Agenda item

The Board considered a report of the Director of Adults and Communities which provided the Quarter 2, 2024/25 template report of the Better Care Fund (BCF) including performance against demand and capacity, BCF metrics, spend and activity and statements as to whether the national conditions continued to be met. A copy of the report, marked ‘Agenda Item 7’, is filed with these minutes.

Arising from discussions the following points were noted.

(i)           The deadline for submission of the BCF Quarter 2 report to NHSE had been 31st October 2024 and therefore the Chief Executive of Leicestershire County Council, following consultation with the Chairman of the Health and Wellbeing Board, had used his powers of delegation to approve the submission. With regards to the Avoidable Admissions metric, as part of the submission it had been stated that during the first quarter of 2024-25 University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust experienced an increase in attendances of 30%. This figure was queried and it was suggested that the correct figure for attendances was an 11% increase year on year. In response reassurance was given that the correct figure would be submitted in the quarter 3 return. (Note: after the meeting it was confirmed that there was a 11% year on year increase in attendances to the Emergency Department for Quarter 2.)

(ii)         The Board welcomed the improvements that had been made against the metrics, particularly with regards to hospital discharge which was now not as significant an issue as it used to be.

(iii)        It was suggested that there needed to be more focus on the technology used across the care system and consideration of whether there was duplication of systems and whether systems and databases could be more joined up. In response it was explained that conversations were already taking place with the ICB in this regard. Reassurance was given that there had already been significant improvements with assisted care technology as a result of the Discharge Grant.

RESOLVED:

That the performance against the Better Care Fund outcome metrics, and the positive progress made in transforming health and care pathways up to Quarter 2 be noted.