Agenda item

To consider a report to the Future Oxfordshire Partnership setting out an update on major changes to the way in which health and care is organised in Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire following the establishment of an Integrated Care System, (ICS), Integrated Care Partnership, (ICP) and Integrated Care Board, (ICB).

The Panel considered a report to the Future Oxfordshire Partnership updating it on changes to the way in which health and care is organised in Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire following the establishment of the Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire, and Berkshire Integrated Care Board, (ICB) and Integrated Care System, (ICS).  Dan Leveson, Oxfordshire Place Director for the ICB introduced the report and responded to councillor comments and questions.

It was explained that in addition to the establishment of the integrated care board, an integrated care partnership and place based partnership was to be established for each of the county areas covered by the ICB. The place based partnership which had a broad membership including representatives from both the county and city/district council levels, provided an opportunity to join up health and social care provision in a way that joined up services and reduced inequalities as both health and social care began to move on from what was regarded to be the toughest winter period on record.

The Integrated Care Partnership Strategy which set out the proposed themes and priorities for the ICS was currently out to consultation and a workshop and other events planned with stakeholders. This would align with the ICB’s five year plan.

In discussion, individual members of the Panel raised questions relating to the future of palliative care provision in South Oxfordshire and the important role of the NHS in responding as a consultee to individual planning application consultations as well as crucially contributing to the development of Local Plans within the statutory periods.

With regard to longer term capacity and infrastructure planning, the Panel was informed that whilst it was recognised that numbers of GPs and GP capacity was very challenged, it was a more complex issue than simple physical accommodation constraints alone. For instance, GPs had to be trained, a lengthy process.

Members also referred to and discussed with Mr Leveson the reasons behind delays in discharging patients from hospital and the opportunities to care for some patients in their own homes through new technologies and the use of ‘virtual wards’.

With regard to the Joint Five-Year Forward Plan referred to within the report, Members commented that it was not clear what this would involve. The Panel was informed that there would be engagement with Partners on the Plan when it was ready, but a key document for engagement between NHS and local authorities locally would the annual plan relating to pooled NHS and local authority budgets, (known as Section 75 budgets) which would be considered by the Oxfordshire Health & Wellbeing Board in April 2023.

Management of communications between local NHS organisations and the wider public on issues such as the shortage of GPs, rather than GP surgeries was also raised by the Chair. The Panel was informed that individual practices had their own practice participation groups, and Healthwatch was active within Oxfordshire, but that the ICB was planning a new communications and engagement platform and members of the ICB including its Chair were seeking to meet and engage with local communities.  It was however, recognised that there was more to do, albeit capacity and resources were real constraints.

With regard to maternity services, these were organised by a local maternity network which covered a Thames Valley rather than BOB ICB geography.

It also noted that maternity services did not appear to be covered within the areas set out in the report.

Finally, the Chair asked how sustainability was being considered in a holistic way. The Panel was updated that NHS recognised that it was one of the largest generators of carbon across the public sector and for this reason each NHS Trust published their plans to achieve Net Zero emissions by 2030. One of the major challenges to this objective was the need to improve NHS property. Technology, such as virtual appointments and the use of digital and data to improve prevention of illness could have a part to play in reducing journeys.

RESOLVED: That the update report to the Future Oxfordshire Partnership be noted.