Agenda item - Winter Pressures 2022/23: Update

Report of the Executive Director, Governance, People & Resources (copy attached).

8.1       This item was introduced by Ash Scarff, Deputy Managing Director, NHS Sussex (Brighton & Hove); Rob Persey, BHCC Executive Director, Health & Adult Social Care; and Dr Rob Haigh, UHSx Medical Director.

8.2       Mr Scarff told the committee that:

·         The Sussex Integrated Care System winter plan for 2022-23 had been presented to the November 2022 HOSC

·         Additional national funding for winter 22-23 had been received and used to provide more capacity

·         Community & Voluntary sector organisations had played a vital role in winter services (e.g. St John’s Ambulance providing podiatry and wound care services)

·         The Brighton Urgent Treatment Centre, walk-in centre and GP capacity had all been utilised to help manage pressure on acute care

·         The system was required to cope with lots of mental health need, but had nonetheless managed to reduce out of area placements

·         There has been concentrated work on infection prevention.

8.3       Dr Haigh told the committee that:

·         Integration with BHCC adult social care and with community and voluntary sector organisations had been key to successfully managing winter demand

·         Elective stays had been reduced despite this having been a challenging winter because of covid, flu, strep in children and the impact of industrial action

·         The level of system integration bodes well for future years, particularly given the additional capacity that will be provided by 3Ts stage 1.

8.4       Nora Mzaoui asked what more primary care could do to support systems over the winter. Dr Haigh responded that primary care had played a really effective role in providing an alternative to hospital care, via the Urgent Treatment Centre, the walk-in centre, virtual wards, support provided to ambulance crews etc.

8.5       RESOLVED – that the report be noted.