Interviews with Dr Bob Bowes, Clinical Chair of the West Kent Clinical Commissioning Group; and Ian Ayres, Chief Finance Officer.

Dr Bob Bowes and Ian Ayres of the West Kent Clinical Commission Group (CCG) provided an update on the progress of CCGs (Appendix A). 

Members were informed of the following:

• There were 212 CCGs across England;
• £5m in efficiency savings were made this year which would exceed the target for the year but there would still be a gap;
• West Kent had 62 GP practices that have been amalgamated into 12 CCGs;
• Engagement with public and patients was a critical part of the role of CCGs; and
• Despite being an affluent area there were health inequalities and areas of deprivation in West Kent.

It was explained that there was a requirement (as part of plans to modernise the NHS under the Health and Social Care Act 2012) to have a top tier Health and Well Being Board (HWBB).  Dr Bowes told the Committee it would be preferential to establish a HWBB for each CCG.

In response to Members questions on the funding inequalities that existed across Kent, it was explained that the formula for the allocation of funding was on the Department of Health’s website.  The Committee questioned whether the formula was correct and representative of the population’s needs. Mr Ayres told the Committee that there were indications of a new ‘fair share’ approach to funding in the future but could offer no further information on this at present.

The Committee considered the integration of social care with public health.  They were informed that this was being done but it could be done better.  A positive example was given at Maidstone Hospital where patients moved into the care of the Community Care Trust and out of acute care where an assessment was made on the patient’s requirements in order to return home.  The move was seamless from the patient’s point of view and made more beds available.

The Committee considered the strategy of prevention in health and the way in which this would be reflected in NHS expenditure. It would place an emphasis on community care rather than acute care.  Members were advised that the way to move funding was to move the activity i.e. in delivering community care.  This would form part of the commissioning priorities of the HWBB and would be driven by the JSNA.  The JSNA would go down to ward level, drawing from GP information and Local Government data.

 Members considered possible overlaps occurring in public health and how they could become involved in the changes taking place.  The Committee were advised of Patient Participation Groups which were set up in all GP surgeries, the Chairs of these groups were invited to regular meetings with the CCG.  The importance of organisations working together with local councils to determine local priorities was emphasised and the Committee felt Maidstone Borough Council had an opportunity to take the lead on this by engaging with all GPs as early as possible.

It was resolved that:

a)  Maidstone Borough Council’s Public Health Officer engage with all GP’s in the borough, providing an early opportunity to feed into the Joint Strategic Needs Assessment (JSNA) and to support the Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) in its delivery of this; and

b)  The Scrutiny Officer establish how Members can become involved in Patient Participation Groups in their locality.