Issue - meetings

The NHS North East London’s Director of Partnership Impact and Delivery for Barking and Dagenham (DPID) introduced a report and presentation on the winter planning preparations across the Barking and Dagenham place-based partnership, which was underpinned by the Barking and Dagenham, Havering and Redbridge (BHR) Places Urgent and Emergency Care (UEC) Improvement Plan.

The Winter Plan for 2023/24 focused on the three core areas of prevention, hospital avoidance and discharge support. Priorities and key actions had been developed through a partnership workshop and would be developed further through the Adults and Children’s Delivery Groups, ensuring it was responsive and dynamic. 

The DPID commented on the additional impact that the cost-of-living crisis was having on the local community and referred to a number of health and equality pilot projects that would help to address some of those issues, which had been incorporated into the Winter Plan.  Another key element of the Winter Plan related to national guidance issued by the Department of Health in July, which set out the responsibilities of ICBs and NHS Trusts in terms of High Intensity Interventions (HII) that covered 10 specific aspects.  It was noted that the ICB actions would be led via the Place Based Partnerships and be amalgamated into the NHS NEL Plan.

A workshop held on 9 August was well attended by partners and discussed opportunities to strengthen the partnership response to winter resilience. The workshop focused on the areas of Right Care First Time, prevention, proactive care and discharge support. Some key themes that came out of the discussion included:

·  Improving the communication channels between providers – strengthening and improving access to a directory of services that enabled practitioners to refer to the full range of out of hospital services;

·  Education and better communication with residents so they know how to access local community services and care for themselves and their families;

·  Early preparation and taking a more proactive approach to planning – engage with residents well ahead of winter so that they feel that they have a stake in what is being offered;

·  Development of a robust response for people presenting with mental health conditions in the community;

·  Optimising current services and pathways e.g. integrated case management, voluntary sector support post discharge; 

·  Improving the discharge process – better understand the reasons for delays for B&D residents and support early discharge planning. 

Stemming from the issues referred to above, the DPID referred to the draft Winter Plan and UEC Improvement Strategy and Plan which were appended to the report, the funding required to support the initiatives for 2023/24 and key risks.  The Committees in Common also heard from NHS NEL officers on a range of communication campaigns aimed at raising residents’ awareness of where and how to access services, changing behaviours

Members very much welcomed the Winter Plan and made a number of observations, which included:

Ø  Taking advantage of Community Hubs, several of which were based in health-related buildings, to deliver a combined health programme and the additional role that  ...  view the full minutes text for item 18