Agenda item - Sustainability & Transformation Plan

23.1    John Child told the Board that there were no significant Sustainability & Transformation Plan (STP) developments to report. The initial ‘plan of plans’ submission was made at the end of June, and there had been some positive informal feedback, although formal feedback will not be until the end of July. There is also recognition of the scale of the challenges facing Sussex and East Surrey, particularly across primary care, in terms of quality, and in terms of financial challenges. STP plans will be locality focused and will build on existing locality system planning.

23.2    Mr Child stated that the financial planning to date forecast a reduction in the system deficit (C£700M over the next five years if nothing is done) to around £60-70M. However, Denise D’Souza noted that this did not include ASC pressures.

23.2    Ms D’Souza told the Board that here is broad recognition of the need for more public engagement. An FAQ has been drawn up and plans are in place to establish a STP presence on the websites of member organisations. Stakeholder engagement events have started and more will follow soon. Dr Beesley commented that it was important to talk to staff as well as to the public – if the STP is to be effective it must be led from the front-line. Ms D’Souza agreed that we need to engage staff at scale and pace, preferably via the Better Care Board.

23.3    In response to a question from Cllr Page on the governance of and elected representation in STP localities, Mr Child told members that there were four: Coastal West Sussex, East Sussex better Together, A23 North and A23 South. These were essentially designed around hospital catchment rather than being intended as governance entities, and there are currently no STP-specific locality ‘Boards’. He added that, to date, STP planning has not addressed issues of hospital reconfiguration..

23.4    In response to a question from the Chair on engagement with primary care practitioners, Mr Child agreed that this was crucial. There was a recent meeting of GPs across A23 North and South, at which there was considerable agreement about the primary care model going forward.

23.5    RESOLVED – that the Board note the STP update.