The Head of Corporate Strategy has submitted a report to present information on the production of a new Integrated Care Strategy by the Integrated Care Board for Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire West.

Cabinet is recommended to:

1.      Note the contents of the report for information.

The Head of Corporate Strategy had submitted a report to present information on the production of a new Integrated Care Strategy by the Integrated Care Board (ICB) for Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire West.

The Cabinet Member for Health and Transport, Councillor Louise Upton, reported that newly created Integrated Care Boards had replaced Clinical Commissioning Groups as the NHS bodies which received government funding to plan and buy services. The ICB had been mandated to work in partnership with local authorities, GPs and voluntary groups to create an integrated care strategy focused on ensuring that everyone is able to get a good start in life and to live and age well, with support when needed. 

Councillor Upton outlined the five key principles underpinning the strategy, which included Preventing Ill Health and Tackling Health Inequalities.  The Strategy would be delivered through a series of priorities, in some of which the Council had a role and in others it did not.

The Head of Corporate Strategy reported that a Health and Wellbeing Strategy was also being developed for Oxfordshire this year, to come into effect at the start of 2024. 

In discussion it was noted that representation on a number of bodies, as well as effective co-ordination and links, would be key to translating the strategies into a meaningful plan for Oxfordshire.  These included the Place Based Partnership and the Oxfordshire Systems Leaders’ Partnership (which involved leaders of local authorities as well as leaders in the health service).  There were also discussions at district council leaders’ and chief executives’ group meetings and with the Local Enterprise Partnership as well as work by the Active Communities Team.

In response to a question the Head of Corporate Strategy confirmed that the draft document had been approved by the Integrated Care Partnership on 27 February 2023; however the final strategy document had not yet been issued.

Cabinet Members welcomed the strategy and endorsed its principles; however, it was considered that it would only be once actions and measurable outcomes were delivered that its value could be assessed.

Cabinet resolved to:

1.     Note the contents of the report for information.