Agenda item

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5.1     This agenda item was moved forward on the agenda to be heard immediately after agenda item 3.

5.2     Martin Wilkinson introduced the report on Our Healthier South East London Strategy Update to the Committee. The following points were noted:

·       The OHSEL programme is led by the six south east London CCGs – Bexley, Bromley, Greenwich, Lambeth, Lewisham and Southwark – and NHS England. The programme aims to develop a commissioning strategy to ensure improved, safe and sustainable services across the six boroughs.

·       Following agreement on the general direction of travel, the next phase has been to scope out further options for care models before an options appraisal takes place. Following the options appraisal and the specific changes being suggested, this could be followed by a formal consultation process at a later stage. Although many aspects of the strategy will not require this level of public consultation going forward.

·       Four areas have been identified where further works needs to be done: urgent and emergency care, maternity services, children and young people’s services, and planned care.

·       The aim of the work in urgent and emergency care is to reduce further growth in the demand for emergency services, not to reduce the demand for emergency care that currently exists. The OHSEL programme has this week sent a letter to its stakeholders to affirm that there are no plans to close any A&E departments in South East London, including the A&E in Lewisham. Nor are there any plans to reduce the provision of 24-hour care by Lewisham’s A&E. Further works needs to be done in urgent and emergency care to ensure it adheres to the London Quality Standards across in South East London. 

5.3     Councillor Muldoon advised the Committee that a Joint Health Overview and Scrutiny Committee (JHOSC) was being established between the 6 boroughs. A report on the JHOSC was due to go the Council meeting on 25 November.

5.4     Georgina Nunney advised the Committee that if a JHOSC was formed, this would not preclude the Committee from also looking at the OHSEL programme.

5.5     Martin Wilkinson responded to questions from the Committee. The following points were noted:

·       The OHSEL programme has reviewed the demand for NHS services and has concluded that all hospital sites across South East London will be needed to meet current demand although what each hospital does may change over time. To avoid the need to build an entire new hospital, community based services are being developed as well as a range of different hospital models of care.

·       Each borough’s Health and Wellbeing Board (HWB) receives the same briefings from the OHSEL programme, but the focus of any presentation is likely to differ depending on the priorities set by each HWB. In some ways the populations in each of the boroughs is similar, but in other ways it can differ significantly. The same principles and planned outcomes are agreed in the OHSEL programme, but the methods of delivery can change from borough to borough and provider to provider.

·       Providers have separate strategies to prevent people from not attending appointments. These can range from sending reminders via letters and texts to providing access over the phone instead in person. This is done to avoid waste and duplication. 

·       NHS England is involved in the OHSEL programme as a co-commissioner of primary care, while some specialised, tertiary care services are commissioned directly by NHS England from hospital trusts. NHS England also serves as the assurance body for the CCG. The CCG is accountable to its membership, the population it serves and to NHS England.

RESOLVED: to note the report.