Agenda and minutes

There were no declarations of interest.

The minutes of the meeting held on 11^th November were agreed as a true record. There were no matters arising.

Report and presentation of Andrew Harkness, Chief Transformation Officer and Rose Uwins, Senior Communications and Engagement Manager, NHS Coventry and Rugby and Warwickshire North Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs)

The following representatives from the Health partner organisations have been invited to the meeting for the consideration of this item:

Simon Gilby, Coventry and Warwickshire Partnership Trust (CWPT)

Andy Hardy, University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire (UHCW)

Andrew Harkness and Rose Uwins, Coventry and Rugby CCG

Rachael Danter, Coventry and Warwickshire Health and Care Partnership

The Board received a briefing note of Andrew Harkness, Coventry and Rugby and Warwickshire North CCGs which provided an overview of the monitoring, recovery and restoration plans for non-Covid services in Coventry. The Board were also provided with a presentation from Andrew Harkness and Simon Gilby, Coventry and Warwickshire Partnership Trust. Andy Hardy, University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire provided an update from the perspective of the hospital. Philip Johns, Coventry and Warwickshire CCGs, and Rose Uwins Coventry and Rugby and Warwickshire North CCGs also attended the meeting along with Councillor K Caan, Cabinet Member for Public Health and Sport and Councillor M Mutton, Cabinet Member for Adult Services.

The briefing note indicated that on 31st July, 2020, NHS England wrote to Trusts and Clinical Commission Groups in indicate the start of Phase 3 of the Covid response and the need to restore services following the first wave of the pandemic. The letter outlined the national expectations for the restoration of services within the NHS under the following headings:

i) Accelerating return to ‘normal’

ii) Preparation for winter alongside possible Covid resurgence

iii) Reflecting Covid lessons-learnt and embedding positive change.

The briefing note detailed these expectations.

As a system the local health service was recovering services well and, as of the week commencing 25th November, the majority of services were now coming close to or even exceeding the levels from the same period the previous year. In particular, a restoration plan was in place in respect of Community Mental Health Services; levels of diagnostic activity were back at or exceeding levels normally expected for the time of year, with referrals returning to previous pre-Covid levels; all elective surgery services had been restarted and GP services were being restored in line with the guidance; A and E attendances were lower than the same period last year and dental services were being restored in line with national guidance.

The briefing note provided data on outpatient, day case and electives activity for Coventry and Warwickshire along with specific details of the two week wait pathways and the sixty two day wait pathways for cancer services. Assurances were provided about the recovery progress. The Board were reminded that a lot of patients chose to defer cancer treatment in the first Covid wave, thus extending the period of time before treatment.

Further information was also provided on the restoration and supporting access to GP services in the city. The Board were informed of the significant changes to the delivery of primary care introduced to protect the health and wellbeing of both patients and staff. All practices moved to a ‘total triage’ model, along with a digital first approach. Reference was made to the CCG campaign to help ensure that the public in all demographics understood that GP services were available to them which included media campaigns. The treatment routes for patients with potential Covid-19 or confirmed positive patients was highlighted.

With respect to Dental Services, most practices were providing face to face care and 90% could  ...  view the full minutes text for item 21.

Report of the Scrutiny Co-ordinator

The Board considered their work programme for the current municipal year. It was proposed to submit a report on Child, Adolescent and Adult Mental Health Services to the March meeting of the Committee.

RESOLVED that:

(1) A report on Child, Adolescent and Adult Mental Health Services to be submitted to the meeting of the Board scheduled for 24 March 2021.

(2) The work programme for 2020-21 be noted.

Any other items of public business which the Chair decides to take as matters of urgency because of the special circumstances involved

There were no additional items of public business.