Agenda item

Report of the Director of Delivery, City and Hackney Place-based Partnership.

The Committee received a report of the Director of Delivery, City and Hackney Place-based Partnership, which provided an update on resident involvement within the City and Hackney Place-based Partnership, with particular focus on how the Partnership seeks to involve City of London residents.

During the discussion on this item, the following points were noted:

The Chair welcomed the reference to Portsoken, as this accounts for 1/5th of the City’s population.   However, under the former CCG, there had been challenges in engaging with this community, due to boundary restrictions. 

From current data, there appears to be considerable disparity in health outcomes between Portsoken residents and the rest of the City.

It was accepted that resident participation can be low amongst the working population.  Officers agreed to look at a possible communications campaign and work with the Committee on how to improve this.   Members noted the good work in the City and Hackney under ‘together better’; a  project which brings patient volunteers GPs to run community groups.  It was noted that it is preferable to expand on those areas where there is already engagement.

Under current legislation, the Community and Children’s Services Department are required to consult regularly with service users.  A lot of Ward Members are also City residents, who can share insight.

If residents have concerns, they can go direct to the healthcare provider; ie the Neaman Practice and Barts receive comments and complaints.   Service users can also approach the ICB and Healthwatch.   Members noted that the Neaman had improved its reception service, and both Barts and the Neaman had improved their elective referrals processes following such interventions.   Social media is also monitored regularly.

Individuals in less deprived areas are the most likely to complain, even if the complaints are relatively minor.  However, the reverse often applies in the more deprived areas.  Officers were encouraged to approach the Portsoken Ward Members to help with resident engagement.    Members noted that there is a Healthwatch Office in the  new Portsoken Community Centre, which hosts regular community groups.

Whilst the NHS is commissioned to provide services to local residents, rather than the working population, there have been initiatives to support City workers; ie vaccination clinics, blood tests and mental health services, which do not require time off work.    The Committee can work with the NHS to widen this offer and the  Ward newsletters are a good means of communication. 

Organisations such as ‘We-Work’ could be another pathway to reaching self-employed City workers. 

RESOLVED, that – the report be noted.