South Reading NHS CCG Sees Three Major Plans

The Governing Body of South Reading NHS CCG met in public on 19th March 2014, to review performance, development and quality reports and to approve three significant plans. The three plans are:

1. The Better Care Fund submission. This covers the pooling of some of the NHS budget with Reading Borough Social Care funds to further the integration of health and social care. The Better Care Fund submission had been approved by the Reading Borough Heath and Wellbeing Board at a special meeting earier.
2. The two year operational plan for the South Reading CCG.
3. A five year strategic plan for the South Reading CCG.

All of these plans are constructed in concert with the other 3 CCGs in the Berkshire West Federation. A common thread to all three is the need to slow the rise in emergency hospital admissions and to treat more people in their own homes. The Better Care Fund submission centres on five elements:

1. A Hospital at Home service for those needing 24-hour care but who can safely be treated at home.
2. A support and training services provided by GPs for nursing homes and residential care homes, again with the aim of treating problems before they necessitate hospital admission.
3. Interoperatbility for IT systems of health and of adult social care services.
4. "Time to Think" beds at "The Willows", Hexham Road. A suitable environment for those leaving hospital who are likely to need continued nursing care while they recover and necessary longer term arrangements are made.
5. Integrated Health and Social Care teams operating 7 days a week.

The pooled budget is around 4million in 2014-15 and 10million in 2015-16.