Agenda item - Member Involvement

Letter from Cllr Page (Sussex Beacon)

55.1    Councillor Page asked the following question, “Before Christmas we had the terrible news that the Sussex Beacon HIV inpatient unit was losing funding from East Sussex Clinical Commissioning Groups, thereby imminently threatening the whole charity’s survival.

            You will be aware that this popular and groundbreaking organisation relieves the NHS and adult social care through its wide range of services to a disadvantaged group in our city, which has the highest prevalence of HIV outside London. The unit was rated outstanding by the Care Quality Commission only last September, and our three MPs (one Labour, one Conservative and one Green) have recently written a joint letter to the Department of Health in support of its work.

            In addition you moved a motion to Full Council in October proposing that Brighton & Hove became the first Fast Track City in the UK, to lead the way in HIV treatment and diagnosis. This was passed unanimously, by all 51 Councillors from across the political spectrum.

            I hope you will agree that it is intolerable to stand by and allow this “jewel in the crown” of local HIV services to close. Please use your good offices and established links with our NHS colleagues in Sussex to find a way forward.

            Thank you in anticipation of your early reply, outlining what actions you will take. After that I sincerely hope we will see results in the form of an announcement.”

55.2    In response to Councillor Page’s question, the Chair told the Board that for many years the Sussex Beacon has provided high quality care for people living with HIV.  The Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) in East Sussex, Brighton and Hove have historically funded seven of the ten beds at the Sussex Beacon split 85% Brighton and Hove and 15% East Sussex.  Brighton and Hove CCG continues to fund in-patient HIV care for our local residents at the Sussex Beacon.  There has been no reduction in this funding.

Demand for beds for people living with HIV in East Sussex has fallen in recent years and the East Sussex CCGs have taken the decision to move from a block purchase arrangement to a payment system based on the actual usage of beds by East Sussex residents.   This has resulted in a reduction in income to the Sussex Beacon in the region of £50k per year.   It would not be appropriate for this Health and Wellbeing Board to seek to influence the commissioning intentions of the East Sussex CCGs in this matter.

As you note the Council and the Health and Wellbeing Board have supported the aspiration of Brighton and Hove becoming a Fast-Track City. The mobilisation of this work will include the development of an action plan in partnership with local and international partners.  The action plan will be informed by the analysis of local data which will be supported by our international technical partners.  The action plan will describe how we will achieve the 90-90-90 target and will be shared with the Health and Wellbeing Board in due course.

55.3    Peter Wilkinson added that the council is working with Sussex Beacon on this issue. However, it needs to be recognised that better understanding and treatment of HIV has meant that the requirement for in-patient beds has reduced, and in the future services may need to be more focused around community support. This is recognised by Sussex Beacon.