Issue - items at meetings - Physical Disability Strategy 2009-2012

Report of Director of Strategy, Primary Care Trust (copy attached).

(1)       That the attached strategy be noted and endorsed.

50.1    The Deputy Director of Strategic Commissioning PCT introduced a report of the Director of Strategy, Primary Care Trust which set out the first Physical Disability Commissioning Strategy for the city.  It was a joint strategy across Brighton & Hove PCT and Brighton & Hove City Council and outlined the development of services for adults with physical disability over the next three years 2009-2012 (for copy see minute book).   A Steering Group would oversee the implementation of the strategy.  It was proposed that this would be accountable to the Joint Commissioning Board with either 6 monthly or yearly feedback.

50.2    Simon Turpitt referred to the financial plan.  He stressed that financial pressures would worsen and asked why residential nursing home care was increasing by 10% to 12%.  The Deputy Director of Strategic Commissioning replied that there would be a challenge in the face of increased demand.   Finances would be closely monitored.  Officers were looking at different models of commissioning.  It would be some time before officers could point to evidence.

50.3    The Director of Community Care made the point that people were in long term care for different reasons.  Some people had been in rehabilitation.  It was necessary to make use of relevant accommodation. 

50.4    The Director of Adult Social Care & Housing agreed that there was a need to ensure that the growing need was carefully monitored but stressed that the city delivered well in keeping people at home, compared to the national average. 

50.5    Janice Robinson acknowledged that there was integrated working in three services but considered that there were tensions between health and social care.  i.e the social model and medical intervention.  There was less about medical intervention in the strategy.  The tensions meant that the strategy was less coherent.

50.6    The Director of Community Care stressed that the strategy covered many disabilities.  Some disabilities were a medical model and others were social model.   

50.7    The Commissioner for Physical Disabilities highlighted the health prevention and wellbeing agenda and access to information.  Access had been highlighted by service users.  There needed to be a focus point for access to services.  There would be consultation on this issue.

50.8    RESOLVED - (1)      That the attached strategy be noted and endorsed.