Agenda item

This report provides the Health and Wellbeing Board with a progress update on:

·       the development of the Kent and Medway Integrated Care System;

·       the development of the Medway and Swale Integrated Care Partnership (ICP); and

·       the anticipated next steps for the development of the ICP.

Discussion:

Martin Riley, Managing Director MCH CIC and Joint Senior Responsible Officer (SRO) for the Medway and Swale Integrated Care Partnership (ICP) introduced the report which provided a progress update on the development of the Medway and Swale ICP. He drew the Board’s attention to the two appendices of the report which outlined restart and recovery activity linked to COVID-19 and the priority areas for the ICP over the coming months. 

Members then raised several comments and questions, which included:

·       COVID-19 – in response to a concern expressed in relation to continuing to develop the Medway and Swale ICP despite issues related to the pandemic, the SRO explained that the focus was on how the organisations making up the ICP worked together and were organised. The last six months had demonstrated that by working together more could be achieved. This sentiment was echoed by the Accountable Officer for the Kent and Medway CCG.

Concerning lessons learnt from the pandemic, the SRO explained that the Medway and Swale ICP Clinical Advisory Board was developing a Clinical Strategy which would address this and priority areas within the relevant Joint Strategic Needs Assessments.

·       Use of IT – in response to a question about progressing the use of IT, the SRO recognised that some patients would continue face-to-face interactions, however as demonstrated during the pandemic many preferred video consultations. It was noted that video triaging at GP practices had accelerated some of the care provided. However, it was recognised that digital solutions needed to be accessible and the Board was reassured that face-to-face services for those needing it would not be withdrawn.

Building on experience over the previous months, the Accountable Officer for the Kent and Medway CCG confirmed that the CGG had been successful in receiving further support to enhance use of technology in care homes. This would include developing the digital literacy of staff working in these settings. A new Director for Digital Transformation at the CCG would also shortly be appointed to lead this agenda.

·       On the ground experience – a concern was expressed about the disparity between the aims of the Integrated Care System and the loss of some services in Medway including Stroke and Mental Health Services in addition to local GP services in Rainham which had been relocated from the Healthy Living Centre. In response, the SRO explained that the Medway and Swale ICP was mainly constituted of provider organisations which had historically worked closely together. Developing an ICP would formalise the governance for this and together with the Primary Care Networks would focus on delivery of coordinated care across the area.

The Accountable Officer for the Kent and Medway CCG assured the Board that the CCG was committed to retaining local resources and aligning commissioners and other staff with the Medway and Swale ICP. He also highlighted that Medway Council and Kent County Council were partners in the Medway and Swale ICP and that integration across health and social care was vital.

·       Stroke Services – The Accountable Officer updated the Board on recent developments in relation to the Judicial Review on changes to Stroke Services in Kent and Medway.

Decision:

The Health and Wellbeing noted the report.