Agenda item

(To receive a report from the Lincolnshire Sustainability and Transformation Partnership, which provides the Committee with an update on the implementation of the Integrated Community Care portfolio.  Senior representatives from the Lincolnshire Sustainability and Transformation Partnership will be in attendance for this item)

The Chairman welcomed to the meeting Sarah-Jane Mills, Chief Operating Officer, Lincolnshire West Clinical Commissioning Group and Dr John Parkin, Executive GP, Lincolnshire West Clinical Commissioning Group. 

The Committee gave consideration to a report from the Lincolnshire Sustainability and Transformation Partnership, which provided an update on the implementation of the Integrated Community Care portfolio; and the progress made in four of the key programme areas, details of which were shown on pages 66 to 69 of the report presented. 

Attached at Appendix A to the report was a copy of a Briefing Document: Understanding Primary Care Networks for the Committee to consider:-

·         Neighbourhood Working;

·         Introduction of Primary Care Networks;

·         Use of Technology; and

·         Development of Specialist Community Services.

The Committee noted that feedback received from Healthy Conversation 2019 had confirmed that local people were asking for care closer to home; for access to services to be a simpler process; and to be able to receive a high standard of care from compassionate professionals.

The Committee was advised that an Integrated Community Care programme was the key enabler to delivering sustainable modern health care.  That alongside the development of Primary Care Networks, neighbourhood working and the upgrading of service models, work was on-going to explore how technology could help enhance local service provision that would enable clinicians to better identify patients who would benefit from proactive interventions.  

In conclusion, the Committee was invited to submit comments to the Lincolnshire Sustainability and Transformation Partnership as part of the Healthy Conversation 2019 engagement exercise.

During discussion, the Committee raised the following comments:-

·         Reference was made to the boundaries for Primary Care Networks (a national initiative) and locally-developed Neighbourhood Teams.  The Committee was advised that there was much similarity, but also some variation, but it was hoped that Primary Care Networks would create greater integration and joint working both across General Practice and other agencies.  Clarification was given that Primary Care Networks were a grouping of local general practices that were able to collaboratively work, sharing staff and expertise, whilst maintaining the independence of individual practices.  Further information relating to Primary Care Networks was contained in Appendix A to the report;

·         Explanation as to the role of a new Clinical Pharmacist with a Primary Care Network, details of which were shown on page 68 of the report;

·         Dates applicable for the phasing in of neighbourhood working.  The Committee was advised that the establishment of neighbourhood teams had started in 2017 (Phase 1) and that Phase 2 had started at the end of 2018 start of 2019.  It was highlighted that Primary Care Networks had been established in July 2019, and that their development was still a work in progress;

·         Clarification was given that communities and clinicians were working together to design services; and

·         The timescale for all neighbourhood teams to be fully functional.  The Committee noted that neighbourhood teams were not all operational and that the phasing in of services was on-going.  It was noted that over the last two years the teams had focussed on building the links with partners in their local communities; and that that the next phase of development was to be led by the Assistant Director, Adult Fraility and Long Term Conditions, Lincolnshire County Council, which would focus on addressing the barriers that prevent fully integrated patient care.  The priorities for this phase were shown on page 67 of the report.

The Chairman on behalf of the Committee extended thanks to the representatives for their update.

RESOLVED

1.    That the Chairman be authorised to provide feedback on behalf of the Committee as part of the Healthy Conversation 2019 engagement exercise on Integrated Community Care.

2.    That a copy of the completed Primary Care Network map be circulated to members of the Committee, when this was finanlised.

The Committee adjourned at 1.45pm and re-convened at 2.15pm.

Additional apologies for absence for the afternoon part of the meeting were received from Councillors M T Fido, M A Whittington, S Barker-Milan (North Kesteven District Council) and Dr B Wookey (Healthwatch Lincolnshire).

An apology was also received from Councillor Dr M E Thompson (Executive Support Councillor for NHS Liaison & Community Engagement).