Agenda item

10:20

This item provides a report (JHO6) on the key issues for the CCG and outlines current and upcoming areas of work. It includes a summary of the NHS Long Term Plan.

The Committee had before them a report (JHO6) on the key issues for the OCCG, together with the current and upcoming areas of work. These included:

·         The NHS Long Term Plan

·         Gynaecological Services – Outpatients

·         Oxfordshire Vasectomy Service

·         South Oxford Health Centre

·         Judicial Review Appeal

Louise Patten, Chief Executive Officer, OCCG attended the meeting, together with Dr Ingrid Granne, Clinical Lead for Gynaecology, OUH.

Louise Patten introduced the report, highlighting the following:

-       The NHS Long Term Plan – she advised that the Kings Fund had given a good summary of the Plan itself. Group practices, rather than individual GP practices would be working together, via Primary Care Networks, which would ensure a more equitable distribution of services. Mental Health and digital services would be more of a focus also, via digital technology. In relation to Mental Health services, she explained that the changes would relate to the delivery of services in more of an integrated way across the system so that people would only be assessed once, and an efficient pathway of care would be in place;

-       Gynaecological Services - it had been agreed to look to refer patients to alternative providers for a period of 3 months, as a means of tackling the waiting times at the OUH. Dr Granne informed the Committee that the numbers of patients waiting over 18 weeks had now been halved and capacity extended. OUH was also developing a business case to employ additional consultants to ensure that targets were hit. She reported 2,200 patients were awaiting their first appointment. She added that there had also been changes in the operative capacity and theatres could now meet the number of operation requirements. The theatres were also being refurbished in order to cope with the flow. With regard to GP referrals for the location of gynaecological services, it was the GP who made the decision, together with the patient. Quicker appointments depended upon whether the patient was happy to travel to Berkshire or Buckinghamshire. A report giving information on where patients went for their treatment would be submitted to the Committee in due course. In response to a concern from a member of the Committee, she gave her assurance that theatre capacity would also be increased in the north of the county. In addition to this, outpatients would be re-designated to the Horton Hospital;

-       South Oxford Health Centre - Louise Patten reported that a mini-procurement exercise was to be undertaken to seek a local resolution. Furthermore, the OCCG was planning for a worse - case scenario in order not to waste any time.

Prior to questions from the Committee on the above issues, Louise Patten was asked when the Physiotherapy services were due to return to Wantage Hospital. Louise Patten responded that the planned date was within the following six weeks, adding that the provider had to agree that the venue was at their own risk. She assured the Committee that OCCG wanted this service to return to Wantage.

Louise Patten was also asked for information with regard to the Health & Wellbeing Board’s (HWB) Stakeholder Group Workshop on voluntary sector involvement. She advised that a report was due to be submitted to the next meeting of the HWB.

Questions from members of the Committee, and responses received on the above issues were as follows:

-       NHS Long Term Plan – Louise Patten was asked if there would be additional monies available for mental health services, with a maximum amount for children and young people. She explained that Oxford Health was not the main provider for mental health services as it was the voluntary sector, GPs and their staff who also provided services to ensure a smooth pathway. In response to a comment that NHS long term planning was not aligned with the local authorities in terms of time-scale, Louise Patten stated that OCCG was working with planning colleagues to determine what growth would look like, after which a look at the required health services would be undertaken. She agreed that unlike local government, the NHS’s trajectory was only 3 – 5 years ahead, and there was no accuracy after that, adding that OCCG had learned that it needed to work with its County Council and District Council colleagues to reach a level of accuracy. This had the utmost importance for the future as health  partners aimed to plan for the buildings they would require which could be as flexible in their use as possible. A member also commented that developers’ were building retirement and care homes because they were not required to pay CIL/106 fees. Louise Patten agreed that this was a challenge as care homes attracted people from outside of the county. She added, however, that OCCG was monitoring this and responding accordingly;

-       Vasectomy Services – A member enquired about the timescales in relation possible changes in Vasectomy Services. Louise Patten stated that this was the first test of the temperature to undertake initial scoping of public opinion, adding that the next few weeks would decide whether to take further steps. The Chairman stated that this procedure to take the temperature before deciding on how to proceed was a welcome step as far as HOSC was concerned. Louise Patten, in response to a further question from a member, Louise Patten gave her reassurance that OCCG was also taking into consideration the knock - on effects to other services, should funding be re-directed.

Louise Patten was asked what the pattern was across the Thames Valley for these services and was a lack of consistency a problem? She explained that OCCG looked for value for money for the Oxfordshire pound. A Thames Valley Priorities Committee was the body who would look at an issue and was clinically advised on whether this was, or would become, an area of low clinical value. Furthermore, across the area, Berkshire West no longer provided this service, but Buckinghamshire had continued it. OCCG also checked for local responses on whether it was valued locally or not before proceeding. A member asked why undertake this procedure when there were far bigger priorities elsewhere? Louise Patten explained that nationally it was classed as a low priority treatment – which meant that it had to be reviewed together with the spend. Opportunity cost also had to be considered and weighed up to decide whether to take this forward. She added, in response to a comment from a member, that the OCCG could be relatively accurate with its forecasting and that this particular problem was caused as a result of a surge in demand which was not consistent with overall trends in patient flow.

Louise Patten was thanked for the update and she and Professor Granne were thanked for their attendance.

The Committee AGREED to receive the report.