Issue - meetings

Mike Kirby, Director, Corporate Commissioning, presented a report on the development of a Lancashire and South Cumbria Sustainability and Transformation Plan (STP), as well as other activity taking place to address integration issues on health and social care.

It was reported that every part of the NHS was required to have a locally led STP in place by 2017, for implementation by 2020. It was noted that this initiative needed to be seen in the context of substantial financial challenges for the health and social care system, including a forecast budget shortfall of at least £805m by 2020/21.

In considering the report, members welcomed the involvement of district councils in integration activities, and stressed the importance of increasing the level of democratic accountability in the NHS.

Resolved: That

  i.  the development of the Lancashire and South Cumbria Sustainability and Transformation Plan be noted

  ii.  the Operating Principles set out in the report be agreed, and that these be communicated to partner organisations: NHS England, the Clinical Commissioning Groups, Cumbria County Council and Lancashire Leaders and Chief Executives

The Committee considered a report on the development of a Lancashire and South Cumbria Sustainability and Transformation Plan (STP).

A key requirement of the STP was that the County Council and all other partners including District Councils should work together to create a more efficient and sustainable health and social care system. 

Whilst the Planning Guidance required the NHS to produce the STP, it was important that the County Council fully engaged with the process to help shape and direct it.  To enable the Council to participate effectively, it was felt that the Council's approach to health and social care integration should be clearly set out and the report to Cabinet proposed the adoption of a set of Operating Principles to be shared with partners.  These covered:

·  Governance;

·  Citizen focused integration;

·  Local Health Economies;

·  Joint Strategic Needs Assessment;

·  Pooled Budgets; and

·  Single commissioning arrangements within pooled budget arrangements.

The report also drew attention to other on-going initiatives that needed to sensibly integrate or align with the STP process. These included Healthier Lancashire, the Lancashire Combined Authority and on-going work within the five Health Economies in Lancashire.

Members discussed the problems faced by people having to travel cross boundary to access health services It was agreed that this was an important issue which needed to be addressed.  The Committee also agreed that the lack of democratic accountability on CCG Boards and Acute Trusts was a barrier to improved integration.

It was agreed that a series of bite size briefings should be held to enable members to discuss and have a better understanding of the issues raised in the report including the development of the STP, the options for improved integration and joint working, and initiatives such as Healthier Lancashire and the five health economies. 

Resolved:  That the recommendations set out in the report to the Cabinet be noted and that apart from the above, no additional comments or suggested alternative recommendations be made.