Issue - meetings

To receive a presentation setting out developments over the coming months and planning for 2021/22.

Mike Barker, Chief Operating Officer introduced a presentation advising the Board of NHS developments over the coming months.

Considering the final quarter of 2020/21, given the Covid second wave and the new, more transmissible, variant of the virus, it was clear that the winter period would be another challenging time for the NHS and presented five key tasks of responding to Covid-19 demand; implementing the Covid-19 vaccination programme; maximising capacity in all settings to treat non-Covid-19 patients; responding to other emergency demand and managing winter pressures; and supporting the health and wellbeing of the workforce.  Activities and programmes supporting each of these key tasks were advised. 

Looking to 2021/22, national priorities would be on recovering non-Covid services; primary and community care; health inequalities; people and workforce; mental health; and integrating care.  While the Government had announced further funding for the NHS for 2021/22 within the Spending Review, the Government would consider what additional funding would be required to reflect Covid-19 cost pressures once impacts were clearer.  Locally, Oldham’s health and care phase 3 recovery assessment had been established and a six month plan with eight priorities of cancer; elective; workforce; mental health and learning disabilities; health inequalities; primary care; winter; and integrated care determined. Actions underway and planned to further address these priorities were outlined in the presentation.

A process for the transition to an integrated system model for health and social care during 2021/22 was advised, with a view to shadow running from September 2021.  The presentation considered the vision and principles behind this development and the issues being considered in the development of new systems and arrangements. Key areas for focus in the period to March 2021 relating to governance options, the financial framework, the clinical and professional leadership model and framework, the determination of appropriate geographies for specific services and commissioning responsibilities, a detailed CCG functional analysis and People/HR implications, were noted.

The opportunity that the proposals presented to have a system wide approach to issues such as deprivation and health inequalities was noted, it being further observed that while Oldham had recently faced a number of challenges, these had been responded to by Oldham organisations speaking with one voice and working together.

RESOLVED that the update on NHS developments be noted.