Agenda item

The committee to be updated on the key headlines to emerge from the six-week public    engagement exercise that has recently been completed in relation to the new model for health and care being developed across the system. 

Geoff Underwood and Simon Cook, programme directors at Shaping a Healthier Future updated the committee on the results of their six-week public engagement that had taken place between 2 November and 14 December 2021. The directors reported that they held 51 engagement events over the six-week period, cumulatively attended by over 1,400 people, when allowing for double counting of those attending more than one event. They had also reached out to harder to reach groups, such as those representing asylum seekers, and received a total of 915 responses to their online survey.

The proposals had generally received a positive response, although respondents were keen to have more detail, particularly about specific localities or conditions. Results showed that the public were also appreciative that the consultation had taken place and welcomed further opportunities to input into the plan as it developed. The directors stated that further detail would be forthcoming as the health and care model progressed and discussions would be ongoing with the integrated alliances across BSW. By the time that the ICS becomes statutory in July 2022 they anticipated that there would be a high level of alignment in order to deliver the care model. The final report about the findings of the consultation would be published on 17 January.

The directors stressed that the business case for capital expenditure at Bath RUH was contingent on the model taking place. The business case could not be put forward until the committee, and equivalent bodies in BaNES, were satisfied that formal public consultation on the new model of care was not required. The directors explained were keen to attend the March committee meeting to understand what further engagement that the committee felt was necessary and stressed that public engagement would be ongoing as the model developed.

During the discussion the following points were raised:

• Members thanked the directors for the update and commended the breadth of the consultation, commenting that many of the points raised echoed the feedback given to councillors. They were also pleased to see the recognition of the demographic changes facing Wiltshire reflected in the plans.

• Cllr Jane Davies, Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care, SEND, Transition and Inclusion, stated that Wiltshire Council was excited about working collaboratively and that it was important to ensure that the voices of partners, such as Wiltshire Council, were adequately reflected in the plans.

• The cabinet member expressed disappointment about the level of engagement with the council’s public health team that had taken place and asked for a commitment to meet with the Corporate Director for People to discuss alignment with adult social care. In response the directors explained that they had held meetings with some of the local authorities within BSW, including the public health team in BaNES and would be happy to meet with officers. The also pledged to produce a narrative document to provide greater detail about the development of the plans.  

• The directors noted that respondents had expressed reservations about the language relating to digital by default appointments, so this would be reviewed to reassure the public that it was not the intention to hold all appointments remotely. The directors were keen to stress that digital appointments would not be appropriate in many cases.  

• Given that the consultation was primarily carried out online, concerns were raised that the views of those without internet access would not have been reflected in the results. The directors noted that an in-person meeting had been held with a group representing mothers and paper copies of the survey had been made available in GP surgeries.  However, they did accept that the opinions of those without internet access could have been underrepresented and pledged to consider how they could be better reflected in future.

• In response to a question about the role of the voluntary sector in the consultation the directors reported that they had involved the Wiltshire Voluntary Sector Leadership Alliance. They also took onboard a comment by a stakeholder of the committee that it would be useful to work with CEMs given their contacts with voluntary organisations in Wiltshire.

• Members stated that they would welcome a report about the development of the Health and Care Model in relation to the wider developments within BSW to gain a clearer understanding of the roles and responsibilities of different actors within the ICS. The directors stated that they would pass that feedback onto colleagues to see who would be best placed to provide further information to the committee. 

• When asked about the emphasis that would be placed on signposting patients to the relevant services, the directors explained that those details would be developed locally, as a uniform approach would not necessarily be the most effective.

• The directors committed to circulating the final report of the findings of the survey well in advance of the March committee meeting.

Irene Kohler and Diane Gooch left the meeting at 17:28pm.

Resolved

1. To thank officers for the update.

2. To welcome a further update on the developments on the engagement plan.

3. To request further detail on the proposed model being developed by the project team.

4. To invite a future update defining roles and responsibilities within the Integrated Care System.

5. To request that officers meet with the Corporate Director for People in advance of 16 March to discuss alignment with adult social care.