The Chairman had received the following:

·         A letter from the Department of Health - Winter Planning for Adult Social Care and Supporting Delivery into 2017.  See Minute no. HWB/16/33 for further details.

·         A reply from the Department of Health in response to the concerns raised by the Health and Wellbeing Board on the Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes Transforming Care Partnership at their meeting on 27 July 2016.

·         A letter from the Rt Hon Jeremy Hunt MP - Police and Crime Commissioners and Health and Wellbeing Boards.  The Board had previously concluded that the current composition of the Board was appropriate for the stage of its development reached.  The Police and Crime Commissioner and Police Force had representation on other boards which fed into the work of the Health and Wellbeing Board.

·         A letter from David Mowat MP about end of life care.  This letter had been passed to the Bedfordshire Clinical Commissioning Group and it would be considered as part of the Sustainability and Transformation Plan.

To approve as a correct record the Minutes of the last meeting held on 19 October 2016 and note actions taken since that meeting.

RESOLVED

that the minutes of the meeting of the Central Bedfordshire Health and Wellbeing Board held on 19 October 2016 be confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

To receive from Members any declarations of interest.

None were declared.

To receive any questions, statements or deputations from members of the public in accordance with the procedures as set out in Part A4 of the Council’s Constitution.

There were no members of the public registered to speak.

To provide an update on progress being made in respect of ‘School Readiness’.

The Board considered a report that summarised progress with school readiness.  There had been a steady improvement but compared with the statistical neighbour cohort, Central Bedfordshire ranked 9^th out of 11, as in 2015. 

For those children eligible for Free School Meals, there was a 21 percentage point difference, an improvement of 4 points against the 2015 figure.  Amongst the statistical neighbours the ranking had increased from 10^th to 9^th.

Work was continuing with schools, settings, parents and health colleagues to ensure a continuation of the improved results.  Data analysis would also continue to ensure that work was targeted to the most appropriate groups.

RESOLVED

1.         that the progress and continued work in giving every child the best start in life in school readiness be noted; and

2.         that a further progress report be considered by the Board on 24 January 2018.

To present the latest performance data in the priority areas of the Joint Health and Wellbeing Strategy.

The Board considered a report that set out performance for the four key outcomes within the Joint Health and Wellbeing Strategy.  The Board discussed each key measure:-

·         the proportion of people in need accessing psychological therapies had increased slightly, but it still remained significantly below target and the recovery rates for those in treatment had fallen slightly.  Due to the importance of improving mental health, the Board would need to understand what actions were planned by commissioners and providers to address the situation.  The Board agreed to invite providers to a future meeting;

·         the Council’s Communications Team would help to publicise the Bedfordshire Wellbeing Services (www.bedfordshirewellbeingservice.nhs.uk);

·         the Board would consider a report at their meeting on 29 March 2017 on the rising rates of diabetes and the low proportion of people with diabetes meeting their treatment targets; and

·         the Board would consider a report at a future meeting on the rates of premature mortality for cardiovascular disease.

RESOLVED

1.         that the progress in delivering the Joint Health and Wellbeing Strategy, as set out in the scorecard, be noted; and

2.         the Board would consider the following areas at a future Board meeting:

·           Mental Health

·           Diabetes

·           Premature mortality due to cardiovascular disease.

To update the Board on the winter planning preparations.

The Board considered a report on winter planning preparations, given the anticipated challenges for the Health and Social Care system.  The discharge arrangements in Central Bedfordshire were being managed and there was a joint approach to sourcing additional community beds for local residents.  There were challenges in sourcing domiciliary care packages in the Ivel Valley and West Mid Bedfordshire localities, although two more providers were now active and the Council was working with colleagues in Cambridgeshire.

As there was not a hospital in Central Bedfordshire, residents currently went to seven hospitals that bordered the area.  The Council had representation on the Bedford and Luton and Dunstable Hospitals A&E Delivery Boards and work was being carried out to ensure adequate representation at the other relevant Delivery Boards. 

RESOLVED

that the preparations for winter planning for Health and Social Care delivering into 2017 be noted.

[NOTE:  The Director of Children’s Services arrived during this item.]

To receive an update on the refreshed Future in Minds Local Transformation Plan (LTP) for Children and Young People’s mental health.

The Board considered a report that provided an update on the refreshed Future in Minds Local Transformation Plan for Children and Young People.  The Plan set out recommendations that, if implemented, would facilitate greater access to and standards of CAMHS services, promote positive mental health and wellbeing for children and young people, greater system co-ordination and a significant improvement in meeting the mental health needs of children and young people from vulnerable backgrounds.

It was anticipated that by March 2017, the waiting times for the CAMHS service would be down to 5 weeks.  There had been a challenge with recruitment to vacancies as people were not applying for the positions and the service had to rely on bank and agency staff and overtime working to reduce the waiting list.  Recruitment was a national problem that needed addressing. 

The impact of the recommendations would be monitored through the Health and Wellbeing Strategy scorecard and the Board supported a move to planning for the needs of all age groups, not least to ensure more effective transition planning.

