Issue - meetings

The Board received a report from the Director of Adult Social Services, informing them of the actions being undertaken by NHS Halton CCG to achieve financial recovery and sustainability.

Members were advised that although NHS Halton CCG had managed to deliver services with the business rules set out for the organisation by NHS England, the achievement of these business rules, which included a statutory requirement to deliver a balance year end budget and a 1% surplus, was challenging.  It was noted that the scale of this challenge for the next 5 years was immense; and to deliver financial recovery and sustainability would involve some difficult and potentially contentious decisions about which services NHS Halton CCG chooses to commission or decommission, and what partnerships and activities were invested in and dis-invested in.

Members were referred to Table 1 at point 3.3, which showed the NHS CCG’s allocations and projected expenditure through to 2020-21.  It suggested that over the next 5 years, NHS Halton CCG would need to find a cumulative total of £55.6m in savings. 

The report explained the NHS Halton CCG’s Financial Recovery and Sustainability Plan’s four areas of action and the areas to be focussed upon.

Following the presentation of the report Members queried and discussed the following:

·       The wastage of prescribed medicines – there was a large quantity of medication being prescribed to patients that were not being taken.  National figures stated that between 30% and 40% were wasted, at huge expense to the NHS.  This could be due to them being inappropriately prescribed.   It was noted that this was being reviewed with GP’s and care homes for example;

·       Some patients were being over prescribed – the Medicine Management Teams were working to reduce this.

·       Over the counter versus prescription – pain killers such as paracetamol were cheaper if bought over the counter instead of paying an £8.40 prescription charge.  However patients who were entitled to free prescriptions still used the prescription despite this, as it would cost them more to obtain over the counter.

·       Black Drugs – these should not be prescribed as in most cases they were ineffective.  Prescribers should use clinically appropriate and cost effective drugs.

·       Reducing planned (elective) and unplanned (non-elective) surgery was explained – it was better to have planned intervention instead of being referred straight to surgery.

RESOLVED:  That the report be noted.