Health and Adult Social Care Select Committee
Agenda Item No. 9
Health and Adult Social Care Select Committee
8 March 2017
Business Planning Group Report
Report by Chairman, Business Planning Group
Executive SummaryEach Select Committee has a Business Planning Group (BPG) to oversee the Committee’s work programme and prioritise issues for consideration by the Committee. This report provides an update to the Committee of the BPG meeting held on 6 December setting out the key issues discussed.
Recommendation
The Health and Adult Social Care Select Committee is asked to endorse the contents of the report in particular the Committee’s Work Programme revised to reflect the Business Planning Group’s (BPG’s) discussions (attached at Appendix A)
1. Background
1.1 The Business Planning Group (BPG) met on 31 January, members in attendance were: Ms Kennard, Mr Griffiths (by phone), Mrs Rapnik, Mr Turner (Chairman) and
Dr Walsh
1.2 Also present were: - Sarah Flavell (Head of Continuing Healthcare, West Sussex clinical commissioning groups), Martin Parker and Avril Wilson (Children, Adults, Families, Health & Education), Chris Salt (Corporate Resources & Services), Helena Cox and Rob Castle (Democratic Services).
2. NHS Updates
2.1 Continuing Healthcare
2.1.1 BPG discussed continuing healthcare with Sarah Flavell (Head of Continuing Healthcare, West Sussex clinical commissioning groups) and learnt that: -
· The Department of Health announced a closedown of previously unassessed periods of care causing a backlog which was now nearly cleared
· Most complaints were about the time taken for decisions to be made
· The service was aiming to recruit 7/8 more nurses, including two for palliative care
· A Quality Assurance Team had been in place for about a year to ensure quality is maintained by service providers
· Time from referral to decision should be 28 days, but as many cases required extra information it could take 8 – 12 weeks due to lack of clinical resources
· It was hoped to widen discharge to assess work which was currently taking place with Surrey & Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust, Brighton & Sussex University Hospitals NHS Trust, Crawley and Horsham hospitals
2.1.2 BPG agreed that continuing healthcare would be part of an item at full committee on 8 March and would like a further update to BPG in approximately six months.
2.2 Radiotherapy Services
2.2.1 BPG considered a submission by a member of the public regarding the lack of radiotherapy services in West Sussex and a response by Western Sussex Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, saying that due to changing circumstances and funding constraints, for the providers as well as nationally, a service had not been progressed.
2.2.2 BPG agreed that the subject should be discussed at the March full committee meeting dependent on arranging suitable witnesses to attend, or at a later meeting if not.
3. Work Programme Planning for 2015-16
3.1 Forward Plan
3.1.1 BPG was briefed by Martin Parker (Children, Adults, Families, Health & Education) regarding a decision, which was due to be published in the Forward Plan shortly, to go to a competitive procurement process to find a provider for assistive technology services.
3.1.2 BPG agreed that this item did not need to be added to the agenda for the March committee meeting for pre-decision scrutiny.
3.2 March Committee Meeting
3.2.1 BPG asked that place-based updates be included in the item on intermediate care, that the meeting be webcast and that an item on radiotherapy services be added if possible.
4. Total Performance Monitor (TPM)
4.1 Chris Salt introduced the TPM telling BPG that: -
· The Adult Social Care & Health budget was expected to be overspent by around £2.5m due to: -
Ø A risk that not all savings, especially those relating to preventative services, would materialise
Ø The number of people eligible for social care had risen by less than expected – a possible indication that preventative services were beginning to have an affect
Ø Complexity of need meant increased average placement costs
· Looking ahead the position was deteriorating due to an increase in placement costs which showed that funding for social care needed to be put on a better footing
· Next year’s budget would allow for an increase in pressure, population (especially the over 65s) and complexity of need
· The biggest pressure would be the £2m focus on prevention
4.2 BPG noted the latest TPM position.
5. Date of next meetings
5.1 BPG meetings will be arranged following county council elections in May.
6. Equality Impact Report
6.1 An Equality Impact Report is not required as this is an information report and does not directly impact upon customers.
7. Implications
7.1 There are no resource, risk management, Crime and Disorder Act or Human Rights Act implications arising directly from this report.
Bryan Turner
Chairman, Health and Adult Social Care Select Committee
Contact: Rob Castle, 033022-22546;
Appendices - Appendix A - HASC Work Programme
Background Papers - None