Issue - meetings

To inform the Board about the work being undertaken around the Accountable Care System and Sustainability and Transformation Plans

The Board considered a presentation (Agenda Item 11) to provide information about the Accountable Care System (ACS) and Sustainability and Transformation Plans (STP).

Shairoz Claridge gave the presentation as laid out in the agenda, particularly noting that the Berkshire West 10 group, whose membership included representatives from councils and clinical commissioning groups, was furthering the integration agenda. Health partners had however had to expedite this work separately to respond to national directives from the National Health Service.

Andrew Sharp queried whether the primary driver for this change was for financial purposes or for improved outcomes. Shairoz Claridge responded that the NHS was aware of the pressures on the system and was of the view that further integration would both drive down costs and achieve better outcomes.

Andrew Sharp further questioned whether the engagement on the STP was a process of informing or seeking input. Dr Lise Llewellyn advised that information was being provided so that a local response could be formulated.

Councillor Gordon Lundie asked whether the West Berkshire Oxfordshire Buckinghamshire footprint of the STP would be too big and if it was likely to be broken down. Dr Lise Llewellyn advised that the STP had been built up from Health and Wellbeing Strategies and Berkshire wide strategies. The focus would be on things that could not be achieved locally.

Councillor Lundie enquired how the STP would work. Dr Llewellyn reported that there would be three areas of focus: health and wellbeing, care and outcomes, and financial stability. The STP would still allow for local solutions for local priorities and would identify major improvements to achieve financial stability.

Councillor Lundie noted that sometimes the money and patients were in the wrong parts of the system and enquired whether any savings achieved in social care would be used to offset budget pressures in Accident and Emergency services. Dr Llewellyn responded that the ACS would explore how to spend resources in a way which addressed risks and drove change.

Councillor Lundie asked what model the ACS was based on. Shairoz Claridge answered that it was based on the Accountable Care Organisation model, but for Berkshire West ‘system’ was being used as there was no inclination to merge into one organisation. Instead work would be undertaken with a Memorandum of Understanding, using money in the system to address the needs of the system.

Councillor Lundie asked why councils were not included in the Memorandum of Understanding. Shairoz Claridge responded that work was continuing with local authorities to align the values and vision of the ACS. Health services have had to expedite the process but would be bringing in councils as part of a second phase to the process.

RESOLVED that the presentation be noted.