Issue - meetings

This report provides an overview of the Quarter 2 Report of the Better Care Fund (BCF) for 2025-26.

The BCF is a key delivery vehicle in providing person-centred integrated care with health, social care, housing, and other public services, which is fundamental to maintaining a strong and sustainable health and care system.

The report is a part of the requirements set y the Better Care Fund 2025-26 Policy Framework. The report must be jointly agreed and signed off by the Health and Wellbeing Board as one of the planning requirements.

The Commissioning Manager and Senior Lead - Operations, NHS Dorset presented a report, a copy of which had been circulated to each Member and a copy of which appears as Appendix 'B' to these Minutes in the Minute Book.

The report provided an overview of the Quarter 2 Report of the Better Care Fund (BCF) for 2025-26.

The BCF was a key delivery vehicle in providing person-centred integrated care with health, social care, housing, and other public services, which was fundamental to maintaining a strong and sustainable health and care system.

The report was a part of the requirements set by the Better Care Fund 2025-26 Policy Framework. The report must be jointly agreed and signed off by the Health and Wellbeing Board as one of the planning requirements.

The Board discussed the report, including:

·      A Board Member welcomed the report and noted strong performance against targets for several indicators.

·      Concerns were raised about emergency hospital admissions for people aged 65 plus and the need to focus on understanding causes and improving prevention.

·      It was highlighted there were high admissions related to falls and drugs/alcohol use and again emphasis was placed on upstream prevention and data analysis.  The Director of Public Health offered support from his team to review data and assist with prevention planning.

·      The Board was advised of the challenges in hospitals locally with managing respiratory infections and oxygen needs in the community were highlighted.

·      In response to the query about fall related admission rates, the Board was advised that Dorset Healthcare and Urgent Community Response (UCR) teams work with care homes and provided a 24/7 support line to Care Home Managers to reduce incidents.

·      There was some further discussion about the prevention strategy and the need for joined up working across all partners to realise impactful outcomes in reducing and avoiding unnecessary admissions.

·      The Director of Public Health raised a point about hospital admissions in last 12 months of life despite advanced care plans and the potential need to support teams to manage more end of life care in the community, according to individuals wishes and to reduce unnecessary and unwanted admissions to hospital.

·      There was some discussion over the uncertainty of funding in the future and the potential impact of rolling the BCF into the revenue support grant.  Members agreed to monitor guidance and advocate for prevention funding alignment with NHS 10-year plan.

·      A Board Member highlighted the mental health discharge and flow summit as an upcoming event to ensure joined-up approaches across services.

RESOLVED that the Health and Wellbeing Board retrospectively approve the Better Care Fund 2025-2026 Quarter 2 Report

Voting: Nem. Con.