Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from the following Board Members: Paul Bentley, Integrated Care Board (ICB) Representative, Lee-Anne Farach, Director of People- Children and Adults’ Services Medway Council, Martin Riley, Joint Senior Responsible Officer, Medway and Swale Integrated Care Partnership, Councillor Stuart Tranter, Phill Thorne, Healthwatch Medway and Donna Marriott, Assistant Director Child Social Care, Medway Council.

With respect to invited attendees, apologies for absence were received from Adrian Richardson (Director of Partnerships KMPT) and Dr Caroline Rickard (Local Medical Committee).

To approve the record of the meeting held on 9 February 2023.

The record of the meeting held on 9 February 2023 was agreed and signed by the Chairman as correct.  

There were none.

Members are invited to disclose any Disclosable Pecuniary Interests or Other Significant Interests in accordance with the Member Code of Conduct. Guidance on this is set out in agenda item 4.

Disclosable pecuniary interests

There were none.

Other significant interests (OSIs)

There were none.

Other interests

There were none.

This report outlines the requirement for the development of an NHS Joint Forward Plan (JFP) in response to the Kent and Medway Interim Integrated Care Strategy.  The draft JFP has been developed in partnership between NHS Kent and Medway Integrated Care Board and its partner NHS trusts and foundation trusts, as required by national guidance.  The draft JFP is being shared with Medway Health and Wellbeing Board as part of our consultation across the Integrated Care System, specifically to seek views on whether the plan takes proper account of the Medway Joint Local Health and Wellbeing Strategy.   

Discussion:

The Chief Strategy Officer, NHS Kent & Medway ICB, introduced the report and informed the Board that this paper was being brought before the Board as part of a consultation to set out how they would deliver actions. The Draft Plan sets out NHS plans for delivery of the Kent & Medway Integrated Care Strategy. Based on the six shared outcomes where work will be undertaken it will be necessary to work collaboratively, with a focus on prevention and tackling the wider determinants of health inequalities. It was important to note that there were various other plans with their own Strategies that would run alongside this Draft NHS Forward Plan.

Members then raised a number of comments and questions which included:

The opportunity to work closer together was welcomed as no one agency was able to tackle the issues of inequality in health alone. It was vital that all steps be taken to improve health outcomes for residents of Medway. A centre of excellence was needed in Medway Maritime Hospital and there had been £460million investment for East Kent Hospital but it was disappointing that Medway Maritime Hospital had not received the same investment.

In recent years there had been increased focus and funding for Children’s Services, and this was also now needed in Adults’ Services to ensure that adults were receiving the care and support needed and to minimise tensions between services.

It was vital that all services take account the views of the Community, the Health and Wellbeing Board and Health and Social Care Overview and Scrutiny Committee to ensure that the voice of the residents was being captured and considered in all decision making.

·       GP Access – it was commented that a lack of access to GP services remained a challenge and it was asked how other services could play their part. The Chief Strategy Officer, NHS Kent & Medway ICB, acknowledged that this was a plan to work together collaboratively and that improving access to primary care services would continue to be a local priority. The NHS could not, however solely deliver outcomes as in the longer term working together around prevention and increasing their collective focus on health and wellbeing and wider determinants of health would also deliver sustainable improvements. There was a challenge for the entire system in attracting, recruitment and retention of the right workforce to serve the local population. There had been some significant progress made through the GP programme to attract people to train and remain in Medway after their training, in order for this to be successful, other factors such as affordable housing would be key, and it was important that the Council worked closely in partnership with the NHS for the aspirations to be realised.

Despite the issues with access to GP services, NHS Kent and Medway remained committed to working with partners through utilising the healthy living centres in a way that was affordable and best use of the collective resources that were currently available.

·       Development of the Kent and  ...  view the full minutes text for item 734.

The report advises the Board of the forward work programme for discussion in the light of latest priorities, issues and circumstances. It gives the Board an opportunity to shape and direct the Board’s activities.

The Democratic Services Officer introduced the report and informed Members that although there were a number of items with dates to be determined,

work was underway with officers to identify the suitable dates in the upcoming schedule of meetings for items to be taken.

Decision:

1. The Board agreed the work programme as attached at appendix A.