Agenda and minutes

Apologies were received from Andrew Scott-Clark, for whom Linda Smith was present as substitute. Apologies were also received from Mark Elliot and Councillor Gibbens.

No declarations of interest were received.

To approve the minutes of the meeting held on 13 November 2014, copy attached.

Esme Chilton noted that the second to last paragraph of page two which referred to safeguarding children, should be moved to the end of the agenda item to avoid confusion with hip fractures.

The minutes of the previous meeting held on 13 November 2014 were agreed subject to the amendment.

Linda Smith, Public Health Specialist, Kent County Council, provided a progress update on the Thanet Alcohol Plan (2014-16) which implemented the Kent Alcohol Strategy (2014-16) at a local level. 

In response to comments and questions, it was noted that:

-  the plan was in an early stage of design and was publically available.  The document would be updated and developed as a result of feedback. 

-  it was the intention to develop electronic scratch cards which, like the paper versions, would encourage people to think about how much they drank.  The electronic scratch cards could be available on intranet sites for access by employees.

-  an important element of the alcohol strategy for Kent was early intervention with a focus on partnership working. 

-  while progress had been made in the under 25’s age category, the age group drinking the most appeared to be the over 55’s.  It was suggested that this could be for a number of reasons including bereavement and loneliness.

The report was noted.

Hazel Carpenter, Accountable Officer, Thanet Clinical Commissioning Group, presented the report noting that the need for change was generated from a number of pressures including an increasing demand for care, reduced funding and fragmented services.  Hazel added that depending on the result of the upcoming general election, the Health and Wellbeing Board may take a more active role in the future.

In response to questions and comments Hazel responded that:

-  integrated care included in hospital and out of hospital care, as well as long and short term care;

-  there was acknowledgement that mental health support was not always available when needed;

-  patients would have access to their own medical notes from 1^st April 15, this would be a complex process to put in place, and there were concerns about how patients would use the information;

-  it was recognised that whilst there is a shared vision, every component within the organisation would have their own challenges in reaching that goal.

The report was noted.

Jonathan Bates, Chief Finance Office, Thanet Clinical Commissioning Group, gave a report noting that the Government wished to further integrate health and social care.  In order to encourage this, the budgets for health and social care would be merged from the 1^st April 2015, and as a result, legal and financial frameworks had been produced.

Jonathan added that Local Health and Wellbeing Boards should look at how services could work together to reduce gaps and duplication in service provision. While legal oversight would remain with Kent County Council and the Clinical Commissioning Group, in practice local Health and Wellbeing Boards would drive and formulate the change.

A Member suggested that some training or a workshop might be useful for THWB Members in order to prepare for this.

Madeline Homer, Acting Chief Executive and Director of Community Services, Thanet District Council, advised that there would be an executive group that would support the Thanet Health and Wellbeing Board.  Feedback from this executive group would be provided at the next THWB meeting.

It was suggested that the following items be included on the next Thanet Health Wellbeing Board meeting agenda:

-  Development of the Thanet Health and Wellbeing Board.

-  Report on the work of the Children’s Board.

-  Report on Dementia.