Agenda item

Medway Clinical Commissioning Group’s Operational Plan is closely aligned to the Kent and Medway Sustainability and Transformation Plan. The Operational Plan sets out the CCG’s plans over the next two years and this report provides some highlights of the delivery against this plan during its first 10 months.

Discussion

The Board was provided with an update on the first ten months of delivery of the CCG Operational Plan. The Plan set out nine must dos that CCGs were required to deliver by central Government. Key highlights of activities undertaken in the period included progress on the development of local care, the roll out of Pace Clinics (support for older adults), work with Kent Fire and Rescue Service on assessing the risk factors related to falling in older people and development of primary care services, to deliver the NHS GP 5 Year Forward View programme. There were currently four healthy living centres in Medway with a further two being required. Minor illness clinics had been established in Rochester and Rainham and would be rolled out across Medway. Care Navigation services were also being developed. Significant work had been undertaken in relation to urgent and emergency care. Front door screening had been started with Medway Community healthcare and Medway Foundation Trust, to identify patients who could be dealt with in primary care.

There had been much positive partnership working to reduce Delayed Transfers of Care of patients fit for discharge from the hospital to the community. This had included one week in December where no patients had been delayed. There had been a significant reduction in the number of patients waiting over four hours to be seen in Accident and Emergency due to joint working undertaken with MFT. There had also been a reduction in the number of patients waiting for procedures. Medway Maritime Hospital had the only Accident and Emergency Department in Kent and Medway that had a 24 hour liaison psychiatry service. A number of specific services had been recommissioned during the previous 12 months.

A Board Member said that there were currently no 24/7 pharmacies in Kent and Medway and requested that work be undertaken to identify pharmacies in the area that had applied for a 24/7 licence but were not fulfilling this. It was confirmed that pharmacy services were commissioned by NHS England rather than by the CCG. Arrangements were made with local pharmacies for 24/7 availability of a pharmacist. Therefore, the case highlighted by the Member of an out of county journey having to be made to obtain drugs for a terminally ill patient should not have occurred. The CCG would look at this issue if further details could be provided regarding the specific circumstances. 

In response to a Board Member who asked whether a serious issue raised in relation to a GP surgery was an isolated incident, the CCG representatives considered that it was indeed an isolated incident but that if other concerns were raised these would be investigated

Officers highlighted the strength of partnership working in Medway. The Board had previously raised concern about a lack of visibility of children’s safeguarding. Work was taking place in relation to this and the recent Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND) inspection outcomes.

Decision

The Board noted the progress on the delivery of the Operational Plan.