Agenda and draft minutes

The Chairman welcomed everyone to the meeting, inviting them to introduce themselves.

There were no substitutions.

Alex Seale declared a personal interest as Chair of the Humber Acute Services Executive Oversight Group.

Resolved - That the minutes of the meeting of the Health and Wellbeing Board, held on 2 October 2023, be approved as a correct record.

Update on the NHS Phase 3 Recovery Plan by the Chief Operating Officer, North Lincolnshire CCG

The Director – Operations confirmed that the Forward Plan was up to date, with all relevant future business scheduled for discussion.

Resolved – That the situation be noted.

There were no questions from members of the public.

The Chairman welcomed Ivan McConnell, Alastair Smith, Dr Linsay Cunningham, and Dr Andy Lee to the meeting.  The Chairman reminded the Board that the Integrated Care Board (ICB) had been asked to provide further information on nine key areas, as part of the ongoing consultation on the Humber Acute Services Review.  These were:

·       Proposals for an elective clinical hub in North Lincolnshire,

·       The potential for a joint, integrated workforce plan,

·       Community Investment Proposals,

·       Seeking the views of primary care professionals on the proposals,

·       Scunthorpe General Hospital - Capital Spend Requirements and actions,

·       Infrastructure Optimisation (esp. the Ironstone Centre, but also other sites),

·       Ambulance and Patient Trasport provision arising from the proposals to centralise services,

·       Travel planning for carers, families etc.

·       Further discussion on inpatient paediatric care.

Ivan and colleagues provided a detailed presentation on the above in response to the issues raised by the Board at their meeting in October 2023.

The Chairman led a discussion on the above issues, expressing concerns about a lack of progress on a joint health and care workforce plan based on ‘place’.  Ivan stated that a plan was in place, but that if was not as full or detailed as it could be.  A joint ‘place plan’ was highlighted as an area for multi-agency development, overseen by the Board.

Board members asked questions around ensuring that commissioned services included an element of ‘social values’ and were provided by local people.

The Chairman asked a number of questions about capital investment at Northern Lincolnshire & Goole NHS Foundation Trust’s (NLG) three main hospital sites.  Given the disparity in levels of need, the Chairman pressed ICB representatives on the requirement to provide more funding to Scunthorpe General Hospital.  Ivan described the annual budget and how risk was evaluated, and discussed opportunities to develop a new, more logical model of capital expenditure.  Other Board members discussed the urgency of implementing this model, given the situation.  Ivan committed to circulating the three-year Capital Plan to the Board.

The Board then discussed the proposed elective hub, due to be built in central Scunthorpe.  Ivan provided an update on preparatory work and an indicative timetable, and the Board held a discussion on the potential for the hub and existing facilities at the Ironstone Centre, to transform some primary care services in North Lincolnshire.  The potential impact of a community-based facility on future acute care provision was also discussed.

The Chairman led a wide-ranging discussion on other aspects of the proposals, with Board members asking questions about ambulance provision and handover delays, mental health, patient pathways, funding, and transport.  The Chairman expressed some concerns that clinicians and other key stakeholders may not agree with the proposals, with Dr Lee responding accordingly.  Alastair confirmed that the impact on ambulances and patient transport arising from the proposals could be handled using existing resources.

The Chairman summarised that, based on the discussion, there were a further seven items that the Board would either receive a report in due course or would maintain an oversight of  ...  view the full minutes text for item 544.

The Chairman confirmed that the next scheduled meeting of the Board was at 2pm on 15 January 2024.

There was no urgent or additional business.  The Chairman wished everyone a merry Christmas and happy New Year.