systems (ICS), made up of an NHS Body and a Health and Care Partnership.

·         To introduce a duty to collaborate across health, public health and social care.

·         To scrap mandatory competitive procurements. Under the proposals, the NHS will only need to tender services when it is thought this will lead to better outcomes for patients.

·         The Competition & Markets Authority no longer involved in NHS significant transactions.

·         Formally merging NHS Improvement into NHS England.

·         A package of social care measures; assurance and data sharing, powers for Secretary of State to directly make payments to adult social care providers and creating a standalone Better Care Fund.

·         A range of public health measures; the introduction of new requirements about calorie labelling on food and drink packaging and the advertising of junk food before the 9pm watershed and streamlining the process for the fluoridation of water.

·         There are other pieces of related legislation in the pipeline. These include specific proposals on social care and public health.

The report made it clear that Somerset was well placed to develop this service, as it is already working together delivering independent living, sustainable services, and better outcomes; Fit for my Future demonstrated that collaboration. Somerset has made good progress over the past few years to improve services and provide more joined up care and this puts Somerset in a good position. Moving forward, the ICS will look to build on the best of what has been achieved so far in the context of the legislative measures and in the best interests of the people.

The Board discussed the report, and the following areas were raised:

·         The proposals for local Government re-organisation and any impact this may have. It was confirmed that the ICS would work with whatever arrangement finally emerged.  The proposed Bill is a permissive one and it will nor destabilise the progress that has been made.

·         The current level of collaboration is based on drive for improvement that has come from a desire for change and positive relationships, this Board is once such point of influence. 

·         The proposed Bill will give more local control to respond to local need within a National Framework and should be regarded in that respect as a great opportunity.

·         There was a concern that the demand for Mental Health services will increase as the lockdown restrictions are eased. The Board were informed that Somerset has made changes to ensure this demand can be met and some of those changes already made have received national recognition.

The Somerset Health and Wellbeing Board:

·         Noted the report and provided feedback on the information

·         Agreed the proposed next steps.??