To receive any updates from the relevant Portfolio Holders on key issues or actions that have been taken since the last meeting, as appropriate.
Minutes:
The Portfolio Holder for Tourism and Active Health provided the following
points of update:
· Covid management and the offer of regular vaccinations will be similar but not identical to the flu vaccine.
· In terms of budget, the last Full Council meeting saw the approval of the budget, including the public health budget for 2022/2023. There were no cuts to public health; the underspend in 2021/2022 is to be redirected to urgent needs in the community, such as vulnerable children.
· Dorset Integrated Care System (ICS) is to supersede the CCG. It is a national programme. Dorset’s ICS sees Patricia Miller as its new Chief Executive.
· The Integrated Chair Board (ICB) is a body that is chaired by the Chief Executive of the ICS and includes a number of health professionals. Its primary concern will be on the money and funding that is handed down by the Department for Health. Below the ICB is the broader Integrated Care Partnership (ICP). At present, discussions are ongoing on what the makeup of this partnership will be. It will be a multi-partnered body that include Local Authorities and specialist care providers for example. These groups will be able to have a seat in the partnership and be able to input on the joint up working. Overall the aim is to prevent people coming through the door of social care and healthcare.
Following the Porfolio Holder’s update, the Committee asked questions and made comments. The answers given included:
· That Dorset Council had made a decision that they wish to set up their own care company, Care Dorset (CD), and will transfer the Dorset based services from Tricuro to CD. BCP Council have made a declaration that they will commit to Tricuro and continue working with Tricuro given the confidence in their ongoing service. Dorset Council explained in their statement that they wanted to have more control over their care; geographically and demographically Dorset are different to BCP and in setting up their own, new organisation they can focus on the needs of the Dorset area.
· The Committee heard that the ‘village hotel’ is up and running and planned to be in place until 31 March. This centre is there to assist people to plan for their onward journey after leaving hospital.
RESOLVED that the Committee noted the update.
Following the Portfolio Holder’s Update, the Chair invited the Manager of Healtwatch Dorset to provide an update on their recent work and projects. The main points of the update were as follows:
· Healthwatch Dorset were in the process of planning their work programme for the coming year. This process involved working with a steering group made up of volunteers to evaluate the feedback gathered from the previous year as well as looking at projects taking place both locally and nationally.
· The three projects to be focused on are:
· 1) Dentistry. The Government said new funding was going into dentistry however this was time limited until the end of March to help give people more access to local dentists. It was explained that there was opportunity for Healthwatch Dorset to work further on this especially with creation of the new ICS, given that they will be responsible for commissioning dentistry.
· 2) Carers. Phone call interviews would be taking place during March 2022 with carers who have experience of the Home First process. This project will aid in understanding what the experience was like for carers and care receivers. Dorset Community Action would be working alongside Healthwatch Dorset on this and the work undertaken will feed into the wider work on support for carers.
· Access to GP Services. This was highlighted as a top concern for those individuals that contacted Healthwatch Dorset. The specific focus was on children and young people and mental health. Preparatory work was being done at the Boscombe hub in supporting people, at a low level, on their mental health issues and their access to care.
· Members heard that there were to be follow ups on Healthwatch Dorset’s Young Listeners’ project and the A&E project. Reports on these will be published at the end of the month as well as the survey results of people using A&E at Dorset County hospital.
· Face to face engagement on access to non-emergency transport were being undertaken; the CCG were carrying out a survey on this matter and so Healthwatch Dorset also wanted to gather peoples’ views on this.
RESOLVED that the Committee noted the update.