Issue - meetings

To receive a presentation by Michele Bering, Nurse Consultant.

The committee received a presentation by Michele Bering which gave an overview of the new Public Health White Paper and its implications for the CWP and the populations it serves.

The presentation focused on the shift of emphasis from simply treating people, to promoting and maintaining well being, with importance being placed on all organisations working together to achieve this goal.

The presentation also addressed what the CWP are already doing in terms of the public Health Agenda and the various core functions which they carry out, including; Strategic development and project work, teaching, training and health promotion, and direct clinical work to support access to Primary and Acute Secondary Care.

During the discussion the following points were raised:

      How the funding required to support the promotion of good health and the prevention of illness was going to be found and what the impact on other current services would be. It was explained that the money would be sourced from the existing budgets, and also through the redesigning of the Trust’s internal structure in order to facilitate these changes and fund the services.

      In addition improvements in the training of staff would lead to efficiencies being made. It was explained that there was a change of emphasis now towards prevention, to encourage people into trying to improve their health rather than just treating people for health problems. The Trust would also be delivering services in different ways in the future, better to meet the new requirements.

      Concerns over the way in which the quality of these services would be measured and monitored, and where the controls would come from.

      It was explained that the Government’s White Paper proposals envisaged the setting up of a Public Health Board nationally, and Health and Wellbeing Boards in each Council area, which would oversee the new arrangements.

      Concerns that the money for funding the CWP’s service is not ring fenced, and therefore the success of the new approach would be dependent on effective prioritisation and target setting, and careful monitoring of the impact of new initiatives as they were brought into effect.

      Confirmation from a commissioning perspective, that funding would allow the priorities identified nationally to be pursued and tailored to address local need. 

RESOLVED: That Michele Bering be thanked for her presentation, and that the implications for the Trust be noted.