Proposals to create one strategic commissioning organisation across Staffordshire and Stoke on Trent are being put to the public. The CCGs are inviting views on a proposal to work as a single organisation to commission health and care services for the County.
Minutes:
Dr Alison Bradley, Chair of North Staffordshire Clinical Commissioning Group and Anna Collins, Associate Director of Communication and Engagement presented to the Committee on proposals to become a single strategic commissioning organisation. They explained how this change would enable the new structure to deliver improved health and care services for the Staffordshire and Stoke on Trent area. Whether as six CCGs or as a single CCG the organisation would work towards delivering the Together We’re Better partnerships vision: “Working with you to make Staffordshire and Stoke on Trent the healthiest places to live and work”.
The potential benefits of collaboration were outlined and the alternative proposals set out:
Option1 Keep the current arrangement of six separate CCGs under a single leadership team
Option 2 Develop a new, single CCG
Feedback on the consultations would be reported to the CCGs with a decision expected by the membership of GPs in September 2019.
Members of the Committee engaged in discussions and the CCG responded. The CCG confirmed that consultations had been held with neighbouring areas including Cheshire and Derbyshire in respect to the number of cross border GP practices. A number of CCGs had already merged, including Derbyshire and Birmingham and Solihull and their experience had been valuable. Additional funding which had been given to certain areas following needs assessment would not be used to prop up a deficit in another area – the funding formula would be protected.
Members felt uncertain that the requirement for services in respect to elderly people was adequately met whilst the CCG stated that services were tailored and responsive to the growing complex needs of older people.
Specific questions from members included the safeguarding of services and managed care pathways; the consolidation of maternity services and concerns around the loss of jobs on combining sites; availability of appointments to patients locally. The CCG stressed the strength of the divisional committee which worked to shape services. There were currently 85 GP vacancies in Staffordshire and the intention was to recruit and retain the workforce, with collaboration this action could be more effective.
Continuing, members asked for assurance on the co-existence of urban and rural models and whether the savings made would be used to purchase extra integrated care packages. The CCG confirmed that truly integrated care was one of the key priorities and that any savings would go back into patient care. The divisional structure would determine how services were delivered in urban/rural areas.
Members asked about the organisational/geographical barriers to change and the alternative views. In response it was explained that the six Governing Bodies had sought assurance on the following key areas:
Clinical leadership - Remain clinically led and break down barriers in the interests of patients
Local control – Retain strong, local clinical and patient voices
Local needs – Respect that different areas of the county may have particular healthcare needs different to others and we need to consider these needs
Money - Ensure that no CCG would lose out financially as a result of a single Strategic Commissioning Organisation.
Members thanked the CCG for their attendance and presentation.
Agreed: That the members of the Committee submit an individual response to the consultation.