RESOLVED

that the key priorities identified in the Local Transformation Plan, as set out in Appendix A to the report, be approved.

[NOTE:  The Leader of the Council left during this item.]

To update the Health and Wellbeing Board  about publication of the draft Sustainability and Transformation Plan for the Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes Footprint. 

The Board considered a report that included the published Sustainability and Transformation Plan (STP) for Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes (BLMK).

Healthwatch Central Bedfordshire was holding a consultation event on 31 January 2017 to seek the publics’ views on the draft STP.

The Chairman had visited The Local Pharmaceutical Committee (LPC) to seek their views on their role in helping to keep people out of hospital.  It was agreed to invite a presentation from the Committee to a future Health and Wellbeing Board meeting at an appropriate time.

RESOLVED

1.            that the publication of the Draft Sustainability and Transformation Plan be noted; and

2.            that the STP be endorsed on the basis that the priorities reflected in the Plan align with the Central Bedfordshire’s aspirations for greater emphasis on prevention; reduced reliance on acute services; strengthened primary care services delivered close to where people live and integrated wherever possible with social care and other services.

To highlight key issues and make a series of evidence-based recommendations that have the potential to make a real difference to the lives of children, young people and their families.

The Board considered a report that highlighted key issues and made a series of evidence-based recommendations that had the potential to make a real difference to the lives of children, young people and their families.  The report highlighted the areas where health and wellbeing for children and young people in Central Bedfordshire could be further improved.  It identified specific recommendations for improvement and importantly a ‘Call to Action’ to highlight the areas most in need of attention.  A joint partnership approach was required to ensure progress was made.

The Board was concerned that those agencies responsible for the delivery of improvements identified within the report should be held accountable for those improvements.  Where the Director of Public Health and appropriate colleagues judged it appropriate, those agencies should be required to account to the Board on what steps were being taken to deliver improvements.

RESOLVED

1.         to endorse, champion and ensure that, together with children, young people and their families, the Board achieves its aspiration of aiming for the best for children, young people and families in Central Bedfordshire;

2.         to use the report, particularly the Call to Action and areas for improvement, to influence the refinement of the Joint Health and Wellbeing Strategy; and

3.         that where the Director of Public Health judges it to be appropriate, relevant agencies be required to account to future meetings of the Board on the steps they were taking to deliver improvements identified as necessary within the report.

To provide the Board with a copy of the 2015/16 Annual Report from the Central Bedfordshire Safeguarding Children Board (LSCB).

The Board considered the annual report from the Central Bedfordshire Safeguarding Children Board (LSCB) which provided a detailed account of the work undertaken by the LSCB throughout the year, progress made against the priorities contained within the LSCB Business Plan and the outcomes achieved.

RESOLVED

that the information contained within the 2015/16 Annual Report from the LSCB be noted.

To advise the Board of the performance and quality of the East of England Ambulance Service for Bedfordshire Clinical Commissioning Group with an overview of the governance of the contract.

The Board considered a report that set out the performance and quality of the East of England Ambulance Service (EEAST).  EEAST’s performance was measured across a number of indicators, covering response times, handover delays, clinical quality and workforce.  The BCCG area remained one of the best performing across all measures.

A Dispatch on Disposition (DoD) model was being piloted across a number of ambulance trusts and was rolled out by EEAST on 4 October 2016.  Data from this trial model was not yet available.

RESOLVED

that the report be noted.

This report advises the Board about the 2016 Autism SAF which was submitted to Public Health England on 17 October 2016.

The Board considered a report that set out the 2016 Autism Self Assessment Framework (SAF) that had been submitted to Public Health England on 17 October 2016.  It provided an update on the local area partnership’s progress in key areas of the Strategy which sought to assist people with autism to reach their potential, to have full lives and to live as independently as possible. 

The report also identified areas for further work through the SAF to ensure a systematic method of identifying the unmet health and social care needs of people with Autism.

RESOLVED

1.            to note that an updated Health Needs Assessment for Autism would be undertaken to refresh the last evaluation undertaken in 2010; and

2.            that further work identified would be progressed through the Think Autism Partnership Board and an associated action plan would be developed.

To receive a film about carers talking about their experience as a carer.

The Board watched a film produced by Healthwatch Central Bedfordshire in which local adult carers shared their experiences.  A second film was due to be produced on local young carers in March 2017.

[NOTE:  the Director of Community Services left during this item.]

To consider and approve the work programme.

A forward plan ensures that the Health and Wellbeing Board remains focused on key priorities, areas and activities to deliver improved outcomes for the people of Central Bedfordshire.

The Board considered their work plan for 2017.

RESOLVED

that the following items be added to the work programme:

·         Giving Every Child the Best Start in Life – School Readiness - 24 January 2018

·         diabetes – 29 March 2017

·         mental health – to be timetabled

·         premature mortality from cardiovascular disease – to be timetabled

·         to invite a LPC presentation at a future meeting

·         actions to deliver the improvements identified within the Director of Public Health’s Annual report – to be timetabled