This report sets out a formal position on the involvement of the London Borough of Tower Hamlets in the North East London Sustainability & Transformation Plan (STP) and broader collaboration around health and social care. 

DECISION

1.    To note the Sustainability & Transformation Plan (STP) submitted in October 2016 – www.nelstp.org.uk/progress-to-date.htm

2.    To agree that the Council will continue to engage as a key partner in both Tower Hamlets Together and the Transforming Services Together programme across three boroughs where appropriate

3.    To agree that the Council will not endorse the STP at this time, until the concerns identified within this report have been fully addressed - including thorough public consultation on any proposed changes - but will continue to engage with the STP process and participate in the governance arrangements proposed; continuing to highlight the issues identified in this report with the expectation they are resolved

Action by:

CORPORATE DIRECTOR, HEALTH, ADULTS AND COMMUNITY (D. RADLEY)

Councillor Amy Whitelock Gibbs, Cabinet Member for Health and Adult Services, introduced the report. She took Cabinet through the three key strands of the Plan around Health & Wellbeing, Care & Quality and Funding. She also explained that pan-London work was going on that she, and officers, were linking into.

She welcomed the relatively open engagement from the local Sustainability and Transformation Team compared to some other parts of the Country but explained that there were still a number of concerns not least the financial challenges. She stated that at this stage the Council was not endorsing the Plan due to the concerns set out but dialogue would continue with NHS partners to look to tackle these.

Following discussion the Mayor noted the points raised and agreed the recommendations as set out in the report.

RESOLVED

1.    To note the Sustainability & Transformation Plan (STP) submitted in October 2016 – www.nelstp.org.uk/progress-to-date.htm

2.    To agree that the Council will continue to engage as a key partner in both Tower Hamlets Together and the Transforming Services Together programme across three boroughs where appropriate

3.    To agree that the Council will not endorse the STP at this time, until the concerns identified within this report have been fully addressed - including thorough public consultation on any proposed changes - but will continue to engage with the STP process and participate in the governance arrangements proposed; continuing to highlight the issues identified in this report with the expectation they are resolved

Nicola Gardner Programme Director, North-East London Sustainability and Transformation Plan, (STP), July Low, Director of Provider Collaboration North-East London STP and Ian Tomkins, Director of Communications and Engagement North-East London STP introduced the report and presentation which provided an update on the development of an STP in the North-East London NHS area.  This set out how the NHS five-year forward view would be delivered and health and care services will transform and become sustainable and be built around the needs of local people.

Mary Burnett (a former social worker) and Terry Day (Formerly a  Non-Executive Member of Whipps Cross Hospital; Board) representing North-East London Save Our NHS made the following representations:

• STP representatives were asked to justify the approach that had been taken in delivering the STP, in the context of the statement made by Stephanie Clark regarding the requirement for formal consultation when considering a substantial variation in service provision (such as that proposed in the NELSTP) and
• asked JHOSC to consider if this this requirement can be met within the timeframe notified by NHS England (namely that the STP was to be signed by December 23rd 2016).
• Ms Day although not arguing against the integration of community care put forward that the overall financial deficit will counteract the intended benefits of the plan and,  coupled with the expected population increase, it was not credible that the STP could deliver its intended benefits.
• Ms Burnett noted:
  •  That the NHS plans are not quantified and NHS providers are being forced into the transformation program in order to gain access to funds.
  • The proposal for a whole system change in the period proposed was not achievable.
• Ms Day put forward:
  • That it was necessary to test the provision before bed-base is reduced.  This testing was not taking place and therefore creates risk in the inherent service delivery.
  • There is no plan to meet the service requirements.

The Committee noted these submissions and the Chair then invited the Programme Director, North-East London STP to make her presentation.

The Programme Director noted the challenges to delivering the STP described by Ms Burnett and Ms Day.  She made her presentation informing the Committee that:

• The STP Project Team was presently translating the ideas of the STP into the procurement.
• There would be no sign-off of the plan  on 23 December 2016 because feedback was presently awaited.
• Paragraph 6 of the report outlined the plan to deliver a single sustainability and transformation plan across the seven North-East London Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs).
• There were eight work-streams including services, property, workforce, and new roles to address short-term and medium-term shortages and IT/ media.
• NHS England was presently beginning to work up proposals and these would require further work over the coming months.
  • Plans were to be worked up by clinicians, local authorities and stakeholders.
  • NHS England was, eager to receive input into the proposals from local authorities and agencies.
• Mr Tomkins acknowledged that notice of the STP had not been communicated in an ideal way.  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5