Issue - meetings

11.45 am

Oxfordshire’s NHS organisations and the County and District Councils are working together to try to ensure the continued provision of high quality and sustainable health and social care services. In the face of reductions to funding, the health and social care services need to respond to increasing demand, patient expectations and advances in technology and medicines. The plan is to improve the quality and value for money of health services provided in Oxfordshire in a way that will keep the system in financial balance. This will involve re-designing the wide range of health care services currently provided throughout Oxfordshire. Catherine Mountford, Director of Strategy & Quality, Oxfordshire PCT, will bring the Committee up to date on developments.

 A report, produced by Catherine Mountford, is attached at JHO8.

Oxfordshire’s NHS organisations and the County and District Councils were working together to try to ensure the continued provision of high quality and sustainable health and social care services. In the face of reductions in funding, health and social care services needed to respond to increasing demand, patient expectations and advances in technology and medicines. The plan was to improve the quality and value for money of health services provided in Oxfordshire in a way that would keep the system in financial balance. This would involve redesigning the wide range of health care services currently provided throughout Oxfordshire. The programme was known as Creating a Healthy Oxfordshire (CAHO).

Catherine Mountford, Director of Strategy & Quality, Oxfordshire PCT, attended the meeting in order to update the Committee on developments and to respond to any questions. A report (JHO8) which had been produced by Catherine Mountford was before the Committee.

Catherine Mountford presented her report and responded in the following manner to a number of issues raised by members:

-                      There would be a slight increase in funding over the next few years which would amount to 0.4% in real terms. As a consequence, things will need to be done differently and more would have to be done with available funding, for example on enablement;

-                      No policy decisions have yet been taken with regard to any potential changes which may be taken as a consequence of the permission given by the Government to disregard NICE recommendations;

-                      With regard to the Quality Innovation, Productivity Prevention Plan (QIPP) that related to maternity and mental health services - work was being undertaken on managing maternity care, maximising normal delivery and reducing the caesarean rate; and reducing hospital interventions. The largest part of the savings in mental health was the joint work being carried out on supported to independent living;

-                      The maximum numbers of women were giving birth in midwife-led units as part of the programme;

-                      The PCT would be working closely with GP consortia to take the Plan forward , beyond 2013, when the PCT would disband. Naturally, it may change and adaptations will have to be made as it progresses and new ideas brought forward. There was not as yet a balanced plan with regard to delivery;

-                      To date, 30 plus GPs had put their names forward to become more involved in the consortia;

-                      Informal consultation was going ahead with regard to developments for Bicester Hospital; and

-                      With regard to possible job losses due to efficiency savings, it was difficult to answer this question, but the aim was to effect this via natural turnover and vacant posts. The detailed planning with regard to workforce changes and contractual issues would be undertaken next year.

The Committee thanked Catherine Mountford for her attendance, for her update on developments and for responding to members’ questions.