Draft plan for future of health and social care services in East Sussex is backed

A plan laying out the future of health and social care services in East Sussex has been given the backing of councillors and NHS leaders this week. At a meeting on Tuesday (December 10), the East Sussex Health and Wellbeing Board endorsed a draft document intended to shape how the NHS and East Sussex County Council works together in the face of increasing demand and financial pressures. Known as the East Sussex Health and Social Care Plan, the document lays out a number of key areas where the authorities would work in partnership including; mental health support, reducing health inequalities and community care. In the long term the council and its NHS partners aim to form an Integrated Care Partnership (ICP), which would make these arrangements more formal. Details of what this would actually look like are expected to come forward in the new year. While the document was welcomed by many committee members, others raised concerned about the plan in its current state. According to officers, the draft plan comes in response to national expectations laid out in the NHS long term plan, which calls on health bodies to support one another. By doing so, health bosses hope authorities can better spread out the demand on services between one another, prevent problems from arising with early intervention work and reduce the pressures on the most in-demand services. East Sussex County Council has previously worked with NHS to achieve these aims over two programmes – Connecting 4 You and East Sussex Better Together. These programmes are being pulled together in light of the planned merger of the East Sussex CCGs. Officers say the draft plan is intended to be tailored to the situation on the ground in East Sussex; with a particular focus on its high proportion of elderly residents and areas of health inequality. It also looks to take into account the rising levels of child poverty and the increase in the numbers of children with statements of special educational needs and disability (SEND) or education health and care plans. Further details of how the plan would work in practice (and the work done by each organisation involved in it) are expected to come back before the health and wellbeing board in March next year. (By Huw Oxburgh - Local Democracy Reporter)   More Radio is continuously dedicated to providing a quality news service on-air and online, reporting local stories that matter across Sussex. If you enjoyed reading this story, then check out our home page at moreradio.online where you can find the latest from the county, along with features and competitions from our presenters, as well as listening to the station live. You can also sign up to our news alerts to receive updates on new stories. Simply click on the bell at the bottom right of the home page. This will then allow a pop-up which will ask if you would like to receive alerts. Press ‘allow’ and you’re all signed up! You can also follow us on Facebook and on Twitter.