Agenda item

The Board received a report providing an update from the local systems leaders on the progress in taking the integration of health and care in Gateshead, building upon the recommendations agreed by the Board on 8 September 2017 and a report-out from a week-long workshop to Board members.

It was noted from the report that a Gateshead ‘Place’ based approach to Health and Care needs to support the ‘Thrive’ agenda. It was highlighted that a key outcome from the June workshop was the commitment to pursue a primacy of place approach in taking forward health and care integration in Gateshead. It was noted that it also means that it is recognised that it is of importance to local people, local politicians and professionals to be directly involved in shaping health and care services.

It was highlighted that a place-based approach has implications for the relationship with wider footprints at Integrated Care System (ISC) level and Integrated Care Partnership (ICP) North level that includes Gateshead.

From the report a summary of the Integrated Planning proposals was also provided. It was noted that the development of integrated health and care planning is complex and multi-faceted but provides an opportunity to bring together the health and care system.

It was also noted from the report that there is an opportunity to jointly address key challenges facing the local health and care economy and to make the most of opportunities to do things differently through joint working arrangements.

It was noted that a Gateshead Plan is being developed to capture the key components of the new approach, it was also highlighted that the plans are not a ‘strategy’.

An overview of the System Priority Areas for 2019/20 was provided which included children and young people’s mental health, frailty and people with multiple and complex needs. A summary of system behaviours was also provided noting that discussions have identified the need for a better way of having conversations regarding the contracting round and that arrangements are being made to get the appropriate people together to move this forward.

From the report the role of the voluntary and community sector was also detailed. It was noted that the work of the sector is recognised by the local system whether or not contracted health and care services are provided. The Board were also provided with a summary of the report appendix which illustrated the Gateshead ‘Primacy of Place’ based approach to health and care integration and the Gateshead Care Partnership Framework for Better Outcomes.

A comment was made that the prevent agenda needs to be pushed to minimise the strain on local services in the first place. The Board were also advised that at a recent summit in Manchester it became clear that Gateshead are ahead of the game in terms of integrated care.

A question was asked regarding the integration of ICT systems, it was also asked whether staff who deliver services are being consulted. It was noted that a bid has been submitted for north east local authorities for funding to join up health and social care digital records; it was also highlighted that staff are to be involved from a ‘grass-roots’ level.

It was noted that the report makes no reference to ‘listening’ or ‘responding’ to the needs to people and that the mentions of communication and engagement feel ‘top heavy’. It was said that Gateshead are performing well in terms of key performance indicators however outcomes for the community do need to improve.

RESOLVED:

(i)            The Board noted the contents of the report and agreed to receive further updates by April 2019.