Agenda item

The Director of Public Health, Leicestershire Partnership Trust (LPT), The Integrated Care Board (ICB) and the University Hospitals of Leicester (UHL) will give the commission an overview of the service areas.

The Director of Public Health, Leicestershire Partnership Trust (LPT), The Integrated Care Board (ICB) and the University Hospitals of Leicester (UHL) provided the commission with an overview of the service areas.

The Chief Operating Officer for UHL submitted a presentation which was taken as read. An overview was provided with the following being noted:

·       UHL was a large teaching trust providing acute, community and virtual care across LLR from three acute hospitals and eight community sites, alongside specialist treatment and biomedical research services.

·       1.4 million patient visitors were seen annually; urgent and emergency care was the busiest single site emergency department in the UK.

·       Improving performance, particularly ambulance handovers, patient flow, cancer care and elective recovery, remained a priority.

·       Patient experience and staff feedback were positive, although emergency care satisfaction was lower than inpatient services.

·       UHL accepted the findings of both the Amos and Ockenden reviews of NHS maternity and neonatal services and apologised to those who did not have a good experience. Improvements were being made.

·       Quality Safety had seen progress with new facilities across LLR including a new urgent treatment centre to open in August 2027 at the Leicester Royal Infirmary.

·       Work continued with Northamptonshire and Kettering partners to identify service improvements while maintaining a local integrated care focus.

In response to member questions and discussions, the following was noted:

·       The Governance committees were working on Winter Planning. A number of schemes had worked well in the previous year.

·       There had been a national critical incident for EMAS over the recent weekend.

·       Work was ongoing to provide same-day access appointments, with the aim of reducing the number of people attending A&E when there was no emergency need.

·       Members requested a report from EMAS.

·       A joint site visit was requested by members.

The Group Director of Strategy and Partnerships for Leicestershire Partnerships Trust provided members with an overview of the work of the Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust (LPT) The following was noted:

• The NHS was the 5^th largest employer in the world. Over 87% of staff resided in the local area.

• LPT was a community and mental health trust, caring in home settings and hospitals across LLR over 100 different sites.
• Services included mental health, support for children and families and community health.
• A refresh had been launched with the aim of enabling people to thrive, with a working ‘together’ focus with patients, families and partners.
• There was an improving trajectory with 3 consecutive CQC ratings of ‘Good.’
• Chat health services had been successful, and the service had been sold to other local authorities and health organisations.
• Work was ongoing to reduce the stigma for mental health services.

In response to member questions and discussions, the following was noted:

• AI was not yet in widespread use. Further understanding was required regarding its advantages and disadvantages, particularly in relation to mental health support.
• Key challenges included urgent and emergency care, supporting UHL with flow and providing space for rehabilitation. Additional capacity had been created at the Bradgate Unit to help alleviate pressures for the Leicester Royal Infirmary (LRI).
• Maintenance work was carried out during the summer in preparation for the winter surge.
• A number of meetings took place daily to manage flow and pressure.
• The chat facility enabled communication with health professionals.
• The mental health cafes were run by supported charities, staff were skilled and community nurses were on call.

The Deputy CMO for LNR ICB Cluster provided members with an overview of the ICB. The following was noted:

• Integrated Care Boards (ICBs) were undertaking a review and refresh of their operating model, with an emphasis on strategic commissioning. Work was underway to improve population health, reduce health inequalities, and develop neighbourhood health services, care was increasingly shaped around the needs and priorities of local communities.
• Service providers and commissioning bodies, including the ICB, were responsible for delivering health outcomes, while NHS England and the Department of Health and Social Care provided national leadership, funding and performance oversight.
• Significant financial reductions were required, including a 50% reduction nationally, with local reductions of 33% in Leicestershire and 29% in Northamptonshire.
• There was an increasing focus on collaboration with the other East Midlands clusters.
• There was a total budget of £5b across the whole of the cluster, the population being approximately 2 million.
• There were 42 Primary Care Networks (PCNs), 5 provider trusts, 5 upper tier Local Authorities, 5 Health Overview and Scrutiny Committees (HOSCs) and 20 neighbourhoods within the cluster.
• A five-year plan had been developed for the key areas of frailty, preventable mortality and children and young people, particularly relating to mental health and neurodiversity.

In response to member questions and discussions, the following was noted:

• The future workforce structure had not yet been finalised.
• Decisions relating to Leicester would be considered using Leicester-specific data.

The Director of Public Health for Leicester City provided members with an overview of Public Health. The following was noted:

• There was a focus on prevention with consideration of health inequalities.
• Leicester had a relatively young and population with changing demographics.
• Public health utilised mapping to track trends and it was noted that a high proportion of people within the city became unwell before retirement age, many issues being preventable. There was a correlation between areas of higher deprivation and poorer health.
• The Public Health Division coverage a range of services, some of which were mandated.
• A prevention and Health Inequalities Group had been established which enable focused work on areas including HPV Vaccination update, Bowel cancer screening, Mental health and isolation, Hypertension and Healthy weight.
• The range of council services helped to support people to lead better lives.

In response to member questions and discussions, the following was noted:

• Local Government Reorganisation would not affect funding awarded for being amongst the 20% most deprived areas.

AGREED:  

1)    For members to note the report.

2)    EMAS to bring an introductory report to a future meeting of the Commission.

3)    A visit to the Leicester Royal Infirmary to be arranged for Members.