Agenda item

Presentation by Scottish Borders Council / NHS Borders on Health and Social Care Integration.  (Copies attached.)

7.1     The Chairman welcomed Ms Elaine Torrance, Chief Social Worker to the meeting to give a presentation on the progress of the Health and Social Care agenda.  Ms Torrance explained that the second draft of the Strategic Plan for Health and Social Care Integration was currently out for consultation and that the consultation period concluded on 11 December 2015.  Ms Torrance explained that the aims of the Strategic Plan were to create a more personalised health and social care service and to improve the outcomes for service users, carers and families with "Best Health, Best Care, Best Value" for all communities.  It was further noted that this was the biggest change in the provision of health and social care provision since the formation of the National Health Service in 1948 and was necessary to meet the challenge of increased demand on limited resources.  Integrating services would provide improved care and Ms Torrance went on to detail the 9 local objectives in the Plan, namely:- making services more accessible; improving prevention and early intervention; reduction of avoidable hospital admissions; provision of care as close to home as possible; delivery of services within an integrated care model; enabling people to have more choice and control over their care; optimising efficiency and effectiveness; reduction of health inequalities; and improving support for unpaid carers to allow them to continue in their caring roles.  Ms Torrance advised members that a fund of £6.39m had been made available over a three year period to integrate services and there were a number of key priorities to progress in 2016/17.  These included the development of integrated accessible transport in conjunction with colleagues from private and voluntary organisations and the development of extra care housing for older people in Berwickshire.  Development of integrated services Local Plans would be based on a locality approach.  Within the Borders, the percentage of residents living in "remote rural" areas would be challenging in terms of how Health and Social Integration would be delivered.  Ms Torrance explained that following consultation, the Plan would be finalised in February 2016 and would go live in April 2016 and that a Joint Integration Board would agree and monitor any actions thereafter.  Further information and access to the consultation document could be found at www.scotborders.gov.uk/integration and could be completed online or by hand and returned by mail to FREEPOST RRBU-KBCB-JBJG Integration, Strategic Policy Unit, Scottish Borders Council, Newtown St Boswells, Melrose TD6 0SA.

7.2     Discussion followed and it was acknowledged that although the draft Strategic Plan did provide assurances to the public, there did not appear to be any link to SMART objectives.  Ms Torrance confirmed that a detailed assessment document had been developed that this had assisted in the formulation of the draft Plan. 

7.3     With regard to cross-Border care home provision, the Chairman advised of a situation that he had been made aware of recently and which demonstrated some of the issues which caused concern for residents in local communities.  In particular, if a resident living north of the Border was placed in a care home south of the Border, it appeared that the option for that individual to receive hospital treatment excluded the Borders General Hospital (BGH).   In the case in question, this could result in severe strain on the small family unit and would be in conflict with the individual's wishes.  Ultimately, this would restrict the choice of care homes for people north of the Border.  The family who raised this matter felt that this was contradictory to the principles behind health and social care integration and had the potential to affect a number of families who were not aware of this when choosing a care home.  Discussion followed and Mr Pattinson, NHS Borders advised that patients registered with a GP in the Scottish Borders would have the right to access to Scottish health care, including the BGH.  It was acknowledged that cross-Border issues were very much a concern for people living in Berwickshire and that, as had been reported at previous meetings, similar border issues can occur between East Berwickshire and East Lothian.  Ms Torrance and Mr Pattinson would look into this issue in more detail and the Forum would be updated in due course.

         DECISION

         NOTED the presentation.

          MEMBERS

          Councillor Moffat joined the meeting prior to consideration of the following item.

          Councillor Campbell left the meeting prior to consideration of the following item.