To receive a report on relevant strategic updates concerning the GM ICP from the Deputy Place Lead for Health and Care Integration (Trafford).

The Committee received a report from the Deputy Place Lead for Health and Care Integration. This provided the Committee with an update on Integrated Care Systems (ICS) within Trafford, including the Sustainability Plan, an overview of commissioning intentions, and Trafford Performance arrangements.

The Deputy Place Lead for Health and Care Integration outlined the five pillars of the five-year Sustainability Plan, which comprised cost improvement, system productivity and performance, reducing prevalence, proactive care, and optimising care by directing care into the community, rather than through primary or secondary care routes.

The Committee was informed of the financial challenges faced by the locality; this included a planned deficit of £175million for the current financial year, with an underlying financial position of £500million (defined as that which is spent over the locality’s funding allocation). As such, the longer-term pillars of the Sustainability Plan, such as reducing prevalence, proactive care, and optimising care, were necessary to create fundamental change.

For 2025/2026, the number of improvement priorities had been reduced to focus on performance in Trafford; these included the capacity of district nursing, as well as children and young people’s access to mental health services. The Deputy Place Lead for Health and Care Integration informed the Committee of the tension between the need to spend money on current priorities and spending for service improvements in the next 5-10 years.

In response to a question from a Member on how the Sustainability Plan differed from previous systematic reviews of care models, the Deputy Lead for Health and Care Integration noted that in this Sustainability Plan, within the localities and at Greater-Manchester level, all partners were working collaboratively. This has meant that there would be improved engagement with a broad range of partners, including voluntary and community services, to further affect change collectively.

A Member asked about the risk registers for the Sustainability Plan, and the Deputy Place Lead for Health and Care Integration informed the Committee that each of the pillars of the Sustainability Plan had its own risk register, as did the sub-pillar programmes within each of these areas. A significant amount of risk management was being undertaken.

A Member asked what work was being undertaken to mitigate any unintended consequences and health inequalities that could arise from the Sustainability Plan. The Deputy Place Lead for Health and Care Integration informed the Committee that a targeted approach was being implemented; the Neighbourhood Plan was a means to work differently and to engage with the public in all areas of the Borough. The Deputy Place Lead for Health and Care Integration referred to a recent listening event in Partington, and the further scope to engage residents in Trafford. The process of refreshing Trafford’s Locality Plan would also ensure that work was tailored to the needs of Trafford residents.

A discussion took place between the Deputy Place Lead for Health and Care Integration and the Committee regarding Members’ access to the Tableau scorecard, which contained a large amount of health data, pertaining to both Trafford and other localities. A Member also asked whether the performance of communication materials, such as patient letters, was monitored as a metric.

In response to a question about commissioning plans to cover a longer term than one year, the Deputy Place Lead for Health and Care Integration clarified that annual planning was currently in place to define commissioning intentions, with longer-term ambitions built into annual plans.

The Vice-Chair noted the importance of neighbourhood statistics and demographics involved in decision making, as well as the fact that access to a GP remained universally important to all areas in the Borough. The Deputy Place Lead for Health and Care Integration concurred and referred to additional GP appointments which were available over winter.

The Chair thanked the Deputy Place Lead for Health and Care Integration for the report.

RESOLVED:

-          That the report and progress made to date be noted.

-          That the Deputy Place Lead for Health and Care Integration enquire whether it is possible for Members to have access to the Tableau scorecard.

-          That the Committee be provided with further information on the way in which the performance of communication materials is monitored.