Agenda item

The Deputy Chief Executive of NHS North Yorkshire and York will be in attendance to talk about The Operating Framework for England in 2011/12 which sets out the requirements for the NHS in England in 2011/12. These requirements include the transition to new organisational structures and what needs to happen in 2011/12 to start to implement the challenges set out in the White Paper. The White Paper focuses on the development of the National Commissioning Board, the establishment of PCT cluster arrangements and the development of GP Commissioning Consortia.

An update on the PCT’s financial situation will also be provided.

The Deputy Chief Executive of NHS North Yorkshire and York attended the meeting and reported on The Operating Framework for England in 2011/12 which included the transition to new organisational structures which would start to implement the challenges set out in the White Paper.

She confirmed that this was her six monthly update to members and the main points raised covered the following areas:

1. PCT Financial Situation

·        Confirmation that hard work would ensure that they would be close to achieving a balanced budget by the year end.

·        Difficult decisions had had to be made regarding reductions and changes in services with work still ongoing.

·        Proposals were also ongoing to ensure stability for the voluntary sector during the next financial year with the Board supporting taking this forward with 4% efficiencies. Confirmation that this would ensure that no future short term decisions were then taken.

·        Work with other organisations/providers was still ongoing and would be completed by the end of March.

2. Transforming Community Services

·        At the end of last year, agreement had been reached that community based services would go back to local providers. Work was ongoing with arrangements for the transfer of staff, which included Selby and Scarborough with transition letters due out on 1 April.

·        There had been a number of interested providers for the transfer of mental health services however this had taken longer than the process for community services because of the formal tender process. A tender had now been approved with services in the York/Selby and Tadcaster area being awarded to the Leeds Foundation Trust. Owing to the need for Monitor to approve the changes, this would probably not now formally take place until September/October 2011.

c.   White Paper - Transition

·        The transition included NHS development and support for the new General Practitioner Commissioning Consortia.

·        Five core Commissioning Consortia were proposed and two fringe Consortia. One of these would cover the York/Pocklington/ Tadcaster/Selby area covering a population of 300,000 with the late addition of Kirbymoorside into the area. Confirmation that this would cover a wider area than that covered by the York Health Group with GP’s having a choice of which Consortia they joined. Two Pathfinder Consortia existed in the area.

·         Details of PCT clustering arrangements to try and maintain staffing levels and provide stability and continuity throughout the transition.

·        Details of the emerging Commissioning Board, which would be up, and running by October 2011 with the National Board headquarters being sited in Leeds.

·        NHS North Yorkshire and York’s wish to maintain and continue their good working relations with all.

Members then questioned a number of points raised including:

·        Confirmation received that GP’s could only join one Consortia but that their patients could cross boundaries.

·        Was there a requirement for the PCT to clear their historic debt. Confirmation that the debt had to be cleared and in current balance which would be carried out over this and the forthcoming years.

·        As the Council budget for 2011/12 was based on receipt of an Enabling Grant estimated at £1.97m, questioned how robust this figure was and if the PCT were obliged to transfer this directly to the authority. Confirmation that if this had been the figure advised there was no reason why this would not be accurate.

·        Confirmation received that tendering for the mental health services had been through the full EU tender process. This had resulted in a clear winner for the York grouping.

·        Confirmation that the tender for the muscular skeletal services had last week been awarded to the York Foundation Trust. 

The Chair thanked the Deputy Chief Executive for her informative six monthly update.

RESOLVED:                         That the six monthly update from NHS North Yorkshire and York be received and noted.

REASON:                              To continue to inform the Committee of ongoing work of the NHS.