Agenda item

(To receive a report by Glen Garrod (Executive Director, Adult Care & Community Wellbeing) on Lincolnshire's Better Care Fund plan for 2017/19 including a finance and performance update showing the current position)

Consideration was given to a report which provided the Health and Wellbeing Board with an update on Lincolnshire's Better Care Fund plan for 2017 – 2019.

The Board was guided through the report, and members were provided with the opportunity to ask questions to the officers present in relation to the information contained within the report, and some of the points raised during discussion included the following:

·         In relation to the table on page 26, it was highlighted that the percentages did not add up, and it was noted that this would be due to the figures being either rounded up or down.

·         It was queried whether the hot summer had had an impact in terms of hospitals and care, similarly to how a cold winter could also have an impact.  It was noted that the non-elected admissions had not hit the target, and it was suggested whether there was a need to start looking at what could be done better within the community.  It was queried whether plans were addressing the pressures in the community system.

·         It was noted that it was the acute sector that was highly dependent on the ability to support people in the community.  Part of the NHS ambition was to enhance nursing provision in the community.

·         It was noted that Lincolnshire's plan of preparedness had 5 or 6 years of experience behind it.

·         It was acknowledged that the hot summer had had an impact on capacity within the NHS and the ability to cope with a bad winter may be impaired.  There was a need to encourage things such as inoculations so people do not get sick, but also to ensure that there were sufficient staff available to work at key times.  It was noted that a lot of effort had gone into ensuring that the health and care system was in a good place for the forthcoming winter, but it was emphasised, there were no guarantees.

·         Concerns were raised regarding whether there would be a need to do things differently, if the plans were not different to the previous year.  It was queried whether there was enough capacity in the system.  Members were assured that officers learned from what had been done before and would replicate the good but not the bad.

·         It was commented that according to a report by the ONS, life expectancy had dropped in the UK, as opposed to the rest of the world where things were improving.

·         It was noted that the ability of health and social care, and housing to support the changing population was a challenge in this country as well as all other western countries.   Members were advised that there were two critical documents that the government were due to publish in November 2018, which were the NHS five year plan and the green paper for adult social care.

·         It was noted that there were a number of new initiatives taking place in Lincolnshire, some of them had been done before and would be useful to repeat, for example in relation to workforce.  It was suggested that it should be considered whether current pay rates were enough to secure the quality and volume of care that was needed.

RESOLVED

            That the Lincolnshire Health and Wellbeing Board note the BCF report update.