Agenda and minutes

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting held on 8^th December 2022 be agreed as a correct record.

Cllr Cornelius would forward some minor amendments to the Governance Officer after the meeting.

Apologies were received from Councillor Perlberg and Councillor Zubairi.

None.

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The minutes of the meeting held on 23^rd November 2022 were noted.

The Chair reported thatthere had been a discussion at the last JHOSC on mental health strategies to work towards equalising services across North Central London and supporting people to receive treatment at home.

RESOLVED that the JHOSC minutes were noted.

·         User groups

The Chair invited Cllr Gill Sargeant to speak about her motion passed at Full Council on 24^th January 2023 that Barnet is to become an ‘Age Friendly’ community.

Cllr Sargeant commented that Barnet has a range of organisations in place and a good story to tell about its potential to become even more ‘age friendly’. The first steps would be to look at and shout about what is already being done, and then continue to develop by looking at what the borough can do to improve.

The Chair invited Helen Newman, Chief Executive, Age UK Barnet, to the table together with two user group speakers, Sajedi and Pat.

Ms Newman commented that the London Borough of Sutton and LB Lambeth have also become ‘Age Friendly’ boroughs. The questionnaire would be the starting point, to get residents’ views on eight areas including transport, outdoor spaces and buildings, civil participation, community support and health services.

A resident, Pat, noted that pavements in Barnet can be problematic for older people. She tripped on one where tree roots were causing the pavement to become uneven, resulting in several fractures. The council denied responsibility but her experience of health services at the Royal Free Hospital had been positive.

Another resident, Sajeda, noted that she had been volunteering with Age UK in Barnet since 2014. The council had helped her and her family, arranging carers when her mother was ill and support for her own illness. She reported feeling valued by Age UK. She added that the NHS had been helpful in transferring her to UCLH due to difficulties travelling to Chase Farm and Barnet Hospitals.

The Chair thanked the speakers. He noted that it had been helpful to learn that volunteering had been a positive experience and could help older people to feel engaged with the community.

RESOLVED that the Committee noted the discussion.

The Chair invited Mr Ian Sabini, consultant, Integrated Commissioning Board (ICB) Estates Team, and Ms Colette Wood, Director, Integration (Barnet), ICB to the table. Mr Sabini presented the slides.

Mr Sabini reported that collaboration was key to service delivery. He outlined the new governance structure of the Integrated Care System. Partners including the local authority, primary care and secondary care had worked together to identify funding, create capacity and new clinical pathways. Mr Sabini reported that a state-of-the-art Integrated Care Hub as the new primary and community care facility was being planned for Barnet, in consultation with public health and the local community.

Mr Sabini reported that a new health facility and library is being planned at the Osidge Library site in collaboration with the One Public Estate Programme, to provide additional capacity to the area.

Mr Sabini showed a video on Finchley Memorial Hospital (FMH) diagnostic centre. This would help to reduce waiting lists at acute sites.

Cllr Cornelius enquired about sites due for disposal in Barnet. Mr Sabini reported that the site on Osidge Library and the Oakleigh Road Clinic would be disposed of, with 50% of the sale returning to the NHS and 50% to Department of Health Property Services. Both GP services would move to the Osidge Library site.

Mr Sabini noted that in addition some buildings within the Edgware Community Hospital (ECH) site would be disposed of. Cllr Cornelius enquired about the facilities that would be removed. Mr Sabini responded that some of the outer non-clinical buildings in need of repair would be disposed of and the money would be invested into the main building, creating additional capacity there. 50% of the sale proceeds would be returned to the NHS in NCL, not necessarily Barnet. There is a separate plan for investment in Barnet.

Cllr Stock enquired whether it is financially viable to move GPs into FMH. Mr Sabini noted that services are running 8am-8pm seven days a week to make FMH cost effective. Cllr Stock enquired whether free parking would continue. Mr Sabini responded that the landlord had not so far removed it but ICB would continue to push back to retain free parking if needed.

The Chair enquired whether the Osidge Library site would be the main one for primary care in the area. Mr Sabini noted that the ICB is undertaking the process to find the most suitable site, which could be North London Business Park or the Osidge Library site.

Cllr Chakraborty noted that he hears of concerns from residents over backlogs and difficulties getting GP appointments. He asked what difference the integrated hub could make. Mr Sabini responded that the sites are smaller with the integrated hub, providing community outpatient services and GP services, with communication between GPs and other services. A healthcare planning team assesses capacity for a given area and makes an estimate of what is needed with room for population growth. Also due to medium to long term planning a robust case is provided when funding opportunities  ...  view the full minutes text for item 9.

The Chair invited Dr Kola Akinlabi, Clinical Lead, Post Covid Service, CLCH to the table.

The Governance Officer circulated Dr Akinlabi’s slides to the committee at the meeting. The slides focused on a project to detect health inequalities by identifying gaps in referrals and access to the service, and actions taken to address this. The project identified that access to the service was slightly reduced in those living in deprived areas of Barnet but overall access was relatively equitable.

Dr Akinlabi reported that the uptake of services varied across the Primary Care Networks (PCN) in Barnet. Some work was underway to educate GPs and reach out to PCNs with low referrals and to highlight the service across North Central London. Also information on post-Covid self-care and treatment for patients had been developed on YouTube with a document available for those without internet access. Also a study on effectiveness of treatment had been carried out, revealing positive outcomes and an improved quality of life for patients following treatment.

RESOLVED that the update was noted.

The Chair reported that due to the presenter being unavailable this item would be deferred.

The Governance Officer would contact speakers on the NHS Sustainability Plan to invite them to a future meeting.

Resolved that the Forward Plan was noted.

None.