To update Health and Wellbeing Board members on Herefordshire’s Better Care Fund (BCF) Integration Plan 2023-25 and seek formal Health and Wellbeing Board approval.

Hilary Hall (Corporate Director for Community Wellbeing) provided an overview of the Better Care Fund (BCF) Integration plan 2023-25.

Simon Trickett (Chief Executive, NHS Herefordshire and Worcestershire ICB) thanked the Corporate Director and officers for the work in providing the plan. It was noted that approval has been received from NHS England which represents a national approval process. It was raised that work still needs to be done regarding local arrangements and specifically, over the next twelve months, it was noted that there is an overreliance on spot-purchasing placements and instead clarity needs to be established about longer-term arrangements which are better for patients and service users.

The Corporate Director for Community Wellbeing agreed that there should not be an overreliance on spot-purchasing. It was also raised that enabling more people to come home and be supported in their own homes rather than moving into residential and nursing care is appropriate.

Jane Ives added that through the resources that exist, efficiency and effectiveness can be driven by having a much more local ownership of the problem. More work needs to be done but this is an exciting first step in the right direction.

The report recommendations were proposed, seconded, and approved unanimously.

Resolved that:

a)    The Herefordshire Better Care Fund 2023-25 narrative plan (Appendix 1), planning template (Appendix 2) and the ICB Discharge template (Appendix 3) be approved; and

b)    the ongoing work to support integrated health and care provision that is funded via the BCF is noted by the board.