Agenda item

Plans for the future of the Health and Care System in York

A presentation will be given to update Board Members on the plans being prepared by a number of health and social care partners in York (including the council, NHS commissioners and providers and voluntary sector organisations) for the future of the health and care system in York, including consideration of closer working and increased integration.

 

This will include the work partners have undertaken locally to prepare the system in York to respond to forthcoming government legislation set out in the February 2021 white paper ‘Integration and Innovation: working together to improve health and social care for all.

Minutes:

The Board received a presentation that gave them an update on the plans being prepared by a number of health and social care partners in York (including the council, NHS commissioners and providers and voluntary sector organisations) for the future of the health and care system in York, including consideration of closer working and increased integration.

 

The Vale of York Clinical Commissioning Groups Accountable Officer and Consultant in Public Health were in attendance to provide an update. They highlighted the work partners had undertaken locally to prepare the system in York and to respond to forthcoming government legislation set out in the February 2021 white paper ‘Integration and Innovation: working together to improve health and social care for all’.

 

Board Members noted that:

·        42 Integrated care systems (ICSs) were to be established on a statutory footing in England through both an ‘NHS ICS board’ (this would also include representatives from local authorities) and an ICS health and care partnership.

·        ICSs would take on the statutory and allocative duties of Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) in April 2022, and from that point the Vale of York CCG would cease to exist.

·        A duty to collaborate would be created to promote collaboration across the healthcare, public health and social care system.

·        Locally, it had been agreed that York would be designated a ‘place’ within Humber Coast and Vale area and be invited to send a representative to the ICS board.

·        To build on the foundation of greater collaboration and integration coming out of Covid, and in response to the white paper, the proposal was to establish a York Health and Care Alliance.

·        Governance arrangements for the Alliance during its 2021/22 shadow year would be proposed to the board at its first meeting in April.

·        For this year, neither the Alliance nor the Alliance Board would be a legal body itself, and would not be able to make decisions in their own right.

·        During the shadow year, decision-making and accountability would remain the purview of each organisation involved, and any decisions affecting the council would be taken back through existing governance routes as appropriate.

·        It would be recommended that the Alliance was adopted as a subgroup of the Health and Wellbeing Board, subject to approval at Full Council.

·        The Alliance Board Chair would be the Leader of the Council, with the Director of Public Health and one other senior City of York Council officer also attending

·        The Alliance would be reviewed over its shadow 12 months, including its relationship with the Health and Wellbeing Board, with further reports to be presented to the Council.

 

Members noted the aims of the Alliance Board and the Chair then invited Board Members to raise any questions relating to their service areas. It was noted that the Alliance would include representatives from:

      Vale of York CCG

      York Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust

      Tees Esk and Wear Valleys NHS Trust

      Nimbuscare (Primary Care services provider in York)

      City of York Council

      Community & Voluntary Services

      St Leonard’s Hospice

      York Schools and Academies Board

      Representatives of Primary Care Networks. 

 

In answer to questions and concerns raised regarding the potential privatisation of York hospital’s A&E minor injuries unit to Vocare, the Chief Executive of York Teaching Hospital Trust explained the background to Vocare and the services they provided. He noted that the Hospital Trust were working with Vocare to ensure there was an integrated offer to members of the public and that national specification stated that minor injury and minor illness services in A&E should be working more closely together. He stated that there were no plans to commission further services to the private sector.

 

The Chair thanked officers for their update.

 

Resolved:

 

(i)           That the update be noted.

 

(ii)       That the Alliance be adopted as a subgroup of the Health and Wellbeing Board, subject to approval at Full Council.

 

(ii)         That the Health and Adult Social Care Policy and Scrutiny Committee be asked to consider a report on the transfer of the minor injuries unit to Vocare at their next meeting.           

 

Reason: To keep the Board updated on the future of the health and care system in York.

 

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