Issue - meetings

5.1.      Vicky Smith, Programme Director, East Sussex Health and Social Care Transformation introduced an update report on the East Sussex Health and Social Care Shared Delivery Plan (SDP) Integration Programme. The report outlined the ongoing joint plans for year 3 of the SDP in East Sussex, covering children and young people, housing, improving health outcomes, integrated community teams, mental health, improving hospital discharge and strengthening the role of the Health and Wellbeing Board (HWB). The report also outlined headlines from the NHS 10 Year Health Plan, including local implications, and shared the outcomes of the recent informal HWB development session on the importance of the life course. It was noted that discussions at the session also explored some of the current contextual challenges to partnership working.

5.2.      Ashley Scarff, Director of Joint Commissioning and Integrated Care Team Development, NHS Sussex, thanked Vicky for the report and noted the need for flexibility when working towards the aims and priorities of the SDP within the changing healthcare landscape.

5.3.      Mark Stainton, Director of Adult Social Care and Health (ASCH) commented that the seven SDP priorities were appropriate and targeted towards population needs. Mark agreed on the importance of retaining flexibility, noting that the 10 Year Health Plan was newly released and all partners continued work to understand its implications. Further detail on this would be provided at the next meeting. The Plan broadly reflected the priorities of the Sussex Integrated Care Strategy Improving Lives Together, however there remained significant change occurring in the wider system related to governance including Integrated Care Boards (ICBs), local government reorganisation, and the creation of a Mayoral Strategic Authority, and it would be important not to lose sight of the SDP priorities when responding to this change.

5.4.      Councillor Ungar welcomed the report and commented that it would be useful to include how many of those experiencing delayed discharge were self-funders. He gave an example of a self-funder saving money on care home costs by delaying a family member’s discharge and enquired if this was a wider issue.

5.5.      Mark Stainton responded that figures on self-funding could be provided, however staff within both the Trust and the local authority sought to help progress discharge for all individuals. This was supported by a contract with an organisation specifically to help self-funders discharging from hospital, whereby a family in which an individual has been identified as self-funding, would be referred for assistance. Delaying discharge to avoid costs was not a typical approach and most relatives preferred to see their family members cared for in an appropriate setting.

5.6.      Simon Dowse, Director of Transformation, Strategy and Improvement at East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust (ESHT) added that avoidance of costs had not emerged as an issue for patient flow or internal decision-making. However, ESHT was working on its latest discharge programme so would identify this if it was an emerging issue. 

5.7.      Councillor Webb thanked officers for the report and welcomed the plans overall, however expressed concerns about inconsistencies in Special  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5