Agenda item

[To consider a report in relation to Public Health commissioning intentions for 2016 – 17 and the aspirations for commissioning to improve the health of the population to 2019]

                                                                                                                    [Ros Jervis]

The Director of Public Health presented a report in connection with the Public Health commissioning intentions for 2016 – 17 and the aspirations for commissioning to improve the health of the population to 2019. She reminded the Board that a five year contracting strategy had been approved in 2014 and since that time a huge amount of work had been undertaken which would continue into future years. She reported that the Healthy Child programmes; 0-5 (Family Nurse Partnership and Health Visiting) and 5-19 (School Nursing) would remain as currently specified with the Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust until August 2017. Redesign of these services and planning for a comprehensive consultation had commenced and would be fully developed during 2016 – 17 with a new contract commencing on 1 August 2017.

She referred to section 3 of the report inasmuch as it referred to “aspirations: tackling the big six health issues in Wolverhampton” and explained that in the absence of the Public Health Funding Settlement it was only possible to confirm the continuation of mandated services at the present time. In order to achieve longer term impact to improve the health of the population of Wolverhampton certain interventions were required but this would be dependent on the availability of resources. She emphasised that discretionary services were at risk depending on the funding made available in the Settlement.

She advised the Board that the spending review and Autumn Statement covering 2016 – 17 onwards represented an average real term saving of 3.9% each year to 2020 – 21. The savings would be phased in at 2.2% in 16 – 17, 2.5% in 17 – 18, 2.6% in each of the following two years and flat cash in 20 – 21. To prepare for this anticipated reduction scenario planning had been undertaken to prioritise Public Health programmes. Minimum provision would cover only prescribed service delivery. After the prescribed provision prioritisation would be undertaken to retain critical services tackling the key health issues for Wolverhampton. Discretionary activity would then only be provided if it was affordable within a revised total programme.

The Chair of the Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust welcomed the report. He referred to Public Health voluntary sector contracts for the delivery of peer support, young people’s counselling and welfare and advice services expiring in 2016 and noted that a review commissioning and procurement exercise would be commenced later this year. He commented that there was a sense of trepidation felt by the providers of services to young people especially having regard to the reduced level of the voluntary sector. He requested that the voluntary sector be informed of the financial position at the earliest opportunity. The Director of Public Health acknowledged the position and the need to be open, honest and transparent with the voluntary sector on the financial position.

Resolved:

1. That the commissioning intentions be endorsed;

2. That the implications of the spending review and Autumn Statement on the public health grant allocation might require the reprioritisation of future commissioning intentions and the current contracting portfolio be noted;  

3. That it be noted that any reductions would be applied to ensure delivery of prescribed services: Children 0 – 5 (health Visiting), sexual health, NHS health checks, National Child Measurement programme and surveillance and monitoring of health protection incidents, outbreaks and emergencies as primary functions.