To review the Better Care Fund (BCF) year-end 2023-2024 report, as per the requirements of the programme.

Hayley Doyle provided an overview of the BCF year-end report 2023-24.

Adrian Griffiths commented on finance. The main points provided were:

1. Each pool of the BCF is in itself limited to national allocation and therefore the fund has to balance back to each funding stream.
2. This year, the funds overspent slightly (1%) and was expected and came down towards the end of the year.
3. The two statutory partners, the ICB and the council, have different responsibilities for each partner as part of the risk sharing agreement.
4. It was planned to use all accumulated reserves from underspends in previous years from the BCF to cover the cost of the discharge system for 23/24 and this was achieved.
5. For 24/25, this reserve is not available. Improvements have been made in the discharge system and the 24/25 planned refresh of the BCF has been completed.
6. There is a planned continued improvement in both occupancy and lengths of stay within the services to further reduce the amount of care that is bought in the market making the system better integrated, better for patients, and more affordable.

Jane Ives noted that on people being at home 91 days after a reablement service, the work being done on reablement is something that will be expected to move over the course of the year and that will make a difference to other areas.

David Mehaffey asked if it is known whether there is an increase in the number of people who are falling or an inability in the NHS to prevent them from being admitted once they have arrived.

The Director of Public Health noted that some work is currently being done on a Falls Needs Assessment which may be helpful in addressing those concerns.

Adrian Griffiths added that whilst the number of falls per head increased compared to the previous year, Herefordshire still benchmarks favourably nationally.

David Mehaffey acknowledged the point about national benchmarks but noted that the data is in need of being updated in order to be able to act quickly in response to an increase in falls.

The report recommendation was proposed, seconded, and approved unanimously.

Resolved

That:

a)    The Better Care Fund (BCF) 2023-2024 year-end template at appendix 1, as submitted to NHS England, be reviewed and retrospectively approved by the board.

Action:

1. To bring back the Falls Needs Assessment to the board at a future meeting.