The Chief Executive introduced a presentation to Council by the Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board and informed Members that discussions will be held with Group Leaders on a programme of future presentations to be delivered by the Council’s partners in 2021, to possibly include partners such as Awen and Halo.  Members of Council were introduced to Professor Marcus Longley, Chairperson, Paul Mears, Chief Executive and Alan Lawrie, Chief Operating Officer of Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board. 

The Chairperson of Cwm Taf expressed his thanks to the Council for its work in partnership with the Health Board during the pandemic.  He informed Council of the key headlines from the last 12 months which had seen the publication of the Joint Review into Quality Governance; a response to Targeted Intervention (Quality and Governance) and Special Measures (Maternity Services); the implementation of a new operating model; the response to Covid-19; the appointment of a new Chief Executive; the launch of the CTM values and behaviours and a focus on stakeholder engagement.

The Chief Executive of Cwm Taf informed Council of the key headlines over the next 12 months, namely a clear long term Integrated Health and Care Strategy for the organisation; to learn from the new operating model; to continue to manage the Covid-19 pandemic; elective surgery recovery; a focus on population health; work to explore further opportunities for integration and partnership working and to maximise the opportunities from the digital agenda.  He updated Members of the very rates of infection at present throughout its boundaries and informed Council that the Test, Trace, Protect project is partnership working at its best.  Whole population testing is underway in Merthyr Tydfil and the Upper Cynon Valley and the vaccination programme is underway, which commenced in Bridgend.  He stated that the Health and Care System is under significant strain, with higher number of COVID-19 patients in hospitals than ever before and that Ysbyty’r Seren is open and 53 beds occupied.  There is proactive management of delayed transfers of care in collaboration with the Council. 

The Chief Executive of Cwm Taf outlined its ambition together with its mission, vision and strategic objectives. He commented on the process for the integration of the Bridgend locality into Cwm Taf and that the underlying principle of the boundary change was no change in service provision to patients, but the opportunity to maximise synergies across the newly enlarged Health Board.  There was an opportunity to learn from leading example of health and social care integration in Bridgend and a new operating model has created an Integrated Locality in Bridgend, which facilitates close working with Council colleagues and voluntary sector.  He outlined examples of collaborative working and the integrated winter plans, developments in primary care and the improvements which had taken place to Maesteg Hospital.  He informed Council of the significant progress made in maternity services.  Moving forward, the Chief Executive informed Council of the Health Board’s plans for the continued management of the COVID-19 pandemic; the completion of outstanding work associated with Bridgend integration; working with the Council on further developments in Health and Social Care integration; the locality focusing on population health and wider community engagement and to continue to engage and involve key stakeholders on service developments in Bridgend.       

Members of Council paid tribute to all the staff in the NHS who have worked tirelessly during the pandemic.  A member of Council referred to 2 health boards in Wales having announced yesterday that non-essential hospital treatment and questioned why better and earlier use had not been made of field hospitals.  A member of Council also asked whether the health board could share with Members information on covid hotspots.  The Chief Executive of Cwm Taf informed Council that the field hospital was opened in October where patients recovering are admitted as it was considered better to have a separate facility for people recovering from covid as it was known whether people being admitted to hospital had covid.  The Chief Executive stated that he would have conversation with the Chief Executive and Leader as to how best to disseminate information on covid hotspots to Members.

A member of Council referred to the lack of ante-natal classes at present which could impact early years services and that mothers are missing out on key skills. A member of Council also referred to the initial rates of breast feeding in the UK which then drop dramatically which then impacts on infants later and asked what can be done to encourage mothers to continue with breast feeding.  The Chief Executive of Cwm Taf informed Council of the challenging time for maternity services during the pandemic and that services had to be reviewed constantly to be delivered safely and that it had been difficult for staff working in visiting teams.  He stated that the health board encourages breast feeding and that further work will be undertaken to improve breast feeding rates. 

A member of Council asked what steps across Wales are being taken to ensure clinicians are kept up to date on their training during the pandemic.  The Chief Executive of Cwm Taf informed Council that a number of services have had to be stood down during the pandemic, however he highlighted the importance of junior medical staff continuing to observe operations being performed.  He stated that a number of surgeons have continued to perform operations.  He informed Council that the Medical Director is constantly reviewing processes to ensure junior doctors observe operations and that surgeons continue performing operations. 

A member of Council questioned the impact on the transfer of pathology services from Bridgend to Swansea resulting in a loss of expertise and whether proposals for that service had been developed.  The Chief Operating Officer informed Council that the health board had not made the progress it would have wanted to due to the pandemic, but the development of pathology services in Cwm Taf remained a priority due to the transfer of the previous service to Swansea. 

A member of Council questioned whether there are proposals for pain management to be developed in the community.  The Chief Executive of Cwm Taf commented on the debilitating nature of pain management and it was looking at how more services could be moved into the community and where there is a lack of public transport would look at providing transport facilities.

A member of Council referred to the significant amount of residential development taking place in the gateway to the valleys area and questioned the progress on the development of primary care facilities in the location.  The Chief Operating Officer informed Council that Cwm Taf is very aware of the volume of house building in that location and across the M4 corridor and conversations had been held on the development of a new primary care facility in Cornelly.  He stated that the development of primary care facilities in the gateway to the valleys area need to be developed.

A member of Council referred to the link between housing and health and asked what the health board can do to release surplus land for the development of social housing as there is a strong link between good health and the provision of good housing.  The Chief Executive of Cwm Taf informed Council that as it develops its operating model it would look at the freeing up of surplus land and it would look to work with officers on developing innovative solutions.  The Chief Operating Officer commented that discussions had been held with housing associations at opportunities under the auspices of the Regional Partnership Board.

A member of Council questioned the steps being taken by Cwm Taf to treat elderly people who have been diagnosed dementia. The Chief Executive of Cwm Taf stated that dementia has become a significant illness and that many who are recovering from covid may have dementia.  He informed Council that the health board works closely with Adult Social Care to support those with dementia.  The Corporate Director Social Services and Wellbeing informed Council that dementia services are developed in an integrated way and there had been a positive development with Community Psychiatric Nurses working in clusters. 

A member of Council was pleased to note the integration of health and social care and questioned the process for the payment of direct payments for military families who transfer from one area to another.  The Chief Operating Officer confirmed that it had processes in place with continuing care with the transfer of funding between health boards for military personnel and armed forces veterans.  The Corporate Director Social Services and Wellbeing informed Council that where military families move between authorities in Wales the Council works closely with local authorities on direct payments.                  

RESOLVED:           That Council:

        (1)         noted the presentation by the Chief Executive and Chairperson of the Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board.

(2)        noted that a programme of presentations will be delivered by the Council’s partners during 2021.