Agenda and minutes

The Chair advised the Board that following the death of Queen Elizabeth II much of the scheduled reports for the meeting would be stood down. Only two reports were to be presented for approval due to their urgency:

Pharmaceutical Needs Assessment (Post-Consultation) and;

Children and Young People Local Transformation Plan Refresh.

The Chair led the Board in one minute of silence for Queen Elizabeth II.

The Chair introduced Helen Fergusson and Dale Owens to the Board as the new Strategic Directors for Children’s Social Care and Lifelong Learning and Integrated Adults and Social Care.

Apologies for absence were received from Alice Wiseman, Councillor Bernadette Oliphant, Councillor Martin Gannon, Duncan James, Nicola Allen, Phil Hindmarsh, Phill Capewell, Steve Kirk and Steve Thomas.

The Board received a report and presentation for approval of the final Pharmaceutical Needs Assessment (PNA) 2022.

The Board received a summary of key findings as follows:

•        There are 46 pharmacies in Gateshead, located primarily in areas of higher population density with 98% of the population being within 1 mile of a community pharmacy.

•        In addition, there is one 100-hour pharmacy, three distant selling pharmacies, and one rural general practice provides dispensing services to some of their patients.

•        There is adequate provision of pharmacies across Gateshead Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm. However, as in previous years, services continue to be more limited in weekday evenings and over weekends.

•        On Saturdays, 67% of pharmacies are open in the mornings and 30% are open on Saturday afternoons. Sunday and evening provision across Gateshead is more limited.

•        Although there has been a reduction in pharmacy provision in Gateshead since the last PNA, there continues to be adequate access to community pharmacies during the weekdays and weekends, although this is more limited in the evenings and on Sundays.

•        Services currently commissioned from pharmacies in Gateshead include emergency contraception, smoking cessation, needle exchange, supervised consumption of methadone, minor ailments, and specialist palliative care drugs. There is adequate provision of all these services across Gateshead.

•        The finding described in this PNA is that there continues to be a good delivery of Pharmacy Advanced Services across Gateshead.

The Board were reminded that the final consultation with stakeholders on the draft PNA took place between June-August 2022. It was highlighted that three specific questions were asked, these were:

1)     Whether the PNA reflects the current pharmaceutical provision in Gateshead;

2)     Whether there are sufficient community pharmacies to meet the needs of the population; and

3)     Whether other services could be delivered by community pharmacies.

The Board noted that a total of 20 comments had been received from stakeholders and the public resulting in several minor amendments being made to the PNA. It was reported that in general, participants felt that the pharmaceutical provision in Gateshead is good and sufficient.

The Board expressed concern at the lack of evening and weekend pharmaceutical services, particularly in the west of Gateshead; officers advised that this concern had been recognised in the PNA.

RESOLVED:

(i)               The Board approved the revised Pharmaceutical Needs Assessment for publication.

The Board received a presentation and a draft copy of the Gateshead Children and Young People’s Mental Health and Emotional Wellbeing Transformation Plan 2022/23.

The Board were advised that the plan is ‘system wide’ and has been developed to ensure that services are delivering the Children and Young People’s Mental Health Key Lines of Enquiries (KLOEs 22/23) and the NHS Long Term Plan for the Children and Young People of Gateshead. It was also reported that sign off for the draft plan is due by 1 October 2022.

A summary of the refreshed plan in 2022/23 was provided, it was also noted that data and evidence for commissioning decisions and intentions were being refreshed and that a particular focus has been placed on prevention and early intervention. The Board also received an update on progress that had been made across 2021/22 which included a focus on the workforce and strategy development.

An overview of how the plan fits in with the Gateshead Health and Wellbeing Strategy was presented; it was highlighted that all services intend to work to the principles within the Strategy including “Give every child the best start in life.”

The Board noted that there was emphasis on enabling children, young people and adults to maximise their capabilities and have control over their lives. It was also noted that resources are being developed to support young people in collaboration with service users. A discussion also took place on the impact of absenteeism in schools.

 It was confirmed that the draft plan is a ‘live’ document and will be continually reviewed. A comment was made welcoming the focus of the plan on absenteeism in schools.

RESOLVED:

(i)               The Board approved the draft plan.