Issue - meetings

The Integration Delivery Lead at Frimley CCG (Clinical Commissioning Group) provided an overview of the report the Better Care Find Plan 2022/23.

The Vice Chair asked whether future such reports could provide an age breakdown of Slough residents, and state what proportion of the BCF was spent on each age group.  A third of Slough’s population was aged 0-19 years, and this information would help ensure that the funding of vulnerable children living in deciles one to three, was proportionate to their needs.

The Integration Delivery Lead at Frimley replied that he would look into providing this data in future such reports. He added that there was a requirement to reflect the priorities of the JSNA (joint strategic needs analysis), health inequalities and several other national requirements.  There were plans to invest in prevention initiatives as well as managing current demand, for example there were plans to invest in mental health services in schools and substance misuse programmes.  It was a matter of prioritising a limited pot.

The Vice Chair emphasised the vital importance of investing in upstream preventive work, otherwise demand would continue to rise, and services would not be in a position to meet this.

The Chair asked what proportion of the funding was allocated to preventive measures. The Integration Delivery Lead replied that some public health elements such as falls prevention, healthy lifestyle initiatives and re-ablement services were funded by the BCF. 

The Vice Chair stated that he would like to see the focus shift to primary prevention, which was focussed on children.

The Director of Adult Services stated that the approach to allocating funding needed to be re-framed and priorities re-shaped to meet forthcoming challenges.  He added that going forward, his service area would be in a more stable position and the team would have more time to plan next year’s allocation.

Resolved – That the report be noted.