Agenda item - Chair's Communications

The Chair of the Board will start the meeting with a short update on recent developments on health and wellbeing.

55.1    The Chair gave the following communication:

            Welcome to the meeting

There are a number of members of the public here, which is good to see. Clearly there are issues on today’s agenda which people feel passionate about. Please do note that you are here as observers, not as participants in the meeting. The council has a number of ways for people to ask questions or present petitions to committee meetings. However, we cannot have the meeting disrupted by people shouting out from the public gallery, and I’m sure everyone here today will respect this.

Market Position Statement

The Market Position Statement (MPS) provides a useful tool for informing the market of future demand and the services that the Local Authority will commission and develop to meet that need.  

The MPS also provides valuable information to support provider development and to ensure that organisations position themselves and their resources to meet future demand for services.

The Council published its first MPS in 2015 and as such it now needs to be refreshed to take into account the changing nature of demand and associated service development to support delivery.

A draft paper will be brought to the June meeting for consideration and comment with the final paper coming to the September meeting for approval. This will then fit with the budget cycle.

Migrant Needs Assessment

International Migrants in Brighton & Hove, a report which forms part of the city’s JSNA programme, was endorsed by the Neighbourhoods, Inclusion, Communities and Equality Committee and published in January 2018. Both the full report and a summary of key points and recommendations are now available on the Brighton & Hove City Council website - https://present.brighton-hove.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=968&MId=8040&Ver=4

The report uses a broad definition of a ‘migrant’ as being any person who lives temporarily or permanently in a country where he or she was not born, looking at those whose intention is to stay in the UK for at least twelve months. So it examines the needs and assets of those who have come to the city to study, work or join family members as well as those who have been forced to migrate as refugees. The report has 42 recommendations, some of which relate to health and healthcare. Another group of recommendations relate to barriers to migrants accessing services generally.

The recommendations will be implemented through an action plan led by the Communities, Equality and Third Sector team. Many will focus on incorporating the findings of the report into existing structures and pieces of work rather than new initiatives.

Dr Manas Sikdar

Dr Sikdar will no longer be attending the Health & Wellbeing Board. This is due to changes in role within the CCG. Dr Sikdar has been a valued member of the Board. I am sure the Board would like me to send a letter of thanks.

Healthwatch

I am pleased to be able to announce that the Healthwatch contract has been extended by waiver. The current contract will therefore run until 2021.