Agenda item

26.1.      The Board considered a report providing an update on progress with implementing the revised integration programme after the first phase of COVID-19.

26.2.      The Board asked whether health inequalities impact assessments should be mandatory for all future integration projects, rather than just optional, and whether the East Sussex Health and Social Care Plan (ESHSCP) can include specific reference to how it plans to improve the health and wellbeing of Black and Minority Ethnic Communities (BAME) communities and health and care workers in East Sussex.

26.3.      Jessica Britton, Executive Managing Director, East Sussex Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) said understanding and tackling health inequalities is integral to the ESHSCP and the population’s health needs are kept under continual review. in addition, a specific piece of work on population health needs has recently been undertaken that enables the ESHSCP to understand health inequalities in East Sussex based on specific areas of need, e.g. geographical location. She added that targeted and specific investment has also been made into Hastings through the CCG’s Healthy Hastings and Rother programme in support of identified needs of the local population. The HWB will continue to have a role in improving the health of the whole East Sussex population, including identifying areas of inequalities that can be focussed on.

26.4.      Dr David Warden, Chair of the East Sussex CCG, said the local response to the NHS Long Term Plan submitted by the ESHCP clearly states a strong desire to focus on prevention. The challenges are that it requires additional resources to create the preventative care services that will address these health inequalities, and that it can take several years or more to see the benefit of preventative services once they are in place.

26.5.      Mark Stainton, Director of Adult Social Care, added that addressing health inequalities, particularly amongst the BAME community is a key priority of all ESHCP partners, including East Sussex County Council, and will therefore be a key part of any integration plan that is developed. One of the strengths of the Target Operating Model for community health and social care services in East Sussex is that it effectively divides the county into eight localities and that means that each can focus on and target the differing health needs of the particular local population. He said this is one of the ways the practical ways in which the ESHCP will work to address health inequalities.

26.6.      Jessica Britton also reminded the Board that the Sussex Health and Care Partnership – the Integrated Care System (ICS) – has a specific programme of work for BAME population and staff, and the East Sussex Health and Social Care System Partnership Board recently reviewed this work and agreed that the findings will help inform and strengthen ESHCP integration plans.

26.7.      The Board asked whether a primary care review of GP provision in Hastings will be undertaken.

26.8.      Jessica Britton said the East Sussex CCG – through it Primary Care Commissioning Committee – already regularly reviews primary care provision in East Sussex. Officers have therefore been in contact with the people who have been requesting a primary care review in Hastings to help define what it is that they think should be reviewed. She added that there was significant investment being made in primary care services both nationally and in East Sussex, including Hastings.

26.9.      The Board asked whether it was the case that services at the Conquest Hospital are being reduced.

26.10.   Joe Chadwick-Bell, Chief Executive of East Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust (ESHT), said that with the exception of cardiology and ophthalmology – where engagement is taking place about various potential options, but where no decision has yet been made – ESHT has no intention of moving any services out of the Conquest Hospital site.

26.11.   The Board asked when the report by the University of Sussex into the first wave of COVID-19 in Hastings and Rother will be published

26.12.   Darrell Gale, Director of Public Health said that the report was with editors now, including himself. He apologised it had not yet been released.

26.13.   The Board RESOLVED to:

1) note the current stage of the implementation of the programme after the first phase of the pandemic, and the progress made with bringing together a performance framework in the continuing context of COVID-19; and

2) agree to delegate to the Director of Adult Social Care in consultation with the Chair inclusion of an endorsement by the East Sussex Health and Wellbeing Board in East Sussex County Council’s response to the NHS England consultation on Integrated Care Systems; and

3) request that a draft of the consultation response is circulated for comment ahead of submission to NHS England.