Agenda and minutes

There were no declarations of interest.

To approve the minutes of the last meeting held on 26 February 2025

The Minutes of the previous meeting held 26th February 2025 were agreed as a true record.

Officers presented to members the update report on the submission of the quarter 3 report to NHS England on 14/02/2025. The aim of the report was to inform members of the progress, activities and expenditures in Q3.

Officers confirmed that the four national conditions had been met. The four conditions were:

·       Have a jointly agreed plan

·       Implementing BCF objective 1: Enabling people to stay well, safe and independent at home for longer.

·       Implementing BCF objective 2: Providing the right care in the right place at the right time.

·       Maintaining NHS’s contribution to adult social care and investment in NHS commissioned out of hospital services.

Officers also highlighted the Avoidable admissions section of the report, which had not been met was due to the period covered by the report and available data. A change of the discharge scheme was also discussed in the capacity and demand function section of the report.

Members and Officers discussed their own experience around avoidable admissions, and how it needs to be recognised that hospital admission was not always the best option for certain cohorts. Members also talked about their experience of virtual wards and the success they had witnessed.

Members agreed to note the report.

Members were presented with an update on the Pharmaceutical Needs Assessment. The detail of the update was as follows:

Pharmacy Closures and Applications – Four pharmacies had closed in Stockton on Tees, reducing the number of pharmacies from 39 to 35. (Rowlands Billingham, Boots Thornaby and Sainsburys (Elm Tree), Distant Selling Premises in Stockton South Locality Preston Farm Industrial Estate – closed without notice).

An application had been approved on appeal by NHS Resolution to reopen a pharmacy in Elm Tree. It had until 4th September 2025 to open.

An application for a new pharmacy in S1 Stockton on Tees North had been rejected by NHS England.

Changes to Pharmacy Opening Hours – There had been a reduction in hours for the 100-hour pharmacies, 8 pharmacies were open seven days a week, 19 were open six days a week and 8 pharmacies were open from Monday to Friday.

An updated map had been produced and was included in the meeting agenda paperwork.

AGREED that the update be noted.

Members expressed their thanks to Cllr Robert Cook who would be stepping down as the chair of the Health & Wellbeing Board.

The Forward Plan was noted by Members.