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Councillors and committees

Agenda and minutes

Venue: Whickham Room - Civic Centre

Contact: Sonia Stewart; email;  soniastewart@gateshead.gov.uk 

Items
No. Item

HW1

Apologies for Absence

Minutes:

Apologies for absense were received from Cllr Ron Beadle, Cllr Mary Foy, Cllr Michael McNestry, Mark Adams and Sir Paul Ennals.

 

HW2

Minutes and Action List pdf icon PDF 110 KB

The minutes of the business meeting held on 20th October 2017 and Action List are attached for approval

 

Minutes:

It was noted that the independent clinical audit has highlighted that there continues to be variances in the provision of substance misuse services. Consistency and joined up working needs to be a priority to support patients, particularly those with complex needs. It was agreed that consultation dates would be recirculated to primary care providers.

 

It was highlighted that there was still no answer regarding the availability of subsidised/free flu jabs for those who work in the voluntary sector. It was noted that information has been circulated regarding flu jabs being available to those on low income or volunteers – it was agreed that this information will be circulated to members of the board following the meeting.

 

RESOLVED:

 

i)              The minutes of the last meeting held on 20 October 2017 were approved as a correct record.

ii)             The Board’s Action List was noted.

 

HW3

Declarations of Interest

Members of the Board to declare an interest in any particular agenda item.

Minutes:

There were no declarations of interest.

 

HW4

Director of Public Health Annual Report

Presentation by Alice Wiseman

 

Minutes:

Alice Wiseman presented her annual report to the Board: Inequalities – ‘It never rains but it pours’.

 

The Three key strategic recommendations to come out of the report are:

·         The Health and Wellbeing Strategy should be renewed, adopting a much longer term approach, with a strengthened vision to address inequalities. This needs to include measures to address the social determinants of health alongside prevention and early intervention at every level.

·         Partners in Gateshead should shift the focus from managing the burden of ill health to promoting actions that create the right conditions for good health through the employment of a robust Health in all Policies approach.

·         The Council and its partners should target resources to those individuals and communities most in need. Robust evaluation of reach and impact should be undertaken regularly using a Health Equity Audit approach.

Feedback on the report was positive from board members noting that the presentation lays down a real challenge for healthcare providers. It was said that there is an economic case to encourage local businesses to support work to implement the recommendations of the report.

The board were advised that a copy of the annual report has been given to the Shadow Health Secretary. It was agreed that a copy of the report and supplementary information would be circulated to board members following the meeting.

RESOLVED:

 

i)              The Board noted the contents of the presentation and report.

 

 

HW5

Gateshead Newcastle Deciding Together, Delivering Together pdf icon PDF 57 KB

Report to be delivered by Ian Renwick.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Board were presented with an update on work to progress the implementation of  ‘Deciding Together, Delivering Together’ (DTDT) regarding the design of inpatient and community adult mental health services by Ian Renwick. Clarification was also provided on the scope of services encompassed by DTDT  in Gateshead.

 

It was highlighted from the report that in June 2016, the CCG governing body had considered findings of the Deciding Together process and its decision about the future of service stating: “While the decision will mean the closure of Gateshead’s standalone Tranwell Unit, as well as the Hadrian Clinic in Newcastle, it provides the opportunity to make significant changes that will create new interlinking community and hospital mental health services that will reduce the reliance on hospital stays, shorten the time people spend in hospital and overall improve their experience of services, helping them to recover sooner, stay well and have fulfilling lives.”

It was noted that following extensive desk top data analysis and preliminary stakeholder engagement earlier this year, four week-long design workshops were held in September /October and attended by more than 70 participants including service users and carers. It was also noted from the report that the workshops generated a comprehensive description of the Community Mental Health services to be created in Gateshead and Newcastle under the following headlines:

 

·         Getting help when you need it

·         Understanding need and planning support

·         Delivering support

·         Staying well

 

Ian Renwick advised the board that he wished to pass on his thanks to the team at Healthwatch for their involvement and support through a series of fringe events it organised during each of the four weeks the design workshops were taking place.

 

 

An overview of the proposed structure to ensure there are strong implementation arrangements in place was provided, to include a Steering Group, an inpatient/physical design group (anew sub-group of the Steering Group), the existing Finance and Resources group and a new Operational group.


It was noted that some of the earlier consultation that took place on Deciding Together  was undertaken when the scope did not include older people’s mental health services in Gateshead. It was said that the widened scope provides opportunities for Healthwatch to continue to contribute to the design of services and that there will be continued engagement with stakeholders until re-designed services are established.

 

A question was asked regarding the involvement of service users and carers as part of consultation arrangements. It was said that feedback from the community has been the driver of these proposed changes and that the point will be noted around continued service user and carer involvement.

