Agenda and minutes

Resolved that:

The minutes of the 26th July were agreed as a correct record.

Apologies for absence were received from Dr Sue Sumners and Dr Charlotte Benjamin. Dr Philippa Curran attended as substitute.

Apologies for absence were also received from David Riddle. Bernadette Conroy attended as substitute.

None.

None.

Dr Andrew Burnett, the Joint Director for Public Health, presented the final post-public consultation version of the Health and Well-being Strategy for the Board’s approval.

The Chairman noted the public consultation and highlighted the extra rigour that engagement with the public brought to the final version of the Strategy. 

Cllr Harper welcomed the final version of the Strategy noting that it was based upon tangible objectives. Cllr Harper also commented on the importance of the Strategy dovetailing with the Children and Young People Plan.  

Board members representing the Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) welcomed the Strategy. Dr Curran welcomed the focus on prevention which would support cost-effective quality of life health outcomes.

Gillian Jordan welcomed the focus on supporting people to live independent, healthy lives.

The Board acknowledged that the aims of the Strategy could initially have been misconstrued. Board members welcomed the acknowledgement that getting the message across to the public that the objective of the Strategy was to promote healthy, independent lives avoiding the need for professional care rather than a simple exercise in reducing levels of care would continue to be part of the Strategy’s implementation.

The Board highlighted the need to have a cost-effective means of promoting the Strategy and discussed the proposal that rather than produce hard copies of the complete final Strategy, hard copy promotional materials should be focused on highlighting the four key themes of the Strategy.

Action: Ceri Jacob – to report back to the Board on promotional material options including the addition of the CCG logo

Resolved:

That the Board approve the final Health and Well-being Strategy

Dr Burnett presented the Draft Integrated Prevention Plan which set out the proposed partnership approach to improve health and well-being through various preventive actions aimed at reducing the incidence of avoidable ill-health.

Dr Burnett highlighted three points of interest; the Winter Well Programme – for which a bid was being made to the Department of Health for additional funds; Health checks – which were funded to 31^st March 2013 but would require further funding from that date; Obesity – there was a need to decide how work on this issue would be addressed.

Dr Burnett also advised that the Draft Plan took account of the implications of a report by the London School of Economics and Political Science on the impact of untreated mental illness in people with physical health problems.

Bernadette Conroy commented on the importance of communication providing a basis for the effective delivery of targets.

Cllr Hart again drew the Board’s attention to the extremely low level of transitional funding available for Public Health in the Borough and the effect that this would have on our ability to provide meaningful programmes of health improvement, especially in the field of weight reduction. Cllr Hart stated that she would particularly like to see a meaningful programme for weight reduction in children.

Cllr Harper commented that it was essential for the Draft Plan to complement the Troubled Families initiative being undertaken by the Children’s Service.

Ceri Jacob suggested that a mental health objective could be included under each of the themes identified in the Plan.

The Board considered the importance of having good working relationships with academies and independent schools to achieve the Draft Plans objectives noting that these schools could be commissioned by the Board to deliver activities identified in the Plan.

Cllr Rajput commented on the difficulty of engaging employers to deliver activities targeted at adults noting this could be potentially more difficult than targeting young people in schools.

Kate Kennally drew the Board’s attention to paragraph 10.7 in the cover report noting the timelines for the detailed Implementation Plan to be brought to the Board in early 2013 by the newly appointed Joint Director of Public Health, Dr Andrew Howe. Kate Kennally informed the Board that finance and budget planning would be considered by the council’s Cabinet at their 7^th November meeting and requested that CCG colleagues support the budgeting process by helping to bring forward information from NCL relating to their commissioning intentions. The Board noted that a communications plan should be developed to support the delivery of the implementation plan.

Finally, Cllr Hart, as Chairman of the Board thanked Dr Burnett for all his sterling work as Director of Public Health and his service to the residents of Barnet over the last decade.

