Agenda and minutes

The minutes of the meeting held on 31 January 2023 were approved as a correct record.

Report – Ros Goode, Portfolio Manager, PCC (Gateshead) North East & North Cumbria Integrated Care Board

The Committee received a report and verbal update regarding NE&NC ICB proposals to close the surgery at 5b New Century House, Jackson Street, Gateshead and details of the proposed engagement process with patients and stakeholders.

The North East and North Cumbria ICB have made the decision to close the surgery at Metro Interchange, 5b New Century House, Jackson Street Gateshead following a review of the options for the future of the practice following the unexpected death of the sole contract holder.

A briefing setting out the position and proposed engagement process with patients and stakeholders as set out in Appendix 1 to the report.

RESOLVED – That the information be noted

Report and presentation of the Strategic Director, Service Director, Quality Assurance & Commissioning (Gateshead Systems)

The Committee received a report and presentation which provided an update on progress of the Adult Support services for Carers, commissioned by Care, Wellbeing and Learning.

The Committee were advised that support for Adult Caregivers in Gateshead is provided by two commissioned services, Gateshead Carers Association and Carers Trust Tyne and Wear. These services are two elements of a three-part Carers contract, which commenced on 1 May 2019 and expires on 30 April 2024. The contract which also includes services for Young Carers provided by Carers Trust Tyne and Wear, is jointly funded by Gateshead Council and North East & North Cumbria Integrated Care Board (ICB).

Gateshead Carers Association provide a range of support  services for adult caregivers over the age of 18 years. Support includes, completing carer assessments, 1 to 1 confidential carer wellbeing support, carer wellbeing fund, a carers café, tailored support for young adult carers aged 18-25 years, carer support groups and activities, telephone befriending service and a holiday home in Cumbria.

Carers Trust Tyne and Wear provide the Carer Relief Service for adult caregivers up to a total maximum of 400 hours per week. This service offers up to 4 hours per week replacement care to allow caregivers a break from their day-to-day caring responsibilities. There are 3 key elements to this service:

Providing practical support e.g. shopping, household tasks and meal preparation

Providing personal care e.g. personal hygiene, medication prompting and dressing

Providing social care e.g. help with bill paying, support to access training or local facilities

The Committee were advised that data for the first three quarters of 2022/23 (1 April 2022 – 31 December 2022) from Gateshead Carers Association identified a total of 1163 adult caregivers who were supported during this period.

A total of 403 new caregivers were referred and supported from April 2022 to December 2022, of which 73% were female and 27% male; 55% of the referrals were for caregivers aged 26 to 65 years and 19% were agreed 66 to 80 years.

The Committee were advised that overall, the Carer Relief Service helped to improve carer’s health, well-being and quality of life, and increase their social connectedness. Around three quarters of the carers surveyed said that they had a better quality of life (76%), felt less lonely or isolated (74%) and had improved well being (73%) as a result of receiving the Carer Relief Service. Two thirds (67%) said that the service had helped them to look after their mental health, an over half (59%) their physical health. Only three people disagreed with any of  these statements.

RESOLVED – That the information be noted.

Presentation by Edward O’Malley, Public Health Team

The Committee received a presentation on action to address Health Inequalities in Gateshead.

The Committee were advised that inequalities across a range of health outcomes included:

·        Breastfeeding

·        Smoking rates

·        Alcohol related hospital admissions

·        Sexual health indicators

·        Cancers

·        Cardio-vascular disease

·        Respiratory disease

·        Suicide rates

The Committee were advised that those in the most deprived areas lose around a decade of their life expectancy compared to those in the more affluent wards of Gateshead and that the gap in life expectancy has widened.

Wider determinants of health through a cost of living crisis were outlined to the Committee as well as the Health and Wellbeing Strategy Policy objectives and the development of the approach and plan, the journey to date and the development of workstreams to take this work forward.

·        RESOLVED – That the information be noted.

Verbal Update by Steph Downey, Service Director Adult Social Care

Steph Downey circulated interim guidance last week from CQC and provided the Committee with a verbal update on where things were currently with the roll out.

Officers are currently assessing the information and how it will affect Gateshead and a further update will be provided in due course.

RESOLVED – That the information be noted

Joint Report of the Chief Executive and the Strategic Director, Corporate Services and Governance

The Committee received a report which set out the provisional work programme for the municipal year 2022/23.

Appendix 1 set out the work programme as it currently stands and highlights proposed changes to the programme in bold and italics for ease of identification.