Issue - meetings
Chairs Update
Meeting: 29/06/2021 - Tower Hamlets Health and Wellbeing Board (Item 1)
Chairs Update
Additional documents:
Minutes:
Councillor Rachel Blake (Chair) provide the Board with the following:
The Board noted that:
v The consultation on the Health and Well Being Strategy for the period for 2021-2025 had commenced last month and currently had received over 100 responses to the to the consultation. Although this was a positive step it was intended (i) to undertake a number of more in-depth conversations with some particular groups; and (ii) that all members of the Board should continue to use their own networks to promote the online survey and that it was important to have a genuine dialogue throughout the consultation.
v The ambitions outlined in the Strategy can definitely be delivered through the Tower Hamlets Together life course work streams that are already well established and demonstrates a clear link between the strategic direction established by the Health and Wellbeing Board e.g. “Ambition 1 To all access safe, social spaces near our homes, so that we can live active, healthy lives as a community” To achieve this the Board will work with partners across the Borough, including the Council’s Public Realm team and housing associations, to reduce traffic levels and make the best use of the Borough’s land/spaces. The intention being to ensure that all Tower Hamlets residents are owning and using the open spaces to lead active, social lives – whatever their age, sex, ethnicity, health condition or locality.
v The outcome of Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic Inequalities Commission inequalities report had been considered at the last meeting and it was accepted that the Board must take ownership of the recommendations. Accordingly, this will be followed up over the next couple of months so that the Boards action plan will be ready to be implemented e.g. if there's any particular recommendations that partner organisations would like to champion.
v The Health and Wellbeing Board terms of reference and the membership are now the subject of a refresh as (i) several members organisations and organisational structures that have changed; and (ii) there is a need to address challenges regarding about how the Board is representing the whole Community in the diversity of health and social care professionals and other leaders across the NHS, the Council, and the voluntary sector who are working together to solve problems and lead change to benefit of residents.
Dr Sam Everington (Vice-Chair) provided the Board with the following:
The Board noted the following critical issues that:
v There is continued disruptive impact of the Covid pandemic on NHS care. The latest available data indicates that the shutdown of most non Covid services in the first wave, combined with drastic changes in patient behaviour, mean the NHS is facing a large backlog of non - Covid care, thereby storing up greater problems for the future.
v As the infection control measures and the ongoing diversion of resources towards Covid services during the second peak of hospitalisations has meant that this backlog of care will take even longer to work through as it continues to ... view the full minutes text for item 1
Meeting: 06/04/2021 - Tower Hamlets Health and Wellbeing Board (Item 1)
Chairs Update
Additional documents:
Minutes:
The Chair:
v Informed the Board that (i) the Health and Wellbeing Strategy was due to go on the Consultation Hub tonight although there are issue’s with the Councils website so the Strategy may not be live until tomorrow; (ii) she would asked all partners agencies/stakeholders to sign post resident and professional groups to the associated online survey; and (iii) there would be a number of online webinars and would welcome any ideas on how the Partnership can encourage people to participate in this stage of the consultation.
v Provided an update around the Better Care Fund (BCF), the BCF requires the NHS and the Council to create a local single pooled budget to incentivise closer working around people, placing their wellbeing as the focus of health and care services, and shifting resources into social care and community services for the benefit of the people, communities and health and care systems. It was noted that on the 25th of March, the Government had confirmed that the Better Care Fund will continue in 2021-22 and that the Clinical commissioning group (CCG) minimum contribution will grow, which is in line with the long-term plan settlement by 5.3% to £4.26 to enable the CCG to meet their 2021-22 BCF commitments. It was noted that (i) due to the national conditions and processes it has not yet been published but is expected very soon; (ii) The Partnership has also received the year end return which is being used in lieu of guidance during 2021. For the return the Partners will need to confirm that they have met the national conditions and provided planned and actual spending from the mandatory funding sources; including agreed spend on social care and NHS commissioned out of hospital services from the CCG minimum contribution. The returns are due on the 24th of May and as in previous years these will be sent on behalf of the Health and Wellbeing Board.
v Observed that the Council has now launched its Race and Inequalities Commission, and it has had some clear recommendations around health. One of the things at the centre of the Boroughs Health and Wellbeing Strategy is to the reducing of health inequalities by improving access to services e.g. there is a recommendation that addresses digital exclusion and the Board needs ensure that the Strategy really addresses that issue. Whilst another recommendation is for the Board to lead a high-profile campaign for the Government to provide adequate funding to address health inequalities. Which the Board was well placed to effectively address given its influential membership. It was noted that another recommendation was to review hostile environment policies and to reduce the checking of immigration status of service users. In addition to developing initiatives to support more Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic residents to become health professionals and to review and strengthen clinical training in order to increase understanding in different cultural needs.