Issue - meetings

38.1     The Board considered a report providing an update on progress with the East Sussex Health and Social Care integration programme and related areas of system collaboration.

38.2     In the overview of the Integration White Paper there is a section on workforce and carers. The Board noted that during the Covid pandemic there has been a higher proportion of deaths amongst some ethnic minority groups such as the black and Asian communities across the country. The Board asked if thought had been given to this part of the community and their training needs.

38.3     Vicky Smith, Programme Director - East Sussex Health and Social Care Transformation confirmed that this has been a continuous theme since this came to light in the first phases of the pandemic, and issues around diversity and disparities is a focus within the broader approach for example with the care sector.

38.4     The Board asked how the Integrated Care System (ICS) will take into account the different health needs of Place at the Borough and District council level, such as in areas of higher health inequality, as well as those of the County as a whole. It was also asked how Borough and District councils can respond to the White Paper.   

38.5     Vicky Smith outlined the ambition to put in place a tier of joint working that will take into account the differences across local communities through understanding population needs, resources, and profiles and to work with all partners (including Primary Care Networks) at a local and Place level. This is set out in the White Paper, and the Health and Care Bill before it, as part of the role of Place and the Health and Wellbeing Board (HWB) to support this.  There will also be liaison with Borough and District partners through the Health and Wellbeing Board to develop this and our broader response to White Paper as the detail emerges. 

38.6     The Board asked whether greater emphasis could be given to local people’s views in the development of more local commissioning, such as through patient panels. Is it possible ensure that the local people receiving services will have a good voice in commissioning.

38.7     The Chair outlined that Healthwatch are involved in this and will continue their work to represent patient views. Vicky Smith added the Sussex ICS has drawn up a draft public involvement strategy which will include measures to address this point.

38.8     The Board noted that the inclusion of Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) in the report is helpful, but the current ones are health orientated rather than looking at public health and community health. It asked whether KPIs are being established for the health and wellbeing of the community, rather than measuring the ill health.

38.9     Vicky Smith responded that indicators for long term population health and wellbeing outcomes are being included in the East Sussex shared outcomes framework, and are in the process of being set so that we can start measurement this year. There are also plans to have  ...  view the full minutes text for item 38