Attendance
by Chair, Jan Williams and Chief Executive, Abigail Harris.
Minutes:
The
Mayor welcomed to Council the Chief Executive of
Swansea Bay Health Board Abigail Harris along with the Chair Jan Williams who
gave a presentation.
J.
Williams thanked Council for the invitation and highlighted the importance of
partnership between the Council and the Health Board. Special thanks were given
to Andrew Jarrett Director of Social Services Health and Housing.
Saliant
points raised from the presentation include challenges faced over the next 3
years, and how these challenges will be faced. Areas highlighted included the
number of children living in poverty, the healthy age gap which stands at
around 20 years for women and 15 years for men.
The
Health Boards vision and mission was mentioned along with a recommendation from
Audit Wales in terms of the vision and mission strategy.
A.Harris went on to talk about the
strategic objectives and how they would be articulated, namely being a great
place to work engaging with the workforce, digital services and financial
challenges. Council were told it is expected to take 3
years to find financial balance.
Priorities
was discussed including mental health and wellbeing, smoking, diabetes and
emergency care along with cancer patients. Vaccinations was touched upon with
the need for prevention highlighted.
An
improvement dashboard was included within the presentation. Several points were
outlined including a winter care plan and planned care with a graph showing a
decline.
Further
discussions included a maternity and neonatal improvement programme and
independent review where Council was told this area had been given more time to
review how the services benefit women.
Following
the presentation Members of Council went on to ask the following questions and
comments.
The
Chair of Social Services Health and Housing Scrutiny Committee went on to
invite the Chief Executive and Chair of Swansea Health Board to a future
meeting to discuss topics such as mental health, neurodiversity and hospital to
home. This invite was welcomed by both. The Chief Executive and Chair went on
to outline the feedback from the Llias report that
members raised stating a new officer would be taking on the role to combat any
issues relating to feedback and patient concerns.
Members
mentioned prevention being a priority especially in cases of GP appointments
and hospital admissions. The Chief Executive of Swansea Bay went on to state
access is an ongoing issue within some GP practices and is something they are
looking to address and hopefully improve with the inclusion of digital access
as a way forward. Members were also told that there is a primary care cluster
team reviewing access to GP appointments. Further information on individual
practices within Neath Port Talbot would be made available.
Members
further asked why have specific hospitals in South
Wales lost valuable staff. Members were told that a staff survey had been
undertaken but the response rate was low which is something the Health Board is
working on to encourage staff to participate in the survey.
Restrictions
on cross boundary GP Practices and ambulance waiting times was raised by
members with the Health Board responding to say that recruitment and retention was
high on the agenda. The Health Board went on to state that the sector was reliant
on good working partnerships specifically in terms of primary and secondary
care.
The
Leader expressed his thanks to the Chief Executive and Chair of Swansea Bay Health
Board for their attendance at today’s Council. The Leader went on to say that
prevention, intervention and partnership were key elements in going forward.