Resolved that:

1. The Board notes the Draft Plan.
2. A communication plan be produced to support implementation.
3. The Board notes the work of Dr Burnett as Director of Public Health and the work he has done for Barnet over the past  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.

The Board received a presentation from Siobhan Harrington, Programme Director – NHS North Central London, setting out progress in the delivery of the Barnet, Enfield and Haringey Clinical Strategy programme.

The Board were informed that NHS NCL were aiming to have urgent care provision as set out in the BEH Clinical Strategy in place from April 2013.

The Board commented that transport provision remained a significant issue and were informed that the Board would be kept updated on developments regarding transport planning.

In relation to discussions regarding the progression of Barnet and Chase Farm Hospitals NHS Trust to Foundation Trust Status and the possibility of a partnership with the Royal Free Foundation Trust the Board were informed that assurances had been provided from the Royal Free regarding the delivery of the BEH Clinical Strategy.

The Board were also informed that they would be kept informed of developments regarding the future of the Dolphin Ward at the Springwell Centre as well as clarifying for the Board whether there would be an older people’s mental health assessment facility at the new Finchley Memorial Hospital.

Action: Councillors Harper and Rajput requested that an opportunity for them to visit the new hospital site be arranged.

Resolved that:

The Board notes the presentation.

Ceri Jacob, Interim Chief Officer NHS Barnet, provided the Board with an update on options being explored by Barnet and Chase Farm NHS Trust regarding the selection of a partner to support the Trust acquire Foundation Trust status.

The Board was informed that the Royal Free Foundation Trust was the only organisation who formally confirmed their interest in exploring whether a viable larger Foundation Trust could be created between the two organisations.

The Board commented that the proposal could present an opportunity for establishing close clinical links across the whole Borough of Barnet which would benefit the Borough’s residents.

The Chairman commented that she would present the Boards views to the next meeting of the Royal Free’s Council of Governors. The Board agreed to prepare a written response to the report setting out the Boards position to Barnet and Chase Farm NHS Trust and the Royal Free Foundation Trust Boards.

Resolved that:

The Board notes the report and will prepare a written response as set out in the preamble above.

Ceri Jacob presented the Board with an update on NHS Barnet’s Clinical Commissioning Group’s (CCG) authorisation progress which commenced on the 1^st October. The board were informed of key milestones including the approval of the CCG communication and engagement arrangements and the go-live of the CCGs public facing website.

The board were also informed of the key CCG governing body appointment with John Morton appointed Chief Officer. The Board were also told that the Chief Financial Officer post was currently out to national advert with an interim officer appointed for the duration of this recruitment process.

Resolved that:

The Board notes the progress update.

Ceri Jacob presented a report setting out the approach to developing NHS Barnet’s Clinical Commissioning Group’s (CCG) Commissioning Plan.

The Board were advised that the CCGs Draft Commissioning Plan would be presented to the Board at the November 29^th meeting.

Resolved that:

The Board notes the report.

Dawn Wakeling, the Deputy Director of Adult Social Care and Health, provided the Board with an update on the Health and Social Care Integration Programme.

Resolved that:

The Board notes the update report.

Dr Andrew Burnett presented a report which summarised work on cancer prevention across north central London. The report also set out the development of the NCL/NEL Cancer Commissioning Network.

The board were advised that the responsibility for raising public awareness of cancer would pass to local authorities in April 2013.

Resolved that:

The Board notes the report.

Matthew Kendall, the Interim Associate Director for Joint Commissioning, presented a report setting out the conclusions of a review of strategic partnerships with customers, carers and communities.

The Board noted the future structure of strategic collaboration and partnership in Barnet as set out in the report.

Cllr Hart welcomed the benefits that would be achieved through direct contact between partnership boards via the proposed Barnet Health and Well-being Partnership Summits which would take place twice a year.

Resolved that:

1. The Board notes the report.
2. The Board approve the establishment of a Health and Well-being Partnership Summit
3. The Board approve the draft Implementation Plan and agree to review progress at future meetings.

Resolved that:

The Board notes the Forward Work Programme.