West Cheshire Patient Support Group Forum Tuesday, November 28 th 2017 Conference Rooms A & B, 1829 Building, Countess of Chester Health Park, Liverpool Road, Chester, CH2 1HJ Apologies received from: Pat Riddell (Chester Diabetes UK) Ruth Spicer (Fibromyalgia Support Group) Rosie Kyme-Wright (Age UK Cheshire) Gill Reeder (Deafness Support Network) Tom Hendrie (Cheshire Centre for Independent Living) Integrated care Verbal update by NHS West Cheshire Clinical Commissioning Group s Chief Executive Alison Lee (AL) and Head of Communications and Engagement Jonathan Taylor (JT) Key messages included: 1) There is agreement among partner organisations across West Cheshire that care needs to be more joined-up. This means joining up the care experiences we all have, joining up the budgets of the local NHS and local authority and joining up health and social care, which is too fragmented. 2) To achieve this, it is vital to bring health and social care closer together, hospital doctors and GPs closer together, the local NHS and its patients closer together and the local NHS and voluntary sector closer together. 3) The NHS is one of the most efficient health systems in the world, but there are always examples of inefficiencies which cost time and money. 4) Our ambition We want people to live longer, healthier lives and to enable people to remain at home for as long as possible. Not only do too many people end up in hospital, but too many people stay in hospital for too long. In this area we are also over-reliant on nursing and care homes. 1 P a g e
5) There is a strong preventative element that the NHS is not currently doing enough about. A great example is falls. We shouldn t see so many people falling and fracturing their hip. There is a huge evidence base around how to prevent people suffering falls, for example via strength and balance classes. 6) The NHS is also currently lagging behind in the use of digital technology. Some people find that more difficult, and it is vital to make allowances for that, but even the NHS s online offer is currently a bit fragmented. 7) When people do need the NHS one of the most common complaints we hear is that people have to repeat their story to different practitioners and different parts of the system again and again. We need to fix this. 8) To help join up care we continue to support the development of integrated community care teams. This includes GPs working more closely with a number of different services connected to them to support people, where possible, to stay at home. 9) We have worked closely with the local authority, the Countess of Chester Hospital and Cheshire and Wirral Partnership for a number of years but these relationships are becoming stronger through the increasingly focused work on joining up care. This includes local GPs, who are now working together effectively as a federation. It is important for local voluntary groups to be part of this work. Questions and comments: 1) Why is West Cheshire not part of the joint working with the three other Cheshire CCGs on crisis housing? (Keith Millar West Cheshire Mental Health Forum) AL: The three other Cheshire CCGs are working together as part of a capped expenditure programme, which West Cheshire CCG is not part of. We are, however, working closely with the other Cheshire CCGs in a number of other ways particularly in relation to mental health and learning disabilities. A joint committee has been developed by all of the CCGs in Cheshire to look at things which can be better commissioned at scale, across the Cheshire footprint. 2) The Health Service Journal is reporting that the Cheshire and Merseyside STP is being rebooted with discussions about care integration. I think it is a good idea but I worry that there isn t enough patient involvement in the STP. (Gus Cairns Blacon Mental Wellbeing Group) AL: I agree. I don t think we ve got that right yet. However, the most powerful patient engagement and feedback can be delivered and recorded at a local level. 3) For care integration to work you will need managers with cross-organisational powers. Is that going to happen? (Reggie Jones Blacon Health and Wellbeing Group) 2 P a g e
AL: At the moment we just have an alliance and an agreement to leave our organisational sovereignty at the door to focus solely on how we best support the people of West Cheshire. I agree that we re moving towards joint posts but there is a sequence that needs to happen first before we can get there. 4) How do you envision the voluntary sector being involved in the development of community care teams in a meaningful way? (Reggie Jones Blacon Health and Wellbeing Group) AL: There is a pilot going on in Malpas at the moment which is very much a partnership with the voluntary sector. We recognise the need to enable the voluntary sector to talk to GP practices and vice-versa. 5) Is part of this work looking at improving the sharing of records? (Katie Roebuck Neurotherapy Centre) AL: Absolutely. We have the Cheshire Care Record and a number of complex data sharing agreements are in place. It is not currently used as much as it could be but the building blocks are in place. 6) What are the plans to engage with communities to find out what matters most to them and to enable them to tell their stories? (Georgina Clarke Cheshire West Communities Together) JT: There will be a sustained period of engagement around this work and we re working closely with the council to do this in conjunction with them. There will be a programme of engagement and formal consultation, where required, in relation to any service changes. AL: We are currently looking at where we can make the most impact in the short-term both in terms of geography and particular health issues. 7) Brightlife started in Malpas and now Neighbourhood Care is starting in Malpas. Why can t it be done in Ellesmere Port or somewhere like that instead? (Gus Cairns Blacon Mental Wellbeing Group) AL: Neighbourhood Care has been led, from the outset, by the team on the ground not by the CCG. We ve agreed to support them to develop a model which could, in future, be replicated across West Cheshire. Third Sector Grants Verbal update by NHS West Cheshire Clinical Commissioning Group Clinical Commissioning Manager Paula Taylor (PT) Key messages included: 1) Local voluntary sector organisations will be key in delivering joined-up care in West Cheshire in the long-term. In the short-term we want to work with voluntary sector organisations to identify where the priorities are. 2) The CCG is launching a new voluntary sector grants scheme, which will come into effect in April 2018. We want to open up the grant-application process to the wider voluntary sector to provide an equal opportunity for third sector organisations to explain how they can help the CCG to meet its objectives. 3 P a g e
3) A launch event will take place at Cheshire View in Christleton on Monday, December 11 th, giving third sector representatives the opportunity to meet the CCG s commissioning teams and discuss this further. 4) The closing date for funding applications in January 15 th 2018 and we hope to be in a position to award the new grants in the week commencing January 29 th 2018. Questions and comments: 1) Is there just one closing date for applications? (Georgina Clarke Cheshire West Communities Together) PT: Yes. 2) A closing date of January 15 th doesn t give you a lot of time especially with Christmas in between. (Elizabeth Kevan Chester Heart Support) PT: We appreciate that, but the application form is not particularly intensive so people should have more than enough time. 3) Is this a new funding stream and what does this mean for our Service Level Agreement? (Katie Roebuck Neurotherapy Centre) PT: It s not a new funding stream. For organisations that are currently funded, that funding may continue or may increase or decrease it s not guaranteed. 4) I have no issue with changing the funding model but there s a feeling in our communities that smaller community groups are getting overlooked for funding. (Keith Millar West Cheshire Mental Health Forum) PT: Nobody is precluded from the funding application process. 5) Can you give us more detail about the structure of the grants? How much money is in the funding pot? (Rob Robertson West Cheshire Mental Health Forum) PT: Around 500,000 in total. We haven t set a maximum that people can bid for. 6) General wellbeing can have a big impact on people s physical health. Will that be recognised as part of the application process? (Christine McMahon Brightlife) PT: Absolutely. We welcome applications from any voluntary sector groups have are working to help people in West Cheshire live happier, healthier lives. 7) Without getting too technical, it would be helpful for the sector to understand the legalities of the process. (Rob Robertson West Cheshire Mental Health Forum) Patient engagement in the design of Neurology services Showcase item by Ruth Austin-Vincent (MS Society) Please see slide pack attached to email. 4 P a g e
Winter Pressures item not covered due to time constraints (please refer to information previously circulated) Updates from Forum Members No note-taker available for the second half of the meeting. Forum members invited to send through written updates for adding to the notes retrospectively. Next meeting date January 30 th 2018. 5 P a g e