Presentation by Phil Johns, Coventry and Warwickshire CCGs
Minutes:
The Board received a presentation from Anna Hargrave, Coventry and Warwickshire CCGs, concerning the current position relating to Covid at the NHS with particular reference to the coming winter.
The presentation referred to the £10 million investment for the Accelerator Programme to reduce waiting times for planned operations. The programme aimed to deliver 120% of the costed activity compared to the same time in 2019/20 (pre-Covid). Latest figures were 100.3% for July and 95.4% for August. This performance was below the original trajectory primarily due to a change in coding at the request of NHSE which impacted baseline and also because of urgent care pressures resulting in restricted access to elective care. The Board were informed that transformation of how things were done was occurring to be able to sustain the changes for the system. The current position of individual hospital services were highlighted.
Reference was also made to General Practice. All practices were open across Coventry and Warwickshire, offering both face to face and telephone appointments with demand being higher than ever – 120% compared to pre-Covid levels. The service was also continuing to deliver the vaccination programme.
The presentation provided an update on the current vaccination programme. To date 1,297,417 vaccines had been administered, of which 670,913 were 1st dose (93% of these people have also received a second dose). The current uptake rate across JCVI cohorts 1-12 (over 18s) was 80.75%with 16 & 17’s being 56.15%. The Booster programme started week commencing 20th September with 5,560 vaccines being administered. In addition, the Healthy 12-15 year school based programme commenced on 27th September.
The Board were informed about the recovering Mental Health services with particular reference to the Covid-19 strategic drivers of demand and the groups most likely to be impacted. Mental Health services had seen as predicted a surge in demand and complexity across the service offer despite having continued to offer services throughout the pandemic. Key areas of work in the area included collaborative working and agreements across the sector; improved integration between primary care and specialist mental health services; support for Children and Young People; improved urgent and emergency health care for adults; managing increased demand for in-patient admissions; and psychological Support to NHS Staff.
Members raised concerns about patient access to GPs informing that they were being informed by residents that they were struggling to secure GP appointments leading to concerns about the long term health implications. Andy Hardy, University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire, clarified that patients were turning up at A and E as they were unable to get face to face GP appointments leading to a significant increase in A and E patients. Similar concerns were being raised with Healthwatch and it was highlighted that this was also a health inequalities matter. The importance of hearing the people’s voice was emphasised. It was suggested that Councillors Caan, Mutton and Seaman meet with the Local Medical Committee to discuss the concerns that were being raised with Councillors. Representatives from Healthwatch would also be invited to attend.
Members also asked for additional information about plans to reduce patient backlogs at the hospital and further details were provided.
RESOLVED that:
(1) The contents of the presentation be noted.
(2) Arrangements be put in place for a meeting with representatives from the Board and the Primary Care representatives to discuss patient access to GPs.