Issue - meetings

The Chair welcomed the following officers from the Healthier Lancashire and South Cumbria Integrated Care System (ICS): Andrew Bennett, Executive Director for Commissioning, Peter Tinson, Chief Operating Officer for Fylde Coast Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) and Neil Greaves, Head of Communication and Engagement.

Andrew Bennett presented a report proving a high-level overview of the partnerships in the Lancashire and South Cumbria Integrated Care System and the progress toward developing a five year strategy in response to the NHS Long Term Plan.

Jenny Hurley, representing Protect Chorley and South Ribble Hospital from Cuts and Privatisation campaign group made deputations to the committee in response to the report. The deputations raised concerns expressed by the campaign group regarding the potential merger of eight Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) to one and requested that detailed plans and the result of a public consultation be presented to a future meeting of the committee.

Mary Whitby, representing Save Ormskirk and Southport Hospital campaign group also made deputations to the committee in response to the report. The deputation requested that the committee rejected the five year plan and merger of the eight CCGs in favour of a public consultation.

Members requested clarification on a number of issues as detailed below:

·  Concerns were expressed regarding the wide ranging implications of the plan and lack of specific detail regarding the direction of the strategy and its local impact.

In response NHS colleagues stated that a series of NHS reforms from 2012, had highlighted the requirement for NHS bodies to work closer together. In addition ongoing feedback from patients had described that they received fragmented care. The strategy aimed to form partnerships and working relationships to improve the patient experience. It was emphasised that the strategy was not designed to centralise services, but to support the planning of healthcare at a neighbourhood level and high level expenditure at a strategic level. It was emphasised that 41 primary care networks had been successfully established and were engaging with the strategy.

·  With regard to the proposed merger of eight Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) into one, members raised the issue of the practicality of addressing constituents' concerns to one single commissioning body for 1.7 million people in the ICS and asked how local accountability could be assured. It was maintained that this was already difficult with the current arrangement. Members also suggested that NHS reforms had frequently changed direction and it would be beneficial for the residents of Lancashire if decision making remained closer to home to allow for the specific priorities for individual areas to be developed.

NHS officers stated that there would be a plan to develop a case for change that was likely to recommend a single CCG, which would support work in the neighbourhoods/primary care networks to engage local people and address individual needs. This process included the submission of a formal request and a consultation to identify and address risks. The case for change had yet to be set out and local voice and representations would have  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5