Better Care Fund Plan

The Assistant Head of Transformation presented the Better Care Fund Plan for 2021/22 for the agreement of the Board. She advised that guidance for the Plan for 2022/23 is due, so she could bring to the September Board. The Chair asked how the Better Care Fund helps tackle health inequalities and the Assistant Head of Transformation outlined the funding of proactive care including: social prescribing for those most vulnerable; maintaining the community response hub post-pandemic to help people access services; the Living Well service run by Age UK; and, the Tuned-In project reducing isolation among men. The Chair suggested a written report on how the Better Care Fund is taking health inequalities be brought to the next Board as part of proposals for the 2022/23 Plan. Dr Vasa Gnanapragasam outlined some of the valuable work supported by the Better Care Fund and offered to help with this report.

RESOLVED: The Better Care Fund Plan 2021/22 was agreed.

Health and Care Plan

Gemma Dawson gave an overview of the Health and Care Plan and its approach of start well, live well and age well in a healthy place. The presentation included reference to Core 20+5 data and it was agreed that a further report will come to the Board in September, aligned with the Joint Strategic Needs Assessment, to help inform a common understanding of health and wellbeing needs, as well as assets. The Chair requested that this include a clear description of the meaning of Core 20+5. Councillor Gould said that she would like to have access to Core 20 information. The Director of Public Health explained that understanding population need is an ongoing piece of work, including ward profiles and now developing understanding of Core 20. Dr Vasa Gnanapragasam explained that data will not be current, but can be used to help inform how we invest in the wider determinants of health and prevention, and that this is a key part of tackling health inequalities.

Epsom and St. Helier

The Locality Director for Merton and Wandsworth gave an update. He referenced that the Health Scrutiny Panel will be taking a fuller report in September in order to scrutinise latest proposals. It was suggested that the September Health and Wellbeing Board could consider health inequalities in relation to this, specifically the recommendations of, and response to, the Kings Fund report. The Chair referenced a recent Health Service Journal article reporting a cut in funding that could result in further delays. He said that residents deserve better and referenced a ‘blight’ on investment. The Locality Director said that the national programme is yet to confirm levels and dates of funding and that these are currently being lobbied for. Members commented and raised particular concerns on the impact on health equalities.

East Merton Health and Wellbeing Hub

The Locality Director for Merton and Wandsworth acknowledged that the project has been many years in gestation. He reported that the most recent consultation and engagement programme identified the Wilson as the preferred site for the ‘hub’ but this is not seen as a standalone development, linking, among other ‘spokes’, to the Rowans and Colliers Wood. A business case is currently being developed and the hub could be delivered in a couple of year. It was agreed that the Locality Director will visit the Rowans with Councillor Brenda Fraser. The Chair questioned the accessibility to the Wilson site for local people. The Locality Director agreed that he would see again if there can be any flexibility in disposal of property, though referenced that this would inevitably impact timescales.