A further question was asked around the closure of wards – it was stated that there needs to be a rebalance of resources across the system and that judgements will need to be made that best meet the needs of service users and their carers

 

It was noted that outputs from the Deciding Together Work will need to be broken down into three categories of delivery over the  ...  view the full minutes text for item HW5

HW6

Strategic Review of Carers Services pdf icon PDF 69 KB

Report to be delivered by Behnam Khazaeli  and Jane Mulholland.

Minutes:

The Board received the report on the Strategic Review of Carers Service. It was noted that the report aims to inform the Board on the current position of the strategic review of services in Gateshead for unpaid Carers.

 

From the report it was highlighted that the review provides an exciting opportunity for both Gateshead Council and Newcastle Gateshead Clinical Commissioning Group in taking an innovative approach to the integrated commissioning of carers services across Gateshead.

 

It was noted that on 17th October Gateshead Council’s Cabinet gave approval for the Council to jointly procure, with Newcastle Gateshead CCG (NGCCG) an all age carers’ service in Gateshead. This approval enables movement towards procurement activity and the production of relevant documentation for the future tender.

 

It was noted from the report that the preferred option is to go out to tender with one overarching contract for Carers with service requirements divided into 3 separate LOT’s as follows:

 

  • LOT 1 Young carers (aged 0 – 18 years)
  • LOT 2 Adult Carers (aged 18 years and over)
  • LOT 3 Carer Relief

 

The Board were advised that the LOT’s will have their own service specification which will focus on the key objectives identified during engagement activity. This will include; keeping carers informed, supporting carers to look after their health and wellbeing, offering carers a break from caring and raising awareness of the role of carers. It was stated that current providers have been asked to submit details relating to staff that could be transferring under TUPE to the new service.

 

The following project plan and timescales were noted:

 

Tender advertised on NEPO portal - 4 January 2018

Intended contract award date - 3 April 2018

Service commencement - July 2018

 

A concern that procurement decisions can have a big impact on care providers was raised. It was said that there is potential for organisations to become unstable if funding levels becomes reduced or unavailable.

 

A comment was made that over the years there has been duplication of services and with current and future budgetary constraints it in important that service levels  are maintained and that the right services are being provided to those who need them.

 

RESOLVED:

 

i)              The Board noted the contents of the report.

 

 

 

HW7

Performance Management Report for the Health & Care System pdf icon PDF 319 KB

Report to be delivered by John Costello.

Minutes:

The Board were provided with an overview of the Performance Report for the Health & Care System.

 

It was noted that the report was presented for the Board to gain an overview of the current system and to provide appropriate scrutiny. The Board were advised that there has been strong progress on performance within health and social care, although significant health inequalities remain. It was noted that the report focuses on metrics and does not consider financial performance or monitoring of action plans as these are addressed via other processes.

 

The Board were advised that parapraph 40 from the report is to be ignored – this information refers to previous years data and will be deleted. It was said that this report provides a snapshot of current performance and whilst it is clear that progress is being made in many areas, some challenges remain to be addressed if we are to improve outcomes.

 

A question was asked around assessments for those who provide care – it was said that this is a crucial in understanding carer’s needs. In response, it was stated that there has been a lot of work done with Healthwatch around carer’s assessments.

 

RESOLVED:

 

i)              The Board agreed the report.

 

 

HW8

BCF Quarterly Return to NHS England pdf icon PDF 65 KB

Report to be delivered by John Costello.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Board received an overview of the Better Care Fund: 2nd Quarterly Return (2017/18) to NHS England report.

 

It was noted that the report was to seek the endorsement of the Health & Wellbeing Board to the Better Care Fund return to NHS England for the 2nd Quarter of 2017/18.

 

RESOLVED:

 

i)              The Board endorsed the Better Care Fund: 2nd Quarterly return for 2017/18

 

HW9

Updates from Board Members

·         Gateshead Council’s New Strategic Approach and Link to Budget Consultation - Link to 2018/19 Budget Consultation

 

·         Other Updates

Minutes:

Cllr Gannon provided an overview of the Council’s ‘Making Gateshead a place where everyone thrives’ new strategic approach. The Board were advised that in the current and future financial climate the Council must invest to grow and identify other ways it can grow its budget. This will enable it to minimise  cuts to vital services. It was noted that in seeking to reduce inequalities within Gateshead, services will be prioritised to those most in need and that early intervention and prevention work will be a key focus.

 

It was agreed that further information would be circulated to Board members following the meeting.

 

RESOLVED:

 

i)              The Board noted the information from the report.

 

 

HW10

Any Other Business

Minutes:

There was no other business discussed.

 

 

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