Agenda item

The NHS Long Term Plan was published on the 7^th of January 2019.  This report examines the national plan, which sets out a policy and service development agenda for local NHS services.

Martin Calleja provided an overview of the recently published NHS Long Term Plan (The Plan), a national document. It was envisaged that the plans would be implemented locally, to provide a world class NHS service that people want through a whole range of priorities. Strengths and weaknesses within the plan were currently being debated, but the formula for funding meant that there would be a challenging decrease in the range of available funding.

There was one reference to HWB boards as a footnote. This, with other potential factors, inferred a review of the role of local authorities in public health.  Local authorities made a significant contribution to supporting public health and that both the NHS, and HWB boards, will need to be more focused on local public health provision, and the impact on the NHS.

The Plan proposed a new mandate for ICSs but there was no assumption that funding for social care would lead to a reduction in acute beds. There was a focus on prevention and tackling inequalities, which had important implications for the Board. Local plans for ISCs would broadly align with The Plan, so it was clear where the changes would take place. The Plan encouraged full engagement with primary care networks, which were a key part of the delivery system for ICSs. It was important to ensure that these were developed effectively and in alignment with the Boroughs primary care strategy. 

It was anticipated that digital accessible services would increase, with a corresponding reduction in the number of physical outpatient appointments.  The size of GP practices would change, covering larger population groups and the number of network contracts that GPs would be expected to sign up to would increase, extending the scope of the primary care model. 

The CCG would submit a formal response to The Plan on behalf of the North-West London collaborative.  The aim was to formulate plans and to engage with the local population, to build upon existing provision.  This would be coproduced and involve the five local healthwatch organisations working across North-West London.  Cllr Coleman and Keith Mallinson queried how this would be achieved.  It was crucial to ensure that throughout the engagement process, patients were given a voice and that progress was achieved in partnership.  It was understood that plans for engagement were currently being formulated.  Resources had also been allocated to develop a four thousand strong, citizens panel for North-West London, to comment on plans.

ACTION: Janet Cree to provide further details as to how the citizens panel would be formulated

Cllr Coleman observed that the eight CCGs that formed the North-West London collaborative could be unified, and become further removed from understanding the needs of residents and local priorities. This presented a significant challenge to democratic accountability.  Learning would be shared on prevention with a London focus, but it was noted that increased investment in primary care would not reduce the need for acute services, as referenced in The Plan.  Councillor Coleman commented that the Council was not signed up to the health and care partnership (previously the STP). Janet Cree responded that the Plan was about managing growth and the demand from patients and looking at the whole system provision.