Agenda and minutes

The Chairman said he was assuming that Members of the Board had read the papers and he would, therefore, not ask officers to introduce or summarise the reports. 

To receive apologies for absence and notification of any substitutes

Apologies for absence were received from Dr Lunt, Ms Carpenter, Ms Davies, Dr Kumta, Ms Cox and Mr Perks. 

Dr MacDermott, Ms Ogilive and Dr Lundy attended as substitutes for Dr Lunt, Ms Carpenter and Mr Perks respectively.

To receive any declarations of Interest by Members in items on the agenda for the meeting

Dr Chaudhuri declared an interest in item 7 on the agenda - Pharmaceutical Needs Assessment as he was a member of a dispensing practice and a member of the local professional network for pharmacists.  As this interest was not considered to be a Disclosable Pecuniary or Other Significant Interest as defined in the Code of Conduct he remained in the meeting and took part in the discussion.

To receive and agree the minutes of the last meeting

Resolved that the minutes of the meeting held on 14 June 2017 are correctly recorded and they be signed by the Chairman.

To receive a report on the findings of the review undertaken by the Chairman into the fitness for purpose and future focus of the Board in light of the development of the Kent and Medway STP

(1)       Mr Oakford said it had been agreed at the last meeting of the Board to undertake a review of the fitness for purpose and the future direction of the Kent Health and Wellbeing Board and thanked those who had contributed.

(2)       David Whittle (Director of Strategy, Policy, Relationships and Corporate Assurance) introduced the report which set out the results of the review and proposals for the future.  He drew particular attention to: the background to and the development of the Board; the membership and management of meetings of the Board; the relationship of the Board with local health and wellbeing boards and the Children’s Health and Wellbeing Board; and the role of the Board vis-à-vis the Sustainability and Transformation Plan (STP).

(3)       Members said the STP was an enormous challenge, the HWB needed to be close to the strategic commissioning of services and to focus on local care.  Comments were also made about the role of the HWB in cutting across agendas and identifying where it could make a difference as well as its role in relation to the 0-25 Health and Wellbeing Board and the local health and wellbeing boards.

(4)       There was a general consensus that the HWB would continue in its present format and with its work in relation to prevention and local care until there was agreement on any future proposal.

(5)       Resolved that:

(a)       The findings of the review be noted;

(b)       The Board should seek a role within the governance arrangements of the Kent and Medway STP;

(c)        Following conversations with Medway Council and the Chief Executive of the STP a further paper about the potential for a joint health and wellbeing board with Medway be considered at the next meeting of the Board on 22 November 2017.

To receive a briefing on the actions taken by the Health and Social Care system to prepare for and respond to winter

(1)       Mr Oakford said that NHS England had been unable to be attend this evening’s meeting to present the report and asked the Board members if they wished to discuss, or defer the report to the next meeting.

(2)       Members of the Board expressed concern about readiness for winter particularly in relation to ‘flu vaccinations, plans to keep people out of hospital, and the fact that the system response to winter had become increasingly fragile over recent years.  Comments were also made about recent meetings with NHS England about preparedness for winter and the ‘flu vaccination campaigns and the fact that many organisations were aware of the anticipated demands over winter and were just starting to prepare.

(3)       Resolved that a letter be written to the author of the report saying the Board was not reassured about the adequacy of plans to prepare for winter, asking for a detailed report from each A&E Delivery Board about their plans for winter and seeking an explanation for non-attendance at this meeting.

To comment on and endorse the requirements for producing and publishing a Pharmaceutical Needs Assessment and to agree the recommendation to complete the required 60 day consultation prior to December 2017

(1)       The Health and Wellbeing Board received a report setting out the statutory requirements for the development and consultation on a pharmaceutical needs assessment.

(2)       In response to questions and comments it was confirmed that the needs of hard to reach groups had been taken into account in developing plans for the renewal of the pharmaceutical needs assessment (PNA).  It was also said that, although funding for the national pharmacy contract had been cut by 4% with further cuts anticipated, the Local Pharmacy Committee Steering Group was not aware that any pharmacies had ceased trading.  It was, however, aware that some independent pharmacies had been sold to big corporations.

(3)       The desirability of integrating the development of the PNA with the STP was acknowledged.  

(4)       Resolved that:

(a)       Requirements for producing and publishing a Pharmaceutical Needs Assessment be noted;

(b)       Consultation on the revised PNA for 60 days commencing in October be agreed;

(c)       The consultation document be circulated to all Health and Wellbeing Board Members at the commencement of the consultation.

To note the Healthwatch Annual report 2016/17

(1)       Steve Inett (Chief Executive Officer) gave a presentation which is available on-line as an appendix to these minutes.

(2)       In response to questions and comments, he said an offer from MacMillan to work with gypsies and travellers had been received and would be followed up.

(3)       Healthwatch was thanked for the support it had provided to CCGs and the usefulness of the “help cards” was endorsed.

(4)       Resolved that the report be noted. 

To note the report

Resolved that the contents of the report be noted.

To note the report

(1)       Anu Singh (Corporate Director of Adult Social Care) said it was important to know the totality of all organisations spending on adult social care.

(2)       Resolved that the report be noted.

To note the minutes of the 0-25 Health and Wellbeing Board held on 28 March 2017

The minutes of the 0-25 Health and Wellbeing Board held on 28 March 2017 were noted.

To note the minutes of local health and wellbeing boards as follows:

Ashford - 19 July 2017

Dartford, Gravesham and Swanley – 28 June 2017

Thanet –  20 July 2017

West Kent – 18 April 2017 and 20 June 2017

The minutes of local health and wellbeing boards were received as follows:

Ashford - 19 July 2017

Dartford, Gravesham and Swanley – 28 June 2017

Thanet –  20 July 2017

West Kent – 18 April 2017 and 20 June 2017