Issue - meetings

Central and Eastern Cheshire Primary Care Trust (PCT) have produced a five year Strategic Plan.  The Plan focuses on ten outcomes that contribute to the ambition of the PCT to:

“work with others to achieve sustainable improvements in health and well-being of the population and to reduce inequalities of health”.

The Strategic Plan is attached for Members’ information and comment.  Fiona Field, Director of Governance and Strategic Planning at the PCT, will be present at the meeting to introduce the Plan and answer any questions.

Fiona Field, Director of Governance and Strategic Planning at Central and Eastern Cheshire Primary Care Trust (PCT) briefed the Committee on the PCT’s Commissioning Strategic Plan 2009 – 2014.  She explained that it was a requirement of the Department of Health that each PCT produce such a plan and that the version submitted to the Committee was a revised version of the plan originally written in October 2008; it was to be revised again in the near future.

The Plan outlined the strategic ambition of the PCT which was “to work with others to achieve sustainable improvements in health and well-being of the population and to reduce inequalities of health”.  There were eight local outcomes which related to areas where the PCT was struggling to achieve against targets or where performance was lower than expected which related to the following areas:

      Breastfeeding;

      Dignity and Respect for All;

      Transforming Urgent Care Services;

      Alcohol Harm Reduction;

      Cancer mortality;

      Stroke;

      Mental Health;

      Chronic Heart Disease.

There were also two National Outcomes which applied to every PCT relating to reducing health inequalities and improving life expectancy.  The Committee was advised that across Central and Eastern Cheshire PCT’s patch there was a difference in life expectancy of 13 years.

During discussion of the item the following issues were raised:

      Teenage Pregnancy – it was noted that the National Support Team had visited Cheshire East and a report on findings would be submitted to the Council shortly;

      Dementia services – a programme had been devised to ensure early diagnosis and improved quality of care and it was important to focus on services not buildings;

      The focus on Dignity and Respect for All was welcomed and that simple measures could make a difference such as calling older people by their title and surname rather than by their first name;

      The use of mystery shoppers and patient groups was a useful way of seeking views on services.

RESOLVED:  That the Commissioning Strategic Plan 2009 – 2014 be received and the outcomes supported.