Agenda item

Health Strategic Transformation Partnership (10 min presentation)

Minutes:

Sarah Bellars gave an update on the Strategic Transformation Partnership work .

 

While the STP had previously stood for System or Strategic Transformation Plan, it was now called a Partnership.

 

Sarah explained that in 2012, East Berkshire had a failing hospital and poor health economy. Targets and standards were not met. By 2017, all health services in East Berkshire had improved, with the majority judged to be ‘good’, amidst increasing activity and demand across the health and social care sector.

 

The Strategic Transformation Partnership had been established to address place based commissioning, the lack of funding available for health partners, and the different ways health partners were funded to instil competition. Some partners were funded by volume and others were paid a lump sum regardless of the number of patients.

 

Accountable Care Systems had been established on a national level to group areas together, however Bracknell Forest had been included in the Berks, Oxon and Bucks (BOB) group. Sarah commented that since patients in Bracknell tended to use Frimley Health services, it was illogical to group them with Bucks and Oxon patients. A challenge had been issued to NHS England to suggest that an STP be established around Frimley Health, to include 5 CCGs, and 5 Local Authorities. Sir Andrew Morris, CEO of Frimley Health had been appointed as the lead for the Partnership. When the STP had been discussed with leaders of health and social care, it had been agreed that locality approach to services was very important. 

 

In June 2016, a draft first plan and key priorities was created, then in October 2016 the plan was submitted to NHS England (having been signed off by all involved). In Spring 2017, Frimley Health was chosen to go forward as a pilot, along with West Berkshire who were also accepted.

 

Since the approval, Sarah commented that the arrangements had been working well, with budgets pooled and social care wrapping around.

 

The key priorities for the Frimley Health STP were:

  • Prevention and self care
  • Long term conditions
  • Frailty including the Last 1000 Days campaign
  • Redesigning urgent and emergency care to simplify and create capacity
  • Reducing variation and health inequalities

 

Sarah explained that the benefits of the Partnership included having a better co-ordinated response across health and social care, a ‘no wrong door’ approach, increased partnership working and connectivity, and it was hoped that the Partnership would give patients confidence in treatment they’re offered. Work was now beginning to develop and upskill the unregistered social care workforce. 

 

Since the establishment of the STP, Sarah commented that Frimley Health had seen an increase in funding flow and had received funding to transform mental health liaison services to resolve a previous inequity between Royal Berkshire Hospital, Frimley and Wexham amongst other funding.

 

In response to discussion, the following points were noted:

  • While not specifically children’s services, the focus on children was implicit throughout the transformation and the workstreams. Sarah commented that if long term conditions and frailty were improved, there would be more capacity to improve other areas of health.
  • It was noted that as localism was critical to the partnership and that the LSCB should be kept in touch with the project and updates given regularly.

 

Contact Information

Democratic services

Email: committee@bracknell-forest.gov.uk