Agenda item

A report from the East London Health & Care Partnership.

The Board received a report from the East London Health & Care Partnership on better care and wellbeing in East London. 

David Maher from the East London Health & Care Partnership advised the Board about the changing role of the Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) and updated members on the work of the Partnership so far, as highlighted in the report before the Board.

The following issues were referenced:

1.    Prevention – the focus was on preventative services in to reduce the need for long term care;

2.    Urgent and emergency care – there was room for improvement to ensure that local people were properly linked to local services and resources were used in the most efficient way;

3.    Mental health – there was scope for progressive changes in mental health services as highlighted by the triage scheme that had been developed in collaboration with the City of London Police.

4.    NHS long-term plan – this was due to be released in December 2018 with a view to 1/4/10 year planning which would influence the report before Members. A further report would therefore be submitted to the Board once the NHS plans were clearer.

With reference to Diabetes, it was noted that this was a pressing problem and a focus for City Hackney, particularly given the link to obesity.  It was suggested that whilst a Diabetes nurse specialist service had been in operation for some time and been positive, the service should be reviewed with consideration given to how new technology could now be used. As a linked factor, it was also important to continue working with restaurants and food outlets to promote healthier eating. Members agreed that the prevention element of this work was vital, and it was important to recognise the complexities within boroughs by using a neighbourhood template to deliver effective prevention strategies that reflect local health issues and community factors.  It was noted that the City, which had a low obesity rate and was generally healthy, had introduced a good prevention programme with exercise programmes in City schools, sugar tax, less advertising for fast food, and limited access to unhealthy fast food shops in the city.

A Board Member welcomed the report but queried what was being delivered and how, recognising the complexities of the healthcare environment.  Further to this, a query was raised regarding the target audience and it was suggested that the current format might not be easy for the public (i.e. without health sector knowledge) to understand.  It was therefore agreed that an update report would be submitted to the next meeting of the Board.

RESOLVED – That-

(i)            the report and the update be noted; and

(ii)           a further update report be submitted to the next meeting of the Board.