Report of the Head of Policy and Planning, Manchester Health and Care Commissioning (MHCC), the Head of Operational Finance, MHCC and the Performance Lead, MHCC

This report provides the Committee with information on the NHS Long Term Plan (LTP), published in January 2019, that set out a ten year programme of phased improvements to NHS services and outcomes, including a number of specific commitments to invest the agreed five year revenue settlement.

This has been followed in June 2019 by the publication of the NHS Long Term Plan (LTP) Implementation Framework.

The Committee considered the report of the Head of Policy and Planning, Manchester Health and Care Commissioning (MHCC), the Head of Operational Finance, MHCC and the Performance Lead, MHCC that informed Members on the NHS Long Term Plan (LTP), published in January 2019, that set out a ten year programme of phased improvements to NHS services and outcomes, including a number of specific commitments to invest the agreed five year revenue settlement.

The Head of Policy and Planning, MHCC referred to the main points of the report which were: -

·                An overall summary of the guidance;

·                National financial analysis;

·                National Performance Indicator Requirements;

·                National five year planning submission; and

·                Key planning milestones across health over the next 6 months.

The report was accompanied by a presentation that summarised the information provided within the report.

Members commented that the Financial Tests described appeared to be extremely challenging, in particular the requirement to reduce growth in demand and return a financial balance in light of the inadequate funding for services. A Member commented that experience had demonstrated that notions of fair funding for Manchester were anything but fair and asked if there was any indication at this stage as to what the funding would be for Manchester.

The Head of Policy and Planning, MHCC informed the Committee that the funding for Manchester was not currently known. Members expressed concern at this and questioned how any plans for important services, such as Mental Health Services could be confidently made if the funding arrangements had not been finalised.

The Head of Operational Finance, MHCC responded by informing the Committee that the Clinical Commissioning Groups were planning based on assumptions on previous funding levels pending any decisions.

In response to comments from Members regarding the complexity and bureaucracy to set and agree budgets, the Head of Operational Finance, MHCC advised the Committee that they were working with colleagues in Adult Social Care and all partners so that the resultant single MHCC plan would encompass health, public health and adult social care.

Members discussed the use of technology and a move towards online consultations and sought further explanation regarding the NHS App. The Head of Policy and Planning, MHCC stated that online consultations were to be used for secondary care and follow up consultations and not solely for primary care consultations. The Performance Manager informed the Committee that the NHS App allowed patients to check their symptoms, book appointments, request repeat prescriptions, view their own personal records and register to become an organ donor.

A Member commented that funding should be used to reintroduce Walk In Centres to assist those patients who were unable to secure an appointment with their own GP and to avoid the number of unnecessary presentations at Accident and Emergency Departments. The Member commented that whilst the NHS App could be useful for some, the majority of people still required face to face consultations and discussions with a health professional. The Member further commented that we were about to enter the winter period and this resulted in additional pressures on health services.

The Director of Corporate Affairs, MHCC informed the Committee that the Committee would be receiving a report on Primary Care Access and Winter Pressures at their next meeting.

The Chair commented that concerns had been articulated regarding health devolution and if the region had been set up to fail. He said that it would be useful for the Committee to consider the benefits achieved through devolution and he would give consideration as to how this could be progressed to Committee.  The Head of Policy and Planning, MHCC commented that Greater Manchester was in a good position to respond to national guidance as a result of devolution, compared to other areas. The Director of Public Health further commented that projects and initiatives developed at a Greater Manchester level, such as the CURE programme, a secondary care treatment programme for tobacco addiction which was recognised nationally and had influenced national policy. He suggested that the Committee may wish to consider inviting colleagues from Greater Manchester to a future meeting to discuss this and other benefits realised.

Decision

To note